Reading at Corbridge Middle School
Why is reading so important?Reading is fundamental. In fact, it is one of the most important ingredients to becoming all that you can be. Reading develops your brain, provides a window into the world around you and helps you do better in all school subjects. It’s a way to stimulate your creativity, to provoke thinking and to open up a whole, magical world of adventure. You gain a more ambitious, wider vocabulary from reading and it’s the size of your vocabulary that determines your life chances, so you can see why reading is the gateway to your future! As Roald Dahl observed, “If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.”
So, here at Corbridge, we want to encourage a love of books and a passion for reading in all our pupils and here is how we do it:
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Reading - A Guide for Parents and Carers
At Corbridge Middle School, we know that reading is the foundation to the children’s overall learning. Without adequate reading skills, a child faces barriers throughout the curriculum. Because of this, we adopt a range of strategies to ensure that our children become confident readers who understand what they read, and most importantly enjoy it! At Corbridge Middle School, the foundation for learning to read for pleasure and understanding comes from:
The teaching of active reading strategies, comprehension skills and the development of new vocabulary knowledge during timetabled reading lessons and in English lessons;
How You Can Support Your Child’s Reading Development
Your support in developing your child’s reading ability is essential. In fact, research shows that reading to and with your child is the single most important thing you can do to help your child's education. It's best to read little and often, so try to put aside some time for it every day.
Think of ways to make reading fun - you want your child to learn how pleasurable books can be. If you're both enjoying talking about the content of a particular page, linger over it for as long as you like. Books aren't just about reading the words on the page, they can also present new ideas and topics for you and your child to discuss. In fact, once children have learned to read the next stage is reading to learn!
Using phonics (sound knowledge) to work out unknown words by segmenting them and blending the sounds back together is a skill all readers can use - fluent or otherwise. There are some very useful videos on the Oxford Owl website to help parents with using the pure sounds to help children read. See the link at the bottom of the page.
Tips for helping your child to enjoy books:
Below are some resources that will take you to information and websites with further guidance.
The teaching of active reading strategies, comprehension skills and the development of new vocabulary knowledge during timetabled reading lessons and in English lessons;
- Pupils select a 'reading for pleasure' book from the library or classroom and have opportunity to read these at home and at school.
- Children are also given the opportunity to read in other curriculum areas;
- Continuous assessment and monitoring to ensure all children are reading at a level appropriate to their age;
- Specific catch up and booster schemes for those children who are recognised as not meeting expected standards in reading for their age;
- Access to a wide range of genres in both fiction and non-fiction.
- Displays in classrooms celebrating and recommending reading .
How You Can Support Your Child’s Reading Development
Your support in developing your child’s reading ability is essential. In fact, research shows that reading to and with your child is the single most important thing you can do to help your child's education. It's best to read little and often, so try to put aside some time for it every day.
Think of ways to make reading fun - you want your child to learn how pleasurable books can be. If you're both enjoying talking about the content of a particular page, linger over it for as long as you like. Books aren't just about reading the words on the page, they can also present new ideas and topics for you and your child to discuss. In fact, once children have learned to read the next stage is reading to learn!
Using phonics (sound knowledge) to work out unknown words by segmenting them and blending the sounds back together is a skill all readers can use - fluent or otherwise. There are some very useful videos on the Oxford Owl website to help parents with using the pure sounds to help children read. See the link at the bottom of the page.
Tips for helping your child to enjoy books:
- Schedule a regular time for reading - perhaps when you get home from school or just before bed.
- Buy dual-language books if English isn’t your family’s first language - you can talk about books and stories, and develop a love for them, in any language.
- Look for books on topics that you know your child is interested in - maybe dragons, insects, cookery or a certain sport.
- Make sure that children’s books are easily accessible in different rooms around your house.
- Consider books that open your child's mind to other cultures and ideas that are not part of their everyday life.
- Look at the links at the bottom of this page for more great ideas.
Below are some resources that will take you to information and websites with further guidance.
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How to Blend Pure Sounds - a guide for parents (Youtube video)
How to pronounce pure sounds. A guide for parents (Youtube video)
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