Class 3: Reading

The children will engage in reading in many ways. They will read in literacy and guided reading lessons most days, individually, with partners or silently to themselves. We also aim to hear each child read 1-1 with their teacher or teaching assistant weekly. We encourage the children to answer questions making reference to the text and using evidence to justify deductions and inferences. They will learn to distinguish between layouts, styles and language of different text types. More advanced readers will be looking more at the authors’ choice of language, literary techniques, layouts and context, then considering the effect on the reader.

The children who are on free readers are responsible for changing their own books and can do so choosing from the school library, the selection of books in the classroom, or by bringing in books from home. We do encourage children to try to persevere with books and not change them too often if they are unfinished, so that they increase their skills and personal preferences regarding the genres and authors preferred. We also recommend that they try a range of text types as this helps them to expand their knowledge and interests and also helps them to become more proficient writers. We have an ever-expanding range of texts and can provide titles for the most reluctant readers, to the advanced.

For children who are on reading scheme books, their books will be changed once complete. The children need to remember to have these signed by an adult at home when reading and ensure that they are returned to the basket in the classroom so that they can be changed.

As children get older, some parents tend not to listen to children read as often, but it is still vitally important to do so to discuss characters, make predictions and share opinions. As a result we strongly encourage all parents to continue to do this regularly.

Our school library is an open and inviting place for the children. The children are provided with ample opportunity to browse the library to change books as and when is needed.

Our guided reading and individual reading books are made up from a range of reading schemes and Free Reader books to ensure the children are exposed to a wide and varied vocabulary. All books are colour coded and matched to reading abilities to ensure children read texts at a level appropriate to them. The Oxford Reading Tree scheme (ORT) remains the core system and pupils are introduced to the characters and texts in the Foundation Stage. Pupils reading to the equivalent of ORT level 14 will be encouraged to select from a wider range of Free Reader texts.

If you would like to learn more the full Literacy Policy can be viewed under the Key Documents section and you can always speak with your Class Teacher.

Grammar and Punctuation Glossary

Reading Support Booklet