Supporting Reading
Supporting Reading
We strongly encourage students to develop their reading skills through reading for pleasure. Reading, like other skills, requires practice and we encourage students to practise their reading skills every day.
Accelerated Reader is a programme that we use in school to monitor reading. Students can use Accelerated Reader to track their reading and complete quizzes to check their understanding. The video tutorial below includes step-by-step instructions on how to access this programme at home.
Top 10 tips to encourage your child to read
1. Encourage your child to read
Reading helps your child’s well-being, develops imagination and has many educational benefits too. Just 10-15 minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.
2. Encourage reading choice
Give your child lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time that they enjoy– it does not just have to be books. There is fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting books and reading materials in different places around the home and consider playing audio books that your child will enjoy.
3. Read together
Choose a favourite time to read together as a family. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other or with grandparents.
4. Create a comfortable environment
Make a calm, comfortable and well-lit space for your family to relax and read independently or together.
5. Make use of the library
Local and school libraries offer a wide range of books to spark their interest, along with brilliant on-line materials including audio books and eBooks to borrow.
6. Talk about books
This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you have been reading and share ideas. Ask teenagers to recommend books for younger readers in the family.
7. Look for books based on movies and computer games
Lots of films, games and television shows are adapted from books and young readers are more likely to engage with something that they are already familiar with and interested in.
8. Be positive
Praise your child for trying hard with their reading and let them know it is alright to make mistakes.
9. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them
You know your child best and you will know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities then short, creative activities may be the best way to get them more interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child’s first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it!
10. Be a reading role model; be caught in the act of reading!
Your child learns from you, so seeing you enjoying and valuing books can be a great inspiration!
Please see below further links for supporting reading at home: