Reading aloud to children is the best way to get them interested in reading. With this becoming part of a bedtime routine, they will grow to love stories and books. Eventually they will want to read on their own. With the help of parents and carers, children can learn how to read and can practise reading until they can read for their own enjoyment. When you help your child learn to read, you are opening the door to a world of books and learning. Then they will have a whole world of information and knowledge at their fingertips!
Family engagement in children reading at home is valued highly in our school. Reading at home is fun and gives children such a boost to their confidence and interest in learning to read. Reading support at home makes for quicker progress and quality time between child and parent.
RWI teachers send links on Class Dojo for the practising of sounds and reading red words every week on homework sways.
We value open communication with our families and invite home reading comments from families in the reading record given to each child. Children love to be praised by their families, but worries or queries are welcome too.
This reading doesn’t just have to be their reading book, although that’s a great start. Also, reading doesn’t stop once we know all the letters and sounds – read with your child for as long as they will let you. All types of reading are useful – try as many as you can, for example:
- Start with your child’s reading scheme book. These books will improve reading skills at the just the right level to give challenge and practise. Moving up through the colours or levels can be very important to children and this will help them progress
- Try and read other books at the same level as your child’s reading book. Look at Reading with Oxford or our free ebook library for inspiration
- Follow your child’s natural interest and look up information on the internet. They won’t notice that they are practising their reading. They will also be practising vital retrieval and research skills
- Some children just prefer non-fiction. Reading non-fiction is a great way to improve vocabulary, learn how to tackle new words, improve knowledge and develop a love for reading. Joke books, fact books, top ten books are all just as good for learning to read as reading fiction
- Many children love graphic novels or comics. These are great for developing imagination. Children also learn how stories are presented in different ways and understand how pictures and text work together. There’s also quite a bit of reading between the lines needed here
- Read signs and information boards as you are out and about. These often contain new vocabulary to discuss. Recipes or instructions for craft projects are also great for this and also encourage us to read with accuracy
- Try to encourage your child to tackle a longer fiction story. Reading a longer story for pleasure has many benefits. It develops imagination and empathy; it builds reading stamina and introduces new vocabulary and sentence styles
- Although they don’t practise phonics, listening to audiobooks does practise comprehension skills and might even encourage your child to read other books for themselves. Listening to books develops imagination, teaches new vocabulary, and allows your child to experience books above their reading age.