School of Thought

Reading - A Shared Responsibility

with Rosemary and Kim

This Friday, teachers at LNPS are immersed in the world of reading as we inquire into best practices for teaching and learning the vital life skill of reading. Last Tuesday, Kim and I attended the Department for Education Literacy Summit to engage with national and international literacy experts around high quality literacy practices.

The keynote speaker, Professor Douglas Fisher from San Diego State University, highlighted that the volume of reading matters for reading success. He shared some remarkable statistics: a child who reads 20 minutes a day at home from the beginning of his/her schooling, will likely score in the 90th percentile on standardised tests. This compares with a child who reads 5 minutes a day at home, who will most likely score in the 50th percentile in standardised tests.

 

 

These statistics highlight a significant benefit of families and schools working together to support our children to become powerful readers. Creating a reading culture at home helps to nurture a strong disposition to read. 

Having in depth discussions with your child about what you are doing and where you are going to build background knowledge and vocabulary

Finding a special space to read together: on the swing, in an armchair, in bed so the experience is a pleasure not a chore

Engaging in many and varied types of reading experiences: recipes, newspapers, television information, instructions, street signs, brochures, junk mail, electronic communication, notes and shopping lists

Borrowing books regularly from the school or public library