Curriculum News
Why Reading Matters from Kindergarten to Year 6!
The NSW English syllabus emphasises that reading is fundamental for academic success, personal enrichment, and active participation in society. It's crucial for developing vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which are essential across all curriculum areas. Reading also fosters a love of literature and an appreciation for language and its artistic expression.
What reading does:
🧠 Building Brains and Vocabulary
From sounding out their first words to diving into chapter books, young readers are constantly expanding their vocabulary and comprehension. Reading helps children make sense of the world, ask better questions, and express themselves more clearly.
🏡 The Power of Reading at Home
When families make time for reading - whether it is a bedtime story, a weekend library visit, or simply chatting about a book - children feel supported and inspired. Home reading reinforces what’s learned in the classroom and builds a positive relationship with books.
🎯 Setting Up for Success
Students who read regularly are more likely to perform well academically, show empathy, and develop critical thinking skills. Reading also boosts focus and resilience - skills that benefit children far beyond the school gates.
📖 Make Reading a Habit
Teachers and families working together can create a culture of reading that lasts a lifetime. Whether it’s five minutes or fifty, every moment spent with a book counts.
So let’s celebrate the joy of reading - at school, at home, and everywhere in between!
Why Reading Boosts Comprehension in Primary Schools
1. Builds Vocabulary and Language Structure
- Exposure to new words in context helps students understand meaning and usage.
- Reading introduces sentence structures and grammar patterns naturally.
- A richer vocabulary allows for deeper understanding of texts and ideas.
2. Enhances Cognitive Skills
- Reading encourages prediction, inference, and critical thinking.
- Students learn to connect ideas, identify cause and effect, and draw conclusions.
- It strengthens memory and attention span through sustained engagement.
3. Improves Understanding of Text Features
- Students learn to navigate different genres (narrative, informational, persuasive).
- They become familiar with text elements like headings, captions, and dialogue.
- Recognizing these features helps them extract meaning more efficiently.
4. Encourages Discussion and Reflection
- Reading prompts questions and conversations that deepen understanding.
- Talking about stories helps students articulate thoughts and clarify ideas.
- It fosters empathy and perspective-taking through character experiences.
5. Supports Academic Success Across Subjects
- Strong reading comprehension benefits all areas of learning—math, science, history.
- Students who read well can follow instructions, understand problems, and absorb content more effectively.
Working together for our students,
Leanna Langlands
Instructional Specialist