Student Wellbeing

Sharing our Passion for Reading

At Greenhills, we are passionate about reading, and for good reason! Our teachers share their love of reading with their students and we encourage you at home to do the same thing. Reading is more than just turning pages; it opens doors to knowledge, sparks creativity, and fosters lifelong learning. To help make home reading an enjoyable and enriching experience, we’ve put together some valuable insights and tips for you and your child.

Tips for Successful Home Reading:

Create a Reading Routine: Set aside a dedicated time each day for reading. Consistency helps build strong reading habits. Encourage your child to record their reading in their reading diary as part of this routine.

Choose the Right Books: Select books that match your child’s age and reading level. Encourage them to explore different genres and topics to expand their interests.

Be a Reading Role Model: Let your child see you enjoying books. Your enthusiasm for reading will inspire them to develop their own love for it.

Support with Patience: If your child faces reading challenges, offer encouragement and guidance without pressure. Celebrate their progress along the way.

Promote Independence: As their reading skills grow, allow your child to choose books that interest them and explore topics they love.

Below are some engaging questions to help deepen engagement, promote critical thinking, and nurture a lifelong love for reading. Feel free to adapt them based on your child’s age, reading level, and interests.

Before Reading:

• What do you think this book might be about based on the title or cover?
• Can you predict what might happen in the story?
• What do you already know about this topic or theme?

During Reading:

• What’s happening in the story so far?
• Can you describe the main character(s)? What do you think they’re like?
• What challenges is the character facing?
• Why do you think the character made that choice?
• What do you think will happen next in the story?

After Reading:

• What was your favourite part of the story? Why?
• Did the story end as you expected? Why or why not?
• What message do you think the author wanted to share?
• How did the characters change throughout the story?
• Can you think of a different ending for the story?
• How does this book connect to something in your own life?
• Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
• What would you ask the author if you could?

Reading at home not only helps to develop essential literacy skills, improving their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. It also fosters a love for learning, boosts confidence, and strengthens the bond between children and their caregivers.

Thank you for being a vital part of our reading community at Greenhills! If you ever need book recommendations or reading support, feel free to reach out to us, your child’s classroom teacher, or our fantastic Library staff member, Jen Ellis.

Happy Reading!

janine.hough@education.vic.gov.au     

bradley.ryan@education.vic.gov.au   

Janine and Brad.