Level 5: Connect

The Home Reading Program & Reading Log

Why Daily Reading at Home Matters

At this stage of student learning, reading isn’t just about learning to read — it’s about "reading to learn". Every subject your child studies now depends on strong reading skills: Maths worded problems, Science explanations, Humanities research, even Health and Civics discussions.

What the Research Says

Recent large-scale studies consistently show:

Students who read daily perform significantly better across all curriculum areas, not just English. The OECD PISA 2018 report found that students who read for enjoyment regularly scored substantially higher in reading, mathematics and science (OECD, 2019).

[https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_AUS.pdf]

Just 20–30 minutes of reading per day can expose children to over 1.8 million words per year, dramatically increasing vocabulary, comprehension and writing ability (Anderson, Wilson & Fielding, 1988; cited widely in literacy research). 

[https://www.readingrockets.org/article/exposure-words-and-vocabulary-development]

Home reading habits are one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success, more influential than many other background factors (Sullivan & Brown, 2013).

 [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0003122412455684]

Regular reading also improves:

•  Concentration and stamina
• Empathy and emotional understanding 
• Critical thinking 
• Stress regulation and wellbeing

The Role of Home

At school:

• We provide weekly Library time to support book selection.
• We explicitly teach comprehension strategies.
• We have established a structured 
• Reading Log Form to track consistency - see QR code.

At home:

• Reading should occur for 30 minutes or more each night. The environment should support focus (minimal screens, quiet space).
• Parents should monitor the routine and ensure the Reading Log is completed nightly.
• The Reading Log can be accessed by:
  • Scanning the QR code here.
  • The QR code will appear on every Homework Grid
  • The Homework Log link will be sent to all parents as an email as it is simple to complete from the parent's phone.
  • The Reading Log will be posted to Google Classroom.

This is a partnership. We work hard at school to build skill and provide structure — but home reading time is home time, and families play the leading role in maintaining the routine.

How Parents Can Take the Lead

Simple actions make a big difference:

• Set a consistent reading time each evening.
• Keep devices out of reach during reading time.
• Ask one or two questions about what was read.````````````````````````````````````````````````````
• Ensure the Reading Log form is completed before bedtime. 
• Model reading — children who see adults reading are more likely to value it.

Structure creates habit. Habit builds skill. Skill builds confidence.

Working Together

Our goal is simple: strong, independent readers entering secondary school ready for complex texts and sustained thinking.

With consistent home reading — 20 minutes nightly — students gain:

• Academic advantage
• Improved writing quality
• Greater confidence
• Stronger wellbeing
• Broader general knowledge

We look forward to working in partnership with you in building this routine. When school structure and home consistency align, the results are powerful.

If you would like to explore the research further, the links above provide accessible summaries and reports.

Thank you for taking the lead in supporting your child’s reading journey.

Literacy

As we prepare for NAPLAN, students have been strengthening their writing skills across both narrative and persuasive texts. Our focus has been on planning, drafting and editing within a set time frame, helping students build confidence, independence and effective time management under assessment conditions.

Narrative Writing

Students are learning to:

• share their ideas in a group and sort them into “out of the box” ideas and more realistic ideas
• narrow their thinking down to one strong, interesting concept
• plan a clear beginning, middle and end
• use interesting words and phrases to develop their plan into a detailed narrative

There has been a strong emphasis on creative brainstorming, selecting the most powerful idea and organising writing clearly before drafting. Students are working hard to use vivid vocabulary and thoughtful structure to engage their reader.

Persuasive Writing

Students are also learning to:

• share their ideas in a group and organise them into three clear arguments
• use evidence and persuasive devices to support their arguments
• plan a clear introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion

We have been focusing on building strong arguments, supporting ideas with convincing evidence and structuring writing logically to clearly communicate a point of view.

It has been wonderful to see students growing in confidence, refining their ideas and taking pride in their writing as they prepare for NAPLAN

Numeracy 

In addition to our NAPLAN preparation, students have been focusing on applying their understanding of decimal numbers in a variety of real-life contexts, including measurement, money and data analysis. Lessons are designed to develop both accuracy and reasoning, as well as confidence in using decimals under time and problem-solving conditions.

 Measuring and Comparing Length

Students are learning to:

• measure objects accurately using a metre ruler
• identify and record measurements as decimal numbers
• write measurements to three decimal places

 Rounding and Estimating Money

Students are learning to:

• read decimal numbers confidently
• identify the digit that determines whether to round up or down
• round decimal numbers to estimate amounts of money

 Organising and Comparing Temperature Data

Students are learning to:

• order and list temperatures in both ascending and descending order
• interpret patterns in temperature data to see if it matches expectations

It has been wonderful to see students applying their decimal knowledge across multiple contexts, making connections between measurement, money and data, and building confidence in problem-solving and reasoning skills.

Inquiry

In Inquiry, we continue our journey exploring how exercise and sleep impact our wellbeing. Students are learning to make connections between daily habits and their physical and mental health.

The Role of Sleep

Students are learning to:

• understand how sleep supports physical and mental health
• explore how sleep affects energy, mood, and overall wellbeing
• explain how sleep, or lack of sleep, can affect them both physically and mentally

Leisure and Mental Health

Students are also learning to:

• understand how leisure activities contribute to mental health
• identify strategies to include leisure time in a balanced lifestyle

Through these lessons, students are reflecting on their own habits and considering ways to build routines that support wellbeing, helping them make healthy choices for both body and mind.

Warm regards,

The Level 5 Team - Michelle, Cazz and Katie