Teaching & Learning Page

Helping Children Learn to Read

Learning to read is not a natural process—it takes explicit teaching and lots of practice. Children need to develop skills step-by-step, from hearing sounds in spoken words (phonological awareness), to matching those sounds with letters (phonics), to sounding out words (decoding), and finally to reading with fluency and understanding (comprehension).

The research is clear: the earlier we support students, the better their outcomes. Delaying help can cause children to fall further behind, affecting confidence, learning, and long-term success. High-quality, classroom-based instruction using explicit phonics benefits all students, especially those at risk. For children learning English as a second language or those with dyslexia, this targeted approach is even more important.

So, what can parents do?

• Read daily: From a young age, reading aloud builds vocabulary, sound awareness and a love of books.
• Talk about stories: Discussing books helps build comprehension.
• Play with sounds: Rhyming games and songs are fun and build early phonological awareness.
• Celebrate effort: Encourage persistence and praise progress.

Reading Strategy - Pause, Prompt, Praise: Helping Your Child Learn to Read

Reading aloud with your child is one of the best ways to support their literacy. But knowing how to help when they get stuck is just as important.

The research-backed Pause, Prompt, Praise method is simple and effective:

1. Pause: If your child struggles with a word, wait 3–5 seconds. They may be able to figure it out on their own. Jumping in too quickly can reduce confidence and independence.

2. Prompt: If they need help, give a gentle prompt:

• “What’s the first sound?”
• Sound it out slowly together (e.g. f…r…o…g).
• Break the word into syllables or cover parts to focus on smaller chunks.

If they still can’t get it, tell them the word and keep reading.

3. Praise: Give specific praise like: “You worked that out yourself!” or “Great job using the sounds!”

For older readers who make a mistake, let them finish the sentence first—they might self-correct. If not, ask: “Did that make sense?” Rereading and reflecting builds strong comprehension skills.

If a word is tricky, help them break it up. Still stuck? Tell them the word, note it down, and revisit it later.

Every positive reading moment builds confidence and skill. A little support goes a long way!

Building Strong Mathematicians: The Power of Fact Fluency

At Surfside Primary, we are dedicated to helping every student develop confidence and success in mathematics. A key part of this journey is fact fluency—the ability to recall basic number facts quickly and accurately. Fact fluency acts as the foundation for more complex problem-solving, allowing students to focus on reasoning and mathematical thinking without getting stuck on calculations.

Why is Fact Fluency Important?

Research shows that students who can quickly and accurately recall number facts have a stronger working memory, which helps them tackle multi-step problems with ease. Without fluency, students may struggle with more advanced concepts, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in maths.

To support fact fluency, Surfside Primary integrates NumBots and Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS)—two engaging programs from Maths Circle that make mastering number facts fun and effective.

How Do NumBots & TTRS Help?

🟠 NumBots (For Addition & Subtraction Fluency) NumBots is perfect for building fluency in addition and subtraction, which are essential for understanding place value, problem-solving, and mental maths. We encourage students to use NumBots for 10 minutes, three to four times a week to strengthen their number sense.

💡 Top Tips for NumBots at Home: 

🔹 Start in Story Mode – This builds deep understanding by developing number bonds, partitioning, and bridging strategies. 

🔹 Move to Challenge Mode – Once confident, students can build speed and automatic recall. 

🔹 Play little and often – Short, regular practice is more effective than long sessions.

🟣 Times Table Rock Stars (For Multiplication & Division Fluency) TTRS builds quick recall of multiplication and division facts, crucial for fractions, algebra, and problem-solving. We recommend 10 minutes, three to four times a week for maximum progress.

💡 Top Tips for TTRS at Home: 

🔹 Use Garage Mode to focus on specific times tables set by the teacher. 

🔹 Try Studio Mode to improve speed and accuracy over time. 

🔹 Make it competitive – Challenge family members or beat personal bests. 

🔹 Celebrate progress – Small wins build confidence and motivation!

Fluency at Surfside: Rocketing to Success! 🚀

Alongside these programs, we continue to embed Surfside Rocket Facts, ensuring students master fluency in all operations. By combining these engaging tools with classroom practice, we are equipping students with the skills they need to become confident, capable mathematicians.

💻 Get Involved! Both NumBots and TTRS can be accessed at home. Visit www.numbots.com and www.ttrockstars.com for more details or speak to your child’s teacher.

Together, let’s make maths mastery a reality for every student! 🚀✨