Learning and Teaching News

Reading at Home 

As Dr. Seuss famously said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." 

Reading is an essential skill that opens doors to a world of knowledge, imagination, and endless possibilities. While school plays a crucial role in fostering literacy, home reading is equally important in cultivating a lifelong love of reading in our children.

The Power of Home Reading

Home reading allows children to practice and reinforce the reading strategies they learn in school. It allows them to explore a wider range of books and genres, expanding their vocabulary and exposure to different writing styles. 

Home reading creates a positive and enjoyable environment for children to engage with the written word, fostering a love of reading that will enrich their lives for years to come.

Three Types of Reading for 

Successful Readers

Effective home reading involves a combination of three distinct approaches:

1. Read to: This is where you, as a parent or caregiver, read aloud to your child. Reading aloud exposes children to complex vocabulary, sentence structures, and literary concepts that they may not yet encounter in their own reading.
2. Read with: This involves reading alongside your child, taking turns reading passages or sentences. This collaborative approach builds confidence in children as they see themselves actively participating in the reading process.
3. Read by: This is when children read independently. As children's reading skills develop, encourage them to choose books that match their interests and reading level. Provide support and guidance as needed, but allow them the autonomy to explore the world of books at their own pace.

Reading for at least 15 minutes a day will increase your child's exposure to words by 1,146,000 words per year. It will also increase your child's comprehension, accuracy and reading fluency.  

Introducing the Intialit Literacy Program in Prep & Year 1/2

This year in Prep and Year 1 we are introducing the Intialit Literacy program, an evidence based literacy approach for teaching reading. 

This program is designed to equip your child with the crucial skills they need to become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers.

Why Intialit?

Intialit incorporates best practices and research-based methods, ensuring each student receives the most effective instruction for reading and spelling success.

Key features your child will enjoy:

• Daily interactive sessions: Learning builds upon itself daily, promoting steady progress and a strong foundation in literacy.
• Research-proven strategies: This program uses the most effective methods for mastering reading and spelling.
• Imagination-building stories: A diverse range of books will spark your child's imagination, expand their vocabulary, and enhance their oral language and writing skills.
• Comprehensive learning: Explicit instruction covers phonics, comprehension, fluency, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, all using engaging children's literature.
• Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum: Intialit seamlessly integrates with other classroom learning, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

We believe Intialit will foster a lifelong love of reading and writing in our young learners. We encourage you to discuss this exciting program with your child and ask any questions you may have. Together, we can create a world where every child experiences the joy and power of literacy. 

Denise Kelly

Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader

Elise Coghlan

Co-Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader