Raising Readers

Reading at Home | “Reading for Fun” 

Our literacy focus this year is reading. While many of us read on different platforms and enjoy the different formats that reading is presented to us in, it’s important that we share our reading journeys with our learners at home too. 

This fortnight’s focus is reading for fun. 

Every so often, reading becomes work. It is often with the best intentions that we may try to enforce reading at home. It may be because our learners haven’t completed their homework, or their chores, or maybe they just need a break from their digital devices, whatever the reason, we sometimes assume that the solution to these issues is to read. Without a doubt, reading is beneficial; however, it should not used as a punitive tool, because reading at home should be fun and inspiring. 

A. Don’t make reading work: our learners are consistently reading - usually incidentally. Our goal is to foster a love for reading and to show that reading is a tool for enjoyment - not punishment. 

B. Make finding books together a family activity: Visit our school library with your learner after school. Find a local library and search for books together. 

C. Talk to your learner’s teachers: What’s being read in class? Are they up to date? What can you do to support your learner? Don’t be nervous about your learner being behind their peers, as this will provide further opportunities for discussion and support. 

D. Ask, “what are you reading?” Make this question a big part of your life. Ask this question to other family members and friends too. Your learner may want to read what someone else is reading. 

Our goal is to raise readers for life. I’m really curious about your learner’s reading journey. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to know what you’re reading at home! 

Keep Reading,

Ms Ecehan 

PS: This fortnight I am reading - “The Soul of a Woman” (2021) by Isabel Allende. This book is an autobiographical piece, which focuses on the needs of women and how we can raise strong, confident generations of women that can carry on the legacies of the powerful women prior to them.