Successful Home Reading 

Reading at home is a wonderful way to support the development of your child’s literacy skills. Beginning with the support of parents in the junior years of school, as children become more skilled, this moves to independent practice and reading for enjoyment in the middle and senior years of primary school.

A few tips on making reading at home together successful and fun for your Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2 child include...

Make it routine

It's about finding the right time for you and your child. Whether it be just before they go to bed, or first thing in the morning. Do what works for your family!

Expect the take home book to be an ‘easy’ read.

The books that come home have been especially chosen to review the reading skills your child has been working on at school.  Take home reading is designed to build confidence by practicing known words and reading about familiar topics.  Re-reading the same book several times is encouraged to build fluency (smooth reading at a speaking pace).

Talking about the book is also important

Before reading, take a moment to look at the cover and title of the book.  Is this a topic your child already knows something about? Help them to make those connections by reminding them about something that happened or a place you have been that could be similar.

After reading, ask your child to tell you about their favourite page, or ask them to tell you what the book was about.  Perhaps they could make up a question to ask you about the story!

Above all else, we hope that you enjoy sharing books together with your child.  If at any time they become frustrated or they are too tired, it is absolutely fine to take turns to read a page each to enjoy the book together.

Please contact either Marnie or myself with any questions you have about our take home reading program.

Marnie Chapman mchapman@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au

Tracey Toner ttoner@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au