Literacy

Improving our Independent Program with the ‘Strong Readers Forum’  

Over the past month we have been closely looking at our Independent Reading Program at the College. This program has been a strong feature of our whole school approach to Literacy for over eight years, and our staff are committed to (and enjoy!) that gifted twenty minutes of reading. 

I have had the pleasure of working with a wonderful group of students lately to analyse the strengths and areas for improvement of our program. These students, selected by Learning Leaders as our most passionate readers, have been taking part in the ‘Strong Readers Forum’, which is tasked with improving our program. 

Our first mission was to get to the heart of what is happening across the school during Independent Reading. These students did a superb job creating a targeted, thorough survey that was delivered in Week 9 of Term 2. From the almost 500 hundred participants in this survey, we gleaned a huge amount of valuable information that will help us improve our beloved Independent Reading Program.  

Our next task for the Strong Readers Forum was to draft a set of teacher protocols to ensure a more consistent running of Independent Reading and update some of the rules and expectations that support the program generally. 

We are presently fine-tuning this work with the aim to deliver it to staff on our first day back in Term 3 and to the rest of the school community thereafter. 

From there, it’s really in the hands of the wonderful students who have participated in this program. It is exciting, interesting and rewarding work, and I’d like to thank the members of this group for all they have done. 

How can you support the Independent Reading Program at home? 

Our survey results indicate that most students get their reading materials from home or from the school’s library.  Discussing what your child is reading with them would be a great support. You could even make some recommendations. And remember, magazines that line up with your child’s interests are most welcome! 

Our survey results also indicate some students feel a bit frustrated when they are disrupted during an Independent Reading Session. We encourage all parents and guardians to ask their children how they are going with the program, and where necessary, remind them that we all have the right to read quietly during this time, and the responsibility to let others enjoy this right. 

Above all, the more reading there is in the home, the better the learning outcomes are at school. Never underestimate the power of picking up a newspaper when you are out and about!