Reading   

This term students are reading two texts. The first text is the historical novel Once by Morris Gleitzman. This novel is set during World War II, and the story follows the journey of Felix Salinger, a young Jewish boy living in Poland. The narrative recalls events of the Holocaust through the innocent eyes of a child. Children will have time and opportunity to explore themes of courage, resilience, compassion, human rights, hope, resilience and the enduring power of friendship.

We are explicitly teaching students to actively think about the ideas in the text through engaging in vocabulary instruction during and after reading. Through both teacher and student read aloud opportunities, we will develop fluency, prosody and accuracy. To support students in their comprehension we will pause during our reading of the text to explain, model and guide them, assisting them to identify key ideas, ask questions to clarify thinking, provide reasons or evidence, and analyse attributes of the characters in the text.

The second text is Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott which follows the story of Tally, an 11-year-old girl with autism who is navigating the challenges of starting high school. Tally faces numerous obstacles as she tries to fit in, make friends, and communicate her thoughts and feelings to those around her. This novel explores the world through Tally's unique perspective as she learns to cope with her differences and embrace her own voice. Students will have time and opportunity to explore themes of understanding, acceptance, and the importance of empathy in our society.