Learning and Teaching

Take a look at some of the wonderful learning happening this week at Trinity!

Home Reading

Often parents approach teachers at Trinity asking how they can support their child at home with their learning. Reading with your child is the perfect place to start. Junior students will be bringing home decodable texts for reading practice. As their reading skills develop into the middle and upper years of schooling, students will be encouraged to read a wide range of books. 

So much of reading success is about confidence and enjoyment. Often your child will bring home books they have read before to develop confidence and fluency. If children enjoy reading and feel a sense of success, then they’ll keep doing it. Readers sent home are designed to develop the love of reading and should be read with ease to promote reading practice and enjoyment. If, however, your child does come across a tricky word, the ‘Pause, Prompt, Praise’ method is a researched-based approach that helps children become more confident readers. Here is how it works:

1. PAUSE for 3-5 seconds when your child struggles with a word. Giving them this time allows them to think it through. Children often read more slowly and need space to work out the word. Rushing in too quickly can make them reliant on help and harm their self-confidence.

    

2. PROMPT with helpful cues, if they still can’t read the word. Start with a phonic prompt: “What’s the first sound in that word?” If they’re still stuck, help them by sounding the word out slowly (e.g., f..r…o…g) and encourage them to blend the sounds together. You can also break the word into syllables or uncover parts of the word gradually. If they continue to struggle, simply tell them the word and move on.

    

3. PRAISE is crucial. Always offer specific praise when they read the word correctly or after a prompt, such as “You figured that out by yourself” or “You worked that out with just a little help.” This reinforces their efforts and builds their confidence.

For older students who misread a word and continue, wait until they finish the sentence before stopping them. Sometimes, they’ll notice the mistake when the sentence doesn’t make sense and self-correct. Interrupting too soon can hinder this process, as we want them to read for meaning.

After they finish the sentence, ask, “Did that make sense?” If they say yes, have them read it again more carefully. If they misread the word a second time, ask them to review the word closely. If they recognize the error, they can correct it and reread the sentence.

If they still can’t get the word, help them use strategies like breaking it down. If they remain stuck, provide the word and move on, but note it for later discussion about its meaning, pronunciation, or unfamiliar parts.

In Week 9 on Wednesday 26th of March, Ms Anna, our Literacy Leader will run an information session on home reading for Prep to Year Two parents from 9:00am-10:00am. Please scan the QR code below to register your attendance.

If you have further questions about home reading, do not hesitate to see your child's teacher or Ms Anna.

Learning Events/Opportunities in Term One

First Aid In School for Students: Week Six - Wednesday 5/3

NAPLAN - Years Three and Five: Weeks 7, 8 and 9

Home readng information session for P-2 parents: Week 9 - Wednesday 26/3

If at any time you would like to chat about the learning at Trinity, or you have any questions or concerns about your child's learning, please do not hesitate to see your child's teacher Ms Ru or myself. 

Ms Helen Varthalis- Learning and Teaching Leader and Learning Diversity Leader

and Ms Anna Plackett - Literacy Leader