Striving Together: Inclusive Practice at School + at Home
Striving Together: Inclusive Practice at School + at Home
Growing confident readers — introducing our new MacqLit program
We are excited to introduce MacqLit, a new literacy intervention program at Belmont High School designed to support students requiring additional support with reading.
MacqLit is a small-group, explicit and systematic reading intervention program developed by MultiLit. It targets key areas of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, with a particular focus on developing accurate and efficient word recognition.
While targeted intervention at school is important, regular, positive reading practice at home can also play an important role in developing confidence and fluency. Reading does not need to mean sitting down with a difficult book for a long period of time. Short, supportive reading experiences can make a difference.
Tips for supporting reading at home
1. Make reading a regular habit
Aim for a small amount of reading regularly rather than an occasional long session. Even 10–20 minutes of supported reading can provide valuable practice.
2. Choose something your young person is interested in
Magazines, graphic novels, online articles, recipes, sports information, manuals and fiction can all provide opportunities to read. The goal is to build successful reading experiences, not simply to get through a particular book.
3. Read together
You don't always have to listen to your child read an entire text independently. Try alternating sentences or paragraphs, reading together, or having an adult read some of the more challenging sections.
4. Use “Pause, Prompt, Praise”
When your young person gets stuck on a word, try not to immediately give them the answer.
Pause — give them a few seconds to work it out.
Prompt — encourage them to look at the letters and sounds in the word or break a longer word into manageable parts.
Praise — acknowledge their effort and strategy when they work it out.
This approach is consistent with MultiLit’s Reinforced Reading approach, which supports accuracy, fluency and comprehension through structured, one-to-one reading practice.
5. Talk about what you read
Ask simple questions such as “What was that mainly about?”, “What do you think will happen next?” or “What does that word mean here?” Talking about vocabulary and meaning helps connect accurate word reading with comprehension.
6. Keep it positive
Praise effort, persistence and progress, rather than focusing on mistakes. If reading becomes frustrating, take a break and return to it later. Building confidence is an important part of developing a positive reading identity.
Want to see supported reading in action?
MultiLit has provided a short video demonstrating its Reinforced Reading approach. This is a useful example of how an adult can support a young person while they read, using prompts and positive feedback rather than simply supplying the answers.
Watch the MultiLit Reinforced Reading video
Remember: reading support at home doesn't need to feel like another lesson. A few minutes of positive, supported practice, done regularly, can help young people build accuracy, fluency and confidence over time.
Shared reading can strengthen parent–child connection, communication and confidence, while building vocabulary, supporting comprehension and fostering a positive relationship with reading.
Ms Cologni
Inclusive Practice Leader
