English (Reading)

Reading

Whole Group Focus

In this ten minute session we use enlarged text to teach and model to children key points about reading. ‘Big Books’ are used to focus on directionality, picture cues, tracking, single sounds, punctuation, concepts of a letter, word and sentence and more advanced strategies throughout the year such as ‘chunking’, re-reading, and reading on for more information. We will be introducing the ‘CAFÉ’ reading program (Comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanding vocabulary) with a particular focus on accuracy reading strategies.

Small Group Focus

During the next forty minutes children are involved in explicit teaching sessions with the teacher and learning activities which support reading development.

Guided Reading

During Guided Reading, children work in small groups in a one-to-one teaching situation with the teacher. Children are matched to texts according to their needs and given reading material at their instructional level. A specific, needs based reading focus is selected by the teacher each session. Continuous assessment, enables teachers to plan appropriate learning activities and work in a concentrated way with groups of students.

Learning Centres

Children regularly work in learning groups to consolidate and extend their literacy understandings. The number and type of learning centre activities on any one day might vary depending on the children's needs and interests. Learning centres with a literacy focus include: word games, letter- sound games, reading and isolating letter sounds, response to text activities, rhyming and syllable activities and iPads.

Whole Class Share Time

The children are brought back together to reflect upon, discuss and celebrate their learning.

Supporting your Child as they Learn to Read

As children learn to read at school, parents can help reinforce the skills they are learning in the classroom. It’s important to remember that children will learn to read at different rates. Your child will bring home a new take-home book almost each day. The main purpose of these books are to ensure your child gains enjoyment and success when reading. Encourage your child to be responsible for their take-home books and their book bag. These are to be brought to school each day.