Reading and Phonics
INTENT
Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in the way we do?
At Woodlands, we aim to provide children with a literacy-rich environment, high quality texts and inspiring learning opportunities, which will help them to:
- Gain a love of reading and books.
- Read accurately, fluently and with understanding;
- Apply a knowledge of structured synthetic phonics in order to decode unfamiliar words with increasing accuracy and speed;
- Be able to read with expression, clarity and confidence;
- Develop a good linguistic knowledge of vocabulary and grammar;
- Read and respond to a wide range of different types of texts;
- Develop a deeper level of emotional intelligence and empathy;
- Read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject.
IMPLEMENTATION
What do we teach? What does this look like?
Phonics
We use Read Write Inc.to support our teaching of phonics. All children from Reception to Year 4 are screened on a half termly basis and placed into the appropriate group that matches their phonetic and reading development. In Years 5 and 6, children still requiring phonics teaching follow the Fresh Start modules (part of Read Write Inc) and are assessed at the end of each half term. Teachers and teaching assistants teach the groups and there is a 40-minute phonics and reading lesson 5 times per week. Those children who have exited the programme work in a comprehension / spelling group following the RWI Comprehension units and Spelling programme.
Reading sessions at Woodlands
From Year 2 to Year 6, we have adopted a shared, mastery approach to reading at Woodlands following Pathways to Read. One of our literacy sessions per week is dedicated to reading. These reading sessions will engage the children using a book which links to their writing text and focus on 4 key areas of reading; prediction, clarification of new vocabulary, read and retrieve and read and explain. To stretch, extend and consoidate the children's reading skills staff will complete a guided reading session with groups of children. These follow up guided reading sessions have a mastery focus, providing pupils with the opportunity for discussion in smaller groups with an adult.
Home Reading
The best way to help your child achieve well in reading, and indeed across the curriculum is to hear them read, share and discuss a variety of reading materials as often as you can. Children at Woodlands are expected to read at least 3 times per week, but we urge you to strive for five times a week. The children are provided with a book banded reading book, but are also encouraged to read widely. This may include a range of non-fiction texts such as newspapers, restaurant menus or road signs. Once the children have read at home to an adult, a record of the read should be noted in their home-school reading diary.
As part of our whole school reading reward charts, 3 rewards are agreed at the beginning of each half term. These could include baking, iPad time or extra outdoor play. On a Friday, the children’s diaries are checked and if they have read 3 or more times they travel up the reading chart. It is a real pleasure to see those children who have shown commitment and dedication to reading and reach the top of the reading chart at the end of the half term.
Reading Spine
Below you can find a copy of the 'Reading spine' document which has been put together by the Literacy Company who support our English curriculum in school. The document contains 8 bookshelves: 1 for each year group. On each bookshelf is a suggestion of 10 books that you can share at home to support your child’s reading. The books have been chosen to develop that love of reading that we strive for across our school whilst also expanding vocabulary, engaging your children in reading and building on their comprehension skills. At times, the Literacy Company have recommended authors who have a back catalogue to choose from. Some books are classics and will be familiar to you and your children. Others may lead your children to explore new authors and new directions.
Reading events
Throughout the year, many events are planned to encourage, inspire and promote reading across our school. As often as possible, we like to invite our older children to share and enjoy stories with our younger children to promote reading for pleasure. Along with this, we have author of the month, world book day and read aloud day events, weekly library visits, visits to our own school library and authors visits to help motivate our children to read.
Storytime At Woodlands
Click on the links below to listen to a story with your child.
Small Knight and George (Mr Barnes favourite!)
The Troll Swap (Rev Jackie reads a story with a burb!)
Goldilocks, A Cautionary Tale of Internet Uploads
