Learning to Read
Learning to read and developing a love of books are two of the most important gifts we can give our children. If we want to help children to become lifelong readers, we have to lay strong foundations in primary school.
All of our planning units have been written to help to teach some great literature to children aged 7-11. These texts certainly provide a challenge and most children will need carefully structured teaching to get something out of them. Giving a ten-year-old The Complete Works of Shakespeare isn’t going to help them become a better reader.
Quite simply, we believe that one of the best ways to get children reading is to introduce them to the right book. If we can share that one magical book with a child, the one that feels like it was written just for them, then we’ve created a reader for life. The kind of English lessons our units cover is one way children will encounter great books at school, but it shouldn’t be the only way:
Reading Aloud
We think there’s a big case for children to be listening to a book read aloud every day right the way through primary school. It might be one of the ‘classics’ we keep banging on about, or it might be some of the great contemporary children’s books that are available.
Why read aloud to KS2? Surely they can read themselves...Well, firstly one of the simplest ways of developing children as readers is to read aloud to them. Listening to books being read aloud can develop children’s knowledge and understanding and along with the rich vocabulary they encounter, can help to develop their comprehension. It makes the language of books and literature accessible and gives a model of expressive reading which they can copy themselves.
Reading aloud can prompt brilliant debate and it keeps children enjoying books as they move through KS2. It is also great for broadening their reading palate as they get to hear texts that they wouldn’t necessarily choose themselves. Plus, for the teacher, doing the voices is fun!
If all that wasn't enough, it can be a really joyful time of the day, and that’s good enough for us.
Independent Reading
We know that children spend much less time reading at home in their free time than they used to. We can’t really blame them- modern life is busy and there is so much competition for their time from TV, computers and the Internet. That’s why we think building in some time to read at school every day is so important. Even just 15 minutes a day keeps children in the reading habit.
Finding the Right Book
The key to it all is finding the right book. A quick Google search will give you loads of great sites that recommend children’s books, but here are some of our tried-and-tested favourites. We’ve read all of them aloud to classes at some point and we’ve found they’re always popular. They also make great recommendations for children to read independently. You could plan some amazing English units based on them too.
Wonderful Contemporary Fiction
Classic Children’s Literature
Retellings of Great Stories
Beautiful Picture Books
All of our planning units have been written to help to teach some great literature to children aged 7-11. These texts certainly provide a challenge and most children will need carefully structured teaching to get something out of them. Giving a ten-year-old The Complete Works of Shakespeare isn’t going to help them become a better reader.
Quite simply, we believe that one of the best ways to get children reading is to introduce them to the right book. If we can share that one magical book with a child, the one that feels like it was written just for them, then we’ve created a reader for life. The kind of English lessons our units cover is one way children will encounter great books at school, but it shouldn’t be the only way:
Reading Aloud
We think there’s a big case for children to be listening to a book read aloud every day right the way through primary school. It might be one of the ‘classics’ we keep banging on about, or it might be some of the great contemporary children’s books that are available.
Why read aloud to KS2? Surely they can read themselves...Well, firstly one of the simplest ways of developing children as readers is to read aloud to them. Listening to books being read aloud can develop children’s knowledge and understanding and along with the rich vocabulary they encounter, can help to develop their comprehension. It makes the language of books and literature accessible and gives a model of expressive reading which they can copy themselves.
Reading aloud can prompt brilliant debate and it keeps children enjoying books as they move through KS2. It is also great for broadening their reading palate as they get to hear texts that they wouldn’t necessarily choose themselves. Plus, for the teacher, doing the voices is fun!
If all that wasn't enough, it can be a really joyful time of the day, and that’s good enough for us.
Independent Reading
We know that children spend much less time reading at home in their free time than they used to. We can’t really blame them- modern life is busy and there is so much competition for their time from TV, computers and the Internet. That’s why we think building in some time to read at school every day is so important. Even just 15 minutes a day keeps children in the reading habit.
Finding the Right Book
The key to it all is finding the right book. A quick Google search will give you loads of great sites that recommend children’s books, but here are some of our tried-and-tested favourites. We’ve read all of them aloud to classes at some point and we’ve found they’re always popular. They also make great recommendations for children to read independently. You could plan some amazing English units based on them too.
Wonderful Contemporary Fiction
Classic Children’s Literature
Retellings of Great Stories
Beautiful Picture Books
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Shakespeare and More Reading List
Here's a list of all of our recommendations as a word document to be taken away, changed, added to and made your own. |
