English: Reading

At Alexandra Primary School, we are committed to high achievement and equality of opportunity for all. We encourage pupils to develop the confidence to read a variety of good quality texts, appreciating our rich and varied literary heritage. We are committed to equipping our pupils with the skills to acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, written and spoken language.

Year 1 and 2: Daily Supported Reader (DSR)

This is a classroom programme that helps move all children on in their reading. It helps children make accelerated progress by working with trained adults in small groups matched to their independent reading levels.

Year 3,4,5 and 6: Destination Reader

Destination Reader is a new approach to teaching reading in KS2 (Year 3-6). The approach involves daily sessions incorporating whole class modelling, prior to the children applying these skills through partner work and independent reading. Each lesson blends a range of learning behaviours and reading strategies which, brought together, allow children to explore and understand texts independently, at a deeper level.

Every lesson starts with the class discussing the chosen strand and the learning behaviour focus. This is followed by the adult delivering a ‘Think-Aloud’ to the class. Then the class do a ‘Class Think-Aloud’ together. Following this, the children will go into their groups or into partners to read independently. At the end of the lesson, the class will be brought together to do a ‘Selfie’ either verbally or in their Reading Journals.

On Monday and Tuesday, children will work as a whole class focusing on a shared text. On Wednesday and Thursday the class will still use the same text for the start of the lesson. However, when the children disperse into their reading groups they will read a specific banded book. Teachers will sit with a group, listen to them read and write in the back of their books. Friday’s lesson can be used to do a ‘Big Picture’ – which are comprehension questions based on their text.

Home Readers

Each child at Alexandra Primary School has a Reading Journal, so that they can track their home reading. The children can write down what they have read and complete activities based on what they have read. This is so children can engage in what they have read.

Our expectations:

For our children to become fluent readers, we expect children to read at home every day for at least 20 minutes.

Our role at school:

Teachers: teach focused reading lessons, asking questions and engaging children in a range of genres.

Families: listen to you child read and ask questions.

Writing

Across the year, pupils will produce many pieces of extended writing. At the end of the year, the piece they are most proud of gets published into our very own “We are Writers” book. Parent, carers and teachers can buy copies of these books so children can showcase their creative writing.

Examples of our literacy learning

Every term examples of our learning in literacy is displayed in the school. Children produce unaided writing examples.

Accelerated Reader

The school has a fantastic Accelerated Reader library which is accessible to pupils from Year 3-6. The library contains a diverse range of books which are updated annually. Children use Accelerated Reader books to read texts which are Age Appropriate. Every week, children take ‘STAR READER’ tests to answer comprehension questions. This enables teachers to track children’s reading progress.

To further promote pleasure for reading, the school provides ‘Reading Mornings’ every Thursday to encourage parents to come and read with their children in the class. We have a fantastic turn out and our children enjoy sharing their favourite stories with their family members.