Reading
Reading is the backbone of everything we do here at MPS. Reading is given the highest priority with families also supporting this. Children read at home at least 4 times a week, engage in story time every day, visit our school library once a week and have a daily reading lesson all the way through to Year 6. Many of our pupils also have additional, specialist phonics support from our excellent reading support teacher.
We teach our children using the ‘Read Write Inc’ phonics scheme. From starting school, you will find that your children have a reading record and a picture book in their book bag. Listening to stories is a really important way of helping your child to learn to read. Try to be really enthusiastic and ask the children questions about the story as you go through.
Top tips to engage your children in stories:
- Point out things you can see in the pictures
- Ask ‘What can they smell? What can they hear?’ etc
- Do silly voices!
- Use facial expressions
- Act surprised/scared/upset/happy about things that happen in the story
How do I choose books for my child to read?
At MPS, we have a set list of quality texts that we share with the children throughout their life at school. As a teaching team, we agreed on the criteria that makes a quality text for our children:
- A range of quality authors
- Fiction and non-fiction
- Poetry with new vocabulary
- A range of topical issues in which children can relate to; race, religion, gender identity, war etc.
These texts are read to our pupils on a daily basis.
Once your child has progressed beyond our range of phonetical reading books, they will be able to choose chapter books from our school library. If you are looking for ideas of books to buy for your children, here are some useful lists!
Recommended Book Lists
Books For Topics
Book lists
Writing
Phonics
Shortly after starting school your child should receive a reading book which will be linked to the phonetic sounds that your child is learning. We use ‘Read Write Inc.’ to teach phonics as well as sending home ‘Read Write Inc.’ book bag books to ensure that the learning in school links to the learning at home.
Some phonics book bag books may have just pictures to begin with; use these to help your children learn to tell a story.
For further information about the Read Write Inc. scheme please follow the links below:
Read Write Inc. Information
Oxford Owls
How do I do phonics with my child at home?
When you read with your child at home, try to ‘sound out’ and ‘blend’ the words in the same way as we do in our videos. Prompt your child to look for ‘special friends’ within the word and then ‘read the word’. If they need further support, give them the phrase to help them to recall the sound e.g. coat, ‘special friends’ or read the word.
Here are some useful resources to support your child with phonics at home: