How Can I Support My Child With Reading At Home?
Studies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference to children’s educational performance. The evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. With the help of parents, children can learn how to read and can practise reading until they can read for their own enjoyment. Then they will have a whole world of information and knowledge at their fingertips!
What difference can I make as a parent/carer?
You can make a huge difference. Sharing a book with your child allows you to share adventures and experiences in the safe world of the book. It allows you to ask questions, talk about what has happened and decide what you think together.
Here are some more helpful hints for reading with your child:
- Bring the characters to life – talk about the characters, the drawings and the events so that the story starts to come alive
- Don’t be afraid to try different voices or try out your acting skills. Your child will enjoy your performance and appreciate the story even more
- Turn off the television and concentrate on enjoying the book
- Try audio books that children can listen to in the car, on computers or phones – this is a great way to build a child’s understanding of stories and improve their listening skills
- Make books part of your family life – always have books around so that you and your children are ready to read whenever there’s a chance
- Match their interests – Help them find the right book – it doesn’t matter if it’s fiction, poetry, comic books or non-fiction
- All reading is good – Don’t discount non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, magazines and leaflets
- Bedtime stories – regularly read with your child or children at bedtime. It’s a great way to end the day and to spend valuable time with your child
Resources for Parents
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
Recommended Reads
Explore the book lists below to find some brilliant books to read at home! The books are recommended in year groups, but please have a look in each section as there might be something that appeals and will inspire your child.
Nursery Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Reception Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Year 1 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Year 2 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2 (1)
Year 3 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Year 4 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Year 5 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
Year 6 Top 100 Recommended Reads Updated (Poster) V2
The Reader Teacher website also has a ‘book match’ page where you can find similar books linked to authors that your child enjoys. https://www.thereaderteacher.com/bookmatch
Our Reading Wishlists
One of our main focuses this academic year is to develop our reading culture within school. We want to really establish a love of reading by exposing the children to more authors and allowing them to have more input on the new books within school.
One way that you can help support our school is to purchase a book for the children to have in our school library or class reading corners. If you are in a position to support the school in this way, please have a look through and, if you see something you would like to buy, just follow the same process as you would if you were ordering something for yourself from Amazon. Items will be delivered directly to the school, marked for the attention of the relevant teacher.
Below is a link to each phase, populated with books that the children have chosen themselves or that the teachers would love for the children.
Thank you for your support – it is much appreciated!
Nursery & Reception:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1KTV0S6JHV82?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_4
Year 1 & 2:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2TSRL933GHC8C?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_5
Year 3 & 4:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2OOF0EPN9IE9F?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_6
Year 5 & 6:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2J4E9DLQYN58H?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_7
