Head of Department (Curriculum) Update 

Reading in our modern world is more important than ever. When your kids see you reading and writing in everyday life – reading for pleasure, sharing a story with them, using a recipe, making a shopping list, writing a birthday card, reading street signs, or reading and writing emails – it teaches them that reading and writing are useful skills.

Reading with your child at home will help them in all learning areas at school. Often teachers will ask you to listen to your child read at home. This is a good way to support your child's reading. You can borrow books from your school library or your local library.

What parents can do at home to help their kids with reading PART A

• Be confident that your child will learn to read. Give positive messages and involve them in everyday conversations and opportunities to read.
• Read aloud to your child. It helps them to learn about the language of books and will encourage them to enjoy books and reading.
• Read to your child in your home language if your first language is not English.
• Make reading enjoyable and talk about books, magazines and computer stories that you have read together.
• Try not to let television or the computer intrude on reading time. Make a special time for reading with your child, away from interruptions.
• Listen to your child read as often as you can, every day if possible, even if only for a short time.
• Give books in print or electronic form as treats and presents.

Hints for listening to your child read

• When reading together at home try to make the time relaxed, enjoyable and positive. Vary it. Read together, read to your child and take turns or have them read to you.
• Before reading, talk about the cover, the title and the pictures, and discuss what the book may be about.
• During reading, discuss what has been read up to that point and predict what might happen next.
• After you've finished reading with your child, talk and ask questions about the story and the pictures.

Please watch out for PART B in the next newsletter.

Regards, Linda Smith