Reading
At Rood End Primary, we aim to provide the children with a range of reading opportunities. Pupils have their own personal reading book and phonics book (where needed) appropriate to their reading ability. There are topic-related texts, audio books, magazines and children's newspapers to access too. All classrooms have reading shelves with books from favourite authors. In addition, pupils in upper Key Stage Two have an online Reading Plus account.
The school strongly supports parental engagement and there will be opportunities throughout the year to read alongside your child. We also have an annual Book Fair and celebrate World Book Day. All events will be explained via newsletters and text messaging services.
What texts do we read in school?
Beyond Phonics Book Bands
If you want to know the progression of colours for our book bands, please see attached documents. Children will move through the scheme based on staff assessment judgements. Your feedback in the Reading Record Book is certainly valued too.
Phonics Stage: Read Alone and Read With Me
Read Alone books are phonetically decodable linked to our phonics scheme. Your child should be able to read this book independently as they are practising the sounds they have learnt in class.
Read With Me books are designed to be shared with an adult. They encourage wider reading and enjoyment of stories. These books will also develop vocabulary. There may be some words that your child is unable to decode or word meanings that need to be explained.
Reading Records
Each pupil has a Reading Record Book. This Reading Record should be brought into school alongside your children's reading books.
When reading with your child at home, please record your own comments. This does not need to be long or complicated - just show that somebody at home has been supporting with reading.
Praise comments:
- Well Done.
- Read fluently with sister.
- Tried really hard.
Feedback to the teacher:
- They found this book difficult or easy.
- Explained the events in the story.
- Had to explain the meaning of these words ...
- Needed help with 'ch' sound.
Smiley face:
Sometimes a smiley face or another picture can be used.
In addition to your child's school reading books, you can share and discuss newspapers, magazines, recipes, factual books, picture books or website information.
Word Lists
Please support your child to read and spell the following words linked to year group expectations.
Supporting Comprehension
As well as being able to apply their phonics and decode words, it is really important that children have a good understanding about what they have read. At Rood End, we apply these key comprehension skills: Retrieval, Explore, Analyse, Deduce and Infer.
To support with reading at home, we have explained the meaning of each of these skills. We have also provided you with question prompts.
Becoming a Reading Volunteer
Meet the author - Tom Palmer
In March 2021, the author Tom Palmer produced a video for Rood End Primary. The following questions were generated by the pupils themselves:
- What was the first book/story that you produced? Did it get published?
- How long did it take you to write your first story? Did you ever feel like giving up?
- How did you become a writer? When did you realise that this is your career?
- Why did you become an author?
- If you were not an author, what job would you have and why?
- Which authors inspire you?
- What would you say to a boy/girl who wants to be an author when they grow up?
- How do you continue to come up with new ideas for stories?
- Why do you use football/sport as the starting point for many of your books?
- If you had to go back in time, would you change anything in one particular book?
- Who is one of your favourite characters in any of the books that you have written?
- Do you prefer writing children's books or adults' books?
- Favourite genre?
- Where do you write your books?
- Out of all your books, do you have a particular favourite?
Reading Websites
We hope you find the following websites useful.
World Book Day 2023
World Book Day 2022
