Improving Standards in Literacy

Parent Information session

Jenna JonesLiteracy/Numeracy Project Coordinator

Was it a positive experience?

Who taught you to read?

Research undertaken by Literacy Matters states that over 80% of those surveyed believed that their parents taught them to read

Reading Skills

… a refresher

WORD RECOGNITION LANGUAGE

COMPREHENSION

Phonicknowledge

Graphicknowledge

Word recognition

Contextual understanding

Grammatical knowledge

Reading Skills

How is Reading Taught in Schools?

Reading Skills

… decoding

• Memory• Picture clues• Sight recognition• Phonic knowledge

Decoding Print

• POPAT• Tric a Chlic

How we teach decoding at YGG Abercynon

Story Sack Library

• It gives the child an overview of the story

so that they can concentrate on reading

for meaning

• It prepares them for unfamiliar vocabulary

enabling them to read with 95% success

• It gives the child more confidence to tackle

the text

Pre-Read

Helping your child to decode

• Sight recognition

• Rhyming words

• Sound buttons

• Blending/segmenting

• Picture clues

• Read sentence leaving out a word. Discuss what

the word could be.

• Word games

• Positive reinforcement

Helping your child to decode

• Stay calm!

• Allow the child time to decode the word before

telling them.

• Encourage sounding out

• Prompt the child to look at the pictures, there

may be a clue.

• Encourage the child to re-read the sentence, or

complete the sentence.

When a child gets stuck

Reading Skills

… understanding – (higher order reading skills)

Reading is a complex process. It involves more than just reading the words; it involves getting at the message behind the words. We can be fooled into thinking that learners can read effectively when, in fact, they are merely efficient decoders who gain little understanding of the writers’ message.

What is Reading?

Many children are decoders, not readers. Children must know that text is supposed to make sense and they need explicit instruction in how to comprehend.

What is Reading?

Making meaning from text

What do we do when we read?

Make predictions or give opinions, then decide if we are right

Decide whether we think it is a good book or not

Work out the main characters and the main themes

Compare the book to others that we have read

Decide whether we agree with what characters do, or how our lives are the same or different to theirs

Think of questions that we want to find out the answers to

Try to understand what the author’s message is

Think about why the writer has used certain features e.g. layout and words

How is Reading Taught in Schools?

• Guided reading sessions• Whole class reading• Use of technology

How we teach higher-order reading skills at YGG

Abercynon

Guided reading with teacher – approx. 6

in a group

Follow-up activity from the guided reading session

Independent reading

Handwriting activity

Spelling activities / games

Be a great role model• Let them catch you reading• Let your children see that you get pleasure from

reading• Share your favourite books/reading material with

them• Show them the value of being able to read

What Can You Do To Help Your Child?

Make the experience pleasurable• Find a comfortable place• Give them plenty of time• Avoid interruptions• Keep the time positive• Stay clear of competition and comparisons with

others – reading scheme-itis.

What Can You Do To Help Your Child?

Provide a wide range of reading material

A school reading book is only one part of a child’s reading repertoire

What Can You Do To Help Your Child?

•Magazines•Comics•Information books•Brochures•Catalogues•Flyers

•Newspapers•Websites•Take-away menus•Instructions•Guide books

8 magical strategies for improving comprehension

• Make connections• Infer• Predict• Visualise• Question• Determine importance• Synthesise• Fix-up strategies

What Can You Do To Help Your Child?

What Can You Do To Help Your Child?

www.booksforkeeps.co.uk

www.cool-reads.co.uk

www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk

www.booktrusted.com

www.redhouse.co.uk

www.lovereading4schools.co.uk

www.oxfordowl.co.uk

Parent leaflets

Please help yourself to the leaflets you

think will be useful

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out

is a spark." — Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Thank You!