Abingdon Primary SchoolReading
Approaches to Reading
We teach Early Reading through Read, Write Inc phonics (see separate Phonics page for more information) and then build upon the skills they have learnt by moving onto Reading Gem lessons from Year 2 onwards. The 'Reading Gems' are used to support comprehension skills. Reading Gem lessons take place 4 times per week (5 times per week in Year 2) and focus on language acquisition (vocabulary), fluency and prosody, and comprehension skills. The different gems are Decode, Retrieve, Infer, Predict, Sequence/Summarise, Compare, Relate and Explore. Lessons follow a prescribed format and skills are developed and progressed as children move up through each key stage.
Children are encouraged to read at home as much as possible; ideally daily for approximately 10 minutes. Individual reading books are provided to all children: they follow the Read, Write, Inc reading scheme for children on the phonics scheme, or they take home a banded benchmarked books once they have finished Read, Write Inc. Once children complete the reading schemes, they are 'Free Readers' and can choose library/class books to read. All children have a reading record for home/school liaison and a leaflet to support them with comprehension at home (see files). In addition to their reading books, all children are also encouraged to take home a book from the school library which, for younger children, an adult can read to them; the purpose of this book is to promote a love of reading and expose the children to a wider range of text types and vocabulary.
Additional 'Reading For Pleasure' initiatives include: DEAR (Drop everything and read) sessions held weekly in class with parents being invited in once per term to share a book with their child; weekly timetabled library sessions to introduce different authors and genres as well as providing the opportunity to choose a book to take home; class story time where the children listen to and enjoy the teacher reading to them; the Abingdon Reading Challenge where children earn stars, certificates and author cards; Abingdon World Book Week with competitions, author visits and book talk; Stockport Children's Book Awards where children get excited about the new books, vote on them and draw art based on them; Stories, Snacks and Chats club held for Key Stage 2 children.
Teachers or teaching assistants will also read one-to-one with children each week across school. Where required, children are targeted as daily readers and/or given additional opportunities to read and share a story with an adult or older child. Abingdon has partnered with the School Readers organisation who introduce reading volunteers who can come into school on a weekly basis and read with selected children.
We also have Reading Ambassadors in school, who promote reading throughout all the classes, through knowledge of the library, recommending texts, encouraging outdoor reading, reading with younger children.
Each year we also have a book fair from which children and parents are invited to buy new reading materials to develop an interest in reading.
Please click the link below for Oxford Owl advice for parents reading:
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/welcome-back/for-home/reading-owl/advice-for-parents
For Ebooks that can be read at home:
Read, Write, Inc. - phonics and reading programme in EYFS and KS1 (some children may continue to access in Y3 or 4)
Reading Gems - all children who are secure in their phonics move onto studying the content domains by collecting reading gems! This incorporates vocabulary from the rest of the curriculum.
Narrative Immersion Texts - children will experience teaching through key texts whereby teachers will use books as the vehicle through which to deliver much of their curriculum content and make links across the curriculum.
Earn stars, certificates and author cards! ALL children are encouraged to join in our accessible and inclusive Abingdon Reading Challenge.