Reading in Ash and Apple Class (EYFS, Y1 and Y2)
At Gargrave C of E Primary School we follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our validated programme for teaching phonics and early reading. Children have daily phonics lessons and group reading sessions 3 times per week.
We follow a 3 read approach: decode, fluency, comprehension.
Read 1 – DECODE
Children use their phonic knowledge to decode the words on the pages. Focus is solely on this rather than comprehension and understanding. Try not to interrupt or question the children during this stage.
Read 2 – FLUENCY
This is another opportunity for the children to apply their phonic knowledge but hopefully slightly quicker. Children should hopefully recognise some of the words second time round and less sounding out and blending is taking place. Please record how the children get on with this in planners. Again, there is a strong focus on phonics and fluency here so try not to question the children on their understanding during this session.
Read 3 – COMPREHENSION
During this read the children read the book again, hopefully by now they are quite familiar with the words. This is the time to check children’s understanding of what is going on in the story. Try to ask questions that link with the story (books have questions at the front/back). Discuss the vocabulary and clarify meaning and understanding.
After children have read their full reading book 3 times, children will be given a new reading book. Occasionally if children are not fluent, they may be asked to repeat the cycle. It is important that you record page numbers read at home in the planner so that we know when books need to be changed.
What books will my child read?
Individual reading books – children will bring these fully decodable reading books home each day in their reading folder. Our school expectation is that you listen to your child read 5 times a week at home. Please record each read in the planner for a jump on the raving reader chart.
Group reading book (Year 1 only) – children will bring these books home on a Thursday or Friday and these need to be returned to school the following Monday. Children will have read these books in school 3 times with a member of staff. Children may wish to share these books with you at home. If children do want to read this book to you, please record it in the planner and we will count it as a jump on the raving reader chart.
WCGR text (Year 2 only) – this will be sent home on a Friday and needs to be returned on the Monday. It is essential that children read this text over the weekend in preparation for their WCGR lessons. Your child may read this to you, you may read it together, or you may read this to your child. Please record this in the planner as it will count for a jump on the raving reader chart.
Reading book for pleasure – this is a non-decodable story book. This book is to be shared at home. This will come home on a Monday and needs to be returned the following Monday. Children will select their own reading book for pleasure to bring home to read with you. This read does not need to be recorded in the planner.
Slides from a recent parents information meeting for EYFS and KS1 can be found here.
KS2 Reading (Year 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Children will read books from year group specific lists. There lists include a variety of genres and have been put together by teachers and students. Please encourage children to read at home for 15 minutes 5 times per week. This will help to build fluency and stamina.
WCGR (Year 3,4,5 and 6)
Children will bring an extract of text home on a Friday and needs to be returned on the Monday. It is essential that children read this text over the weekend in preparation for their WCGR lessons. Your child may read this to you, you may read it together, or you may read this to your child. Please record this in the planner as it will count for a jump on the raving reader chart.