Callington Primary School

Reading at home with your child

Reading with your child regularly at home has a remarkable effect on their progress within school. Little and often is usually the best way. Don’t forget to comment in your child’s reading record every time they read.

To support your child understanding of the texts they read you can ask those questions.Can they predict what might happen next in the story? Can they tell you the main parts of the story or something about one of the characters? What did they like / dislike about the book and why? Can they draw a picture about their favourite part of the book or suggest an alternative ending to a story?

Tips for helping your child to enjoy reading books

Encourage your child to pretend to 'read' a book before he or she can read words.
Visit the library as often as possible - take out audio books and DVDs as well as books.
Schedule a regular time for reading - perhaps when you get home from school or just before bed.
Buy or borrow dual-language books if English isn’t your family’s first language - you can talk about books and stories, and develop a love for them, in any language.
Look for books on topics that you know your child is interested in - maybe dragons, insects, cookery or a certain sport.
Make sure that children’s books are easily accessible in different rooms around your house.

Text is everywhere in the world around us so encourage your child to apply their reading skills when they see text in everyday life e.g. reading a shopping lists, magazines or even TV listings.

Websites to help support your child in the early stages of reading

Letters and Sounds
http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/– interactive phonics games and activities to help develop early Literacy skills.

Starfall Learn to Read
http://www.starfall.com/ – a lovely website with lots of phonics games and interactive reading activities suitable for a range of abilities.

Phonics

Phonics Bug website: https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/login?c=0
Don’t forget that your child can access their online ‘Bug Books’ using the login given. This is a fantastic and interactive way for your child to access books which will fully support them in using phonics to read and write