Junior School Resource Centre
Hello from the Library. This week I will share some strategies for parents to assist their children in their reading at home, particularly with regard to confidence and enjoyment. Below I have listed three types of 'modelled reading' recommended for the younger years:
Shared Reading (beginning readers): You read to your child and discuss various text features such as illustrations, headings and interesting words. Your child listens while appreciating the print and illustrations. Your child may connect to the visual or oral language, while building print awareness, and gradually gaining confidence.
Paired Reading (developing readers): You and your child read a text together. Your child takes over the reading alone in sections where they feel confident. They may devise a method of letting you know when they want to read independently (e.g. gently tapping you on the arm). For more difficult text you may take turns in reading sentences, paragraphs, or even pages of text - establish the rule before commencing, but ensure it is a 'positive sharing experience', not a 'forced learning experience'.
Choral Reading (stronger readers): Here you and your child read aloud in unison. You model fluency and expression. Your child hears patterns of language and develops sight word vocabulary. Poems for two voices, songs and simple scripts could be used. Mem Fox and Dr Seuss are perfect books for this style of reading. Don't be concerned about whether the vocabulary is too easy or not, it's more about developing voice and expression.
For the older years I recommend to you, the parents, that you read the books (or ebooks) your boys are reading. This will then allow for meaningful discussions and common interest points. Feel free to borrow and read some of the books below before recommending to your boys: Skellig, Hatchet, Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool, Frindle, Blueback, Specky Magee, The Cat Prince, Gregor the Overlander, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Scatterlings, Tomorrow When the War Began, Crow Country, or The Golden Door.
Warwick Norman
Junior School Teacher Librarian
