Reading
The ambition for English at Woodchurch Road Academy is a commitment to fostering a love for reading and writing in all our pupils. Our vision is to create a learning environment where children not only achieve academic excellence in literacy but also develop a lifelong passion for reading. We aim to inspire every child to become an enthusiastic and skilled reader, prepared for future success and empowered to engage with the world around them. We are dedicated to Encouraging children to read for pleasure, cultivating a love for reading both inside and outside the classroom through organising trips to the library to expand students’ access to a wide range of literature. Through Expeditionary Learning we aim to create excitement around story time in class, making it a highlight of each day, where pupils look forward to exploring new stories. We ensure that our reading materials reflect a rich diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, allowing every child to see themselves and others in the books they read.
Shared Reading
Shared reading is a teaching tool that allows reading to be taught on a whole class basis. We use the Steps to Read scheme which uses high quality texts that are pitched to a higher level than the children could access independently to push their learning forward. This scheme is carefully sequenced, coherent and progressive. Language rich texts allow children to build up a wider vocabulary and understanding of how texts are organised. All elements of comprehension are taught sequentially across each academic year and there is a clear focus on the skills and strategies needed to be a proficient and confident reader. The texts used in the first half of each term link directly to each year group’s overarching theme to enhance cross curricular knowledge and subject specific vocabulary. Engaging texts help to promote a love of learning and include poetry, non-fiction and fiction.
The Lesson Breakdown:
Each lesson has 4 parts and is taught the same way consistently throughout the school.
Reading Plus
From year 3, we use an online reading program called Reading Plus (research-based silent reading intervention that helps students gain proficiency by improving comprehension, reading rate, and vocabulary) which helps develop and improve three particular skills in reading.
Reading Plus is a program for children that teaches them to be stronger readers. It does this by developing silent reading fluency (reading speed), then introducing more complex stories (for comprehension), and advanced vocabulary (for knowledge). Children have access to 800+ high quality online texts that are constantly updated and adapted to meet every child’s needs, regardless of what level they are reading at. Teachers can monitor exactly what and how children are reading, meaning they can offer the right kind of support when needed.
Children choose a text (typically 6-7 minutes in length) from a level appropriate to their reading ability. Once they finish the story they answer 10 questions to test if they understood what they have just read. Teachers can see reports detailing children's progress. Worksheets are available for extra support with specific reading skills. Reading Plus is not meant to replace reading books, and Reading Plus is not just an eLibrary - the program is designed to teach your child to become a more efficient reader which will add to their enjoyment of reading independently - developing a lifelong love for reading.
Reading Pus: a guide for parents