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''OUR BELIEF IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL RESTS IN OUR STRONG SENSE OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY...''
-ANTHONY BATCHELOR​

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Make Books a Special Part of Every Day Family Life

29/9/2016

 
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​Why am I blogging about reading?


Our focus in the Primary Division this year is on the Language Scope and Sequence for PYP, in particular the strand of reading and writing.



The love for reading is born in the home. At school we can build on this but I am a firm believer that the home is where reading, and a love of reading in all its forms, modeled by parents and grandparents, is where children first catch the ‘reading bug.’ 
The National Academy of Education, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, set up the Commission on Reading. The primary findings in their report was that, “The single most important activity for building knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” Reading with your child should be a joyful experience.  

The author Emilie Buchwald sums it up nicely: 
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents”
My advice for you is simple:
  • Let your children see you read – books, newspapers, cookbooks or magazines.
  • Do not teach reading, or get tense around books. Remember reading should be a pleasure for you and your children.
  • Give books for birthday and special occasions.
  • Your children may bring home books; it is important to validate your children’s choices so that all books become an opportunity to play games with the words, to have discussions about the illustrations, to delve into the ideas behind the story and to establish what it is that your child finds so engaging about the book. View every book as an opportunity to interact positively with your child.
  • It is also important for you to realise that you do not have to read only in English to your child.  It is good to read to your child in his/her own mother-tongue: in fact this is essential in order for your child to develop good language skills which can be transferred to any additional language.
  • And know that your children will probably want you to continue reading to them long after they are capable of doing it independently – because reading aloud isn’t just about reading. It’s a warm, loving experience that we hope you’ll continue for as long as your child desires.

    Some tips:    
  • Spend at least ten minutes every day reading aloud. Chapter books are great as your children get older.
  • Let your children choose books that interest them whatever the topic.
  • Be physically close to your child as you share books together. One of the best parts about reading aloud is having your child sit snuggled up to you.
  • Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice.  Be expressive, loud, quiet and have fun and laugh a lot!
  • Read with joy.
  • Read the stories that the children love, over and over and over again.
  • Talk to your children about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book.
  • Talk about the books and ask “why, “how,” “what do you think” and “what if” questions.
  • Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children.

Above all enjoy this time with your child.
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Samir
7/10/2016 14:03:57

Hello Tony,

I have been struggling with this issue for two years now. I realised the importance of reading with my daughter, Khushi; once she joined OIS in grade 1. That whole year, we read together a lot. Starting with level 1 of ladybird books, we progressed to level 4 quite easily, and more importantly while having a lot of fun. She even had her favourite book then - Rumpelstiltskin.

Things changed as she entered 2nd grade. She was reading a lot in school but was avoiding reading with me at home. We did manage to read some of the books she brought home from the school library. But then that stopped too. She wouldn't sit down to read anything. This was the same last year in grade 3 too.

I tried many things; reading my books in front of her, tried reading aloud to her, tried different genres - not knowing which might get her to read, I even tried (in spite of myself) Barbie books (she was really into all stuff Barbie during those days) - but nothing worked. I didn't want to pressurize her into reading books at home, so I would only nudge her time and again.

Last year, I even joined the reading relative program to understand how other kids take to reading. That didn't help much because I learned that every child is different and it didn't make sense to try and use a standard approach with everyone.

I haven't given up hope, though. One thing that I am going to try now is read aloud when she's around - just for 10 or 15 minutes. I am hoping that this would get her interested without overwhelming her.

Thank you for this blog post, it renewed my determination. Keep up the great work!


Comments are closed.
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    Mr Tony
    Head of Primary

    If this is your first visit to my blog - welcome! Please pop back from time to time as I will be giving details on upcoming events of interest, giving you a window into what I have been up to, and recording my thinking on current educational issues.

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