At Kassia Academy we aim to encourage all of our learners to read for pleasure. Reading for pleasure is encouraged throughout the day; during form time, in lessons and during breaks and lunches. Each of our centres have dedicated quiet reading areas with a variety of age-appropriate reading material for our learners. Monthly magazine subscriptions in each centre (chosen by learners) are used to encourage learners to read about their interests and hobbies.
The evidence about the benefits of parents being involved in their children’s education in general, and their children’s literacy activities in particular, is unequivocal. For example, research shows that parental involvement in their children’s learning positively affects the child’s performance at school, both in primary and secondary school. The impact is the same regardless of ethnic background, family income, maternal level of education, or child’s gender.
Literacy is one of the areas where parents can become involved and make a difference. Indeed, of all school subjects, reading has been found to be most sensitive to parental influences. In turn, success in reading is a gateway to success in other academic areas as well.
Simple interactions, such as exposure to books, magazines, newspapers and environmental print, impact children’s progress in learning to read.There is also ample evidence that parents who promote reading as a valuable and worthwhile activity have children who are motivated to read for pleasure.
Involvement with reading activities at home has significant positive influences not only on reading achievement, language comprehension and expressive language skills, but also on learners’ interest in reading, attitudes towards reading and attentiveness in the classroom. (Adapted from “Why Families Matter to Literacy”, available from The National Literacy Trust)
The aim of this is to give parents and carers some ideas for how they can support their child’s literacy development. It is divided into the three key areas for literacy: reading, writing and speaking & listening. We hope that you will find this interesting and useful.
You can help your child enjoy reading by helping him or her find interesting things to read. If your child enjoys reading, he or she is likely to read a lot and become a proficient reader. Here are some suggestions for encouraging your child to read:
Many children like to read such materials as these:
Reading and the National Curriculum
At school, children will learn to:
Develop their appreciation of reading by:
Understand increasingly challenge texts by:
Read critically by:
Your child needs plenty of practise in writing for a variety of purposes. Here are some
things you can do to encourage your child to write on a regular basis:
Writing and the National Curriculum
Children will be learning the following writing skills:
Writing accurately, fluently, effectively and at length by:
Planning, drafting, editing and proof reading by:
Using accurate grammar and vocabulary by: