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What is the best way to share a book?

There are many methods to help children develop
a love of books and to take their first steps
towards learning to read.

Step 1 – You read to your child
  • Let your child tell you about the story using
    the pictures
  • Point out the title of the book and who
    wrote it.
  • Follow the print with your finger as you
    read.
  • Talk about the story and the pictures with
    your child.

Step 2 – You and your child read a familiar book
  • You and your child point to the words as
    you read together.
  • Talk about what the pictures show and
    predict what might happen next.
Step 3 – Your child reads a familiar book

  • Encourage your child to try by him/herself.
    Your child will use the pictures and storyline to
    help re-tell the story from memory. Ensure your
    child can always see the pictures.
  • Accept appropriate word changes (e.g. mat for
    rug, stream for river).

Step 4 – Your child attempts to read an unfamiliar
book

  • The clues pictures give are very important.
  • To begin with, read quietly alongside your child.
  • As their confidence grows, let them read to you,
    supplying unfamiliar words as they are needed.
Step 5 – Your child begins to read text
independently

  • The pictures and storyline are still used
    by your child.
  • They will have developed a bank of words
    they recognise by sight.
  • Encourage your child to look at the first
    sound of words your child doesn't know.
  • Encourage your child to add some
    expression to their reading as fluency
    develops. You may need to read it with
    expression first to show your child.
At all times make sure you tell your child how well
they are doing.
Children are keen to please. If they think you are
pleased with their efforts, they will want to try
harder.
Praise and encouragement are the key to confident
readers.
In school we have a wide variety of reading
materials, both fiction and non-fiction. These books
help to provide the breadth of experience and
language to enable them to become more confident,
independent readers. As your child's reading skills
develop, they can enjoy books of a more challenging
nature.
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Green Valley School
Since 1998
Reading

Dear Parent of kindergarten and junior
primary
Green Valley School believes that children
learn to read best when they feel happy and
confident about what they are doing. We offer
children a wide variety of experiences and
provide an atmosphere in which we guide and
support them while they learn to read. This
page has been made to help you understand
more about reading in our school and how you
can help at home. We hope you will find is
useful.
"So what can you do to help?"

Each day your child will bring home a book to
share, in a story folder Please help by reading
the book to, and with, your child. This is one of
the ways you can support our work at school.
It is important to set the scene for reading.

Where?
Somewhere warm and comfortable.
When?
A suitable, regular time when you both feel
relaxed.
How often?
Try to make reading part of your daily routine.
Aim for a quiet time with brothers and sisters
occupied, television and music switched off.