How we introduce reading in Primary 1

• Your child will have received their first reading book last week and will continue to receive 2 books per week.

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• We usually begin with picture books
• learning how to hold the book correctly
• starting from the front to back
• looking at the front cover
• looking at the name of the book and the picture
• Asking lots of questions!!! Can you think what the story might be about? Where do you think they are? etc

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Picture Books

Books with words

• We then move onto books with words
• these can contain a mixture of CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant c-a-t) words and common words.
• This is what we have been working on in class – blending the sounds they have for homework to make CVC words and learning the common words in their tubs.

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We use a number of ‘word attack strategies’ to help the children, we encourage them to:

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• Look for picture clues
• Look at the first letter
• Blend the letters
• Look for common words

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Reading – Using the day 1/day 2 approach to teach reading�

Day 1

• The children receive their book in class. In a small group the teacher will look at the book with the children discussing the picture and title. The teacher will then read the book to the children stopping to discuss characters, the setting, significant events. We will look to see if we can find common words from our tubs, words starting with letters we know etc,
• The children then receive their own copy of the book and read at their own pace.
• Finally we take turns to read to each other.

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So at the end of the session the children will have read the story 3 times before it goes home to practise and should be very familiar with the text.

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Day 2

• Firstly, the children will read the book independently.
• Secondly, they will read the book again with a partner.
• Thirdly, the children will complete a variety of tasks using their book.
• writing their favourite part of the story or character
• making a list of 2 letter words, 3 letter words, 4 letter words
• finding words with capital letters
• words beginning with vowels or consonants
• finding rhyming words
• alphabetical order
• copying their favourite sentence
• unjumbling the sentence
• answering questions.

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This is then repeated later in the week with their second book.

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Please sign your child’s reading record once you have practised at home.

• Reading tasks also help to develop writing sentences through various reading activities. This example is from term 3/4.

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• Reading activities will also reinforce other literacy skills taught throughout the week like capital letters, connectives etc.

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There are many, many reading opportunities throughout the school day as well as the children's reading books:��library �book corner�rainbow jobs�paired reading with paired class�use of technology – ipads – reading eggs�story writing�reading stories����

What you can do to help at home with reading

• Create an effective reading environment, for example switch off the TV, sit down together
• Be positive and encouraging
• Remind the children of the word attack strategies
• Discuss the book – front cover, characters, questioning
• Try to practise every day
• Try to encourage your child to read in the environment, continue with bedtime stories
• Ensure your child has their bookbag with them every day.

Please bear in mind that all children are different in their learning and progress at different rates.