Shared Reading

26th September 2011

 

Dear Parents,

 

We do two forms of reading in Senior Infants

 

1. SHARED READING

Your child will continue with ‘Shared Reading’ shortly. The system works the same as it did in Junior Infants. Here is a reminder of how to help your child.

 

  • Your child chooses his/her own book.

  • Children learn to read better from books they like.

  • Don‘t worry if it seems too hard. Your child will get used to picking books that aren’t too hard.

  • If your child gets fed up with a book and wants to change it, that’s ok. Only read a book again if the child wants to.

 

Time to do Shared Reading;

  • Try very hard to do some Shared Reading nearly every day. You only need to do 5 minutes each day.

  • Don’t do more than 15 minutes unless your child wants to carry on.

  • Don’t make children do Shared Reading when they really want to do something else.

 

Place to do Shared Reading.

  • Try to find a place that is quiet. Children can’t read when it’s noisy, or when there’s lots going on.

  • Get away from the TV or turn it off.

 

Reading Together;

  • You and your child both read the words out loud together. You must not go too fast.

  • Make your speed as fast or as slow as your child’s.

  • Your child must read every word. If your child struggles and then gets it right, show you are pleased.

  • Don’t let your child struggle for more than 5 seconds. If your child struggles too long or struggles and gets it wrong, then you:

  • just say the right word yourself and

  • Make sure your child then says it right as well.

  • Make sure your child looks at the words. It can help if one or you points to the word you are both reading with a finger. It’s best if your child will do the pointing.

 

Reading alone:

  • When you are Reading Together and your child feels good enough, they might want to read a bit alone.

  • You should agree on a way for your child to ask you to be quiet. This could be a knock, a sign or a squeeze. (You don’t want your child to have to say, “Be Quiet” or your child will loose track of the reading).

  • You stop reading out loud straight away, and praise the child for making the sign.

When your child struggles for more than 5 seconds, or struggles and gets it wrong, you read the right word out loud for your child. Make sure your child then says it right as well.

  • You should then both continue reading out loud together until your child feels good enough to read alone, and again gives you the sign to be quiet.

 

2. FORMAL READING

This will be the Wonderland scheme. The children are taught the vocabulary and are expected to read the prescribed pages. It is important that the child stays with their reading group for formal reading. They are taught according to their level and proceed together as a group. This prescribed reading the child is expected to be practiced at home and you could make a note on the sheet inside the front cover of any words they were unsure of. The child will get a class reader to bring home from this scheme as well as additional readers if they are very competent readers.

 

Thank-you for your assistance with the reading programme in school. Good luck and I hope you get many hours of pleasure with your child.

 

If there is anything that you are not clear about, please talk to Katie.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

_____________

Sinead O’Kane

Principal