Supporting Your Child at Home

We all want our children to do well at school.  For the first few weeks, my main aim is for the children to learn about school routines, take responsibility for their belongings, and most of all enjoy coming to school.  😊

Your child will bring home a reading book most days.  Please sign your child’s reading log, which is in the back of their poem book.  You can also use this as another form of communication between home and school.  If your child shows any hesitation or reluctance to read, then simply read the story to them.  Your child will also have access to a Reading Eggs account-more information will follow.

 Each day we focus on a different letter, learning the name of the letter and the sound it makes.  In the next couple of days I will give each child a set of alphabet cards and ‘word wall’ cards to use at home - when your child is ready.  The words don’t have to be learnt in a particular order.  As your child learns a word, they are able to read it to me, and then colour it in.  Just pick one or two at a time to focus on – you may like to pop them on the fridge or they might like to play memory or snap.  (See me if you would like to borrow an extra copy).

While it’s important to learn to read the words on the ‘word wall’, please don’t stress if your child is finding this difficult.  They will get there, but they will get there much faster if they enjoy school and ‘learning is fun!’  In class we go over the alphabet each day. 

 On Fridays, your child will bring home a new poem.   During the first few weeks I will send home some additional poems, to get them started.   Re-read these poems regularly as they are a fun way to help learn many of the basic words.  From time to time, they may bring home a book they have already read.  This is a good opportunity for them to build their confidence by reading a familiar text that they ‘know’ how to read.

 Initially when children begin to read, the first step is getting them to point to each word as they read.  It is ok to tell them some ‘tricky’ words, but as they learn the words on their ‘word walls’, they should be able to read these quickly when they come across them.  Encourage the children to look at the pictures and talk about what is happening. 

 

Remember when reading a book:

·       Make it enjoyable

·       Talk about the cover.  What does your child think the story is about?

·       Build confidence by encouraging and praising effort, however small.

·       Enjoy sharing the ‘home reader’ in a quiet, comfortable, environment.

·       Library books are a great chance for parents to read to children.

 

·       Books are to be shared -  talk about the story with your child and ask them questions about it

 

I look forward to a happy and successful term working with you and your child.

 

Nicola Groves