Tips for Parents
Reading for pleasure is arguably the most important activity your child can to do improve their achievement at school. Research has shown reading helps cognitive development, improve vocabulary, creativity, and literacy skills during their school years and beyond. Reading also has social and emotional benefits: it increases self-esteem and empathy skills. Reading can also help young people explore complex problems in the safe fictional world of a book.
The problem we may have is encouraging and convincing young people of the importance and joy of reading. Please find below some help and advice in encouraging your child to read.
Parental Reading Evening March 2023
We were honoured to welcome Year 7 parents with an interest in how to foster a love of reading at home now that their child is at secondary school. Here are the slides with everything we discusses and that parents were shown.
Please contact FAO Miss Reuben if you have any further comments or questions on this information.
FAQs
Where do I start?
Speak to your child about the movies, TV shows or games they are interested in. You may find that these are based on books, and encourage your child to read these. It is important you identify their interests, or your child may be more reluctant to read.
You could also introduce audio-books:
BBC Sounds has a variety of free audio-books for any interest.
Podtail is also an audio-book website with resources available. Some may have a charge.
Audible is a platform via Amazon with many audio-books available for £7.99 a month. Each month you receive a 'credit' which can 'buy' you a book, or you can buy more. Some are freely available, including some GCSE texts.
Youtube may also have some audio-books available. Search terms such as '[book title] audio-book' or '[book title] listen' to start your search.
What if my child won't read?
Have a look through the 'reluctant' reader materials. Perhaps you could read a book together, or revisit a book you liked as a child.
Audio-books are a good way to introduce your child to reading if they are reluctant to pick up a book. See above for some useful websites.
Where can I buy books from?
Charity shops and local libraries are a good place to start. They will have a supply of books through the times and will provide information on these books. Plus, you're supporting a local community!
Amazon has a range of books, as well as Waterstones, The Works or places such as eBay and other second-hand sites.
How can I support my child at school?
We are looking to produce key vocabulary from each department that can be reinforced at home by reading around the topic using linked reading, having conversations with your child using this vocabulary, or going over the vocabulary explicitly using definition testing, or re-reading any resources shared by the teacher. This will be on our Literacy at The Colne page.
What are you doing to support my child?
For Year 7, we offer a programme called Book Buzz that gives your child one free book at the beginning of the year. Your child can keep or swap their book with other students once they have finished reading it if they wish.
Every topic will produce a 'Linked Reading' resource for your child to read. This will not only allow your child to read around the subject and/or topic they enjoy, but will also enhance their knowledge of said topic. It enhances the understanding of what they are learning, and research states it improves their academic achievements, too.
We are also looking to utilise the library further, bringing in exciting resources and ideas! Keep your eyes peeled...
Reluctant Readers letter for parents 2019.pdfREADING BARRIERS EXPLAINED TO PARENTS.docx.pdf