Reading
Reading is one of our key focus areas this term. All pod students have received a Reading Log this week and all students will have received it by next week. We encourage students to read at least 5 times a week (if not 7!) at home. The Reading Logs are a tracker for students to remind them to complete their daily reading. Encourage your child to take ownership of their reading and complete the logs themselves (the older students will find this easier than our younger students). When students are reading, we are working to improve several areas of their reading – not just to get through the book. We are building up:
– fluency,
– expression,
– predictive skills,
– vocabulary,
– inference (what does the text imply but not state)
– information retrieval
– explaining and summarising texts
If your child comes home with a phonics reader, this book should go backwards and forwards between school each day as teachers also hear students read at school. The students should read a phonics reader twice, once for their fluency skills and once for their comprehension skills.
The KCIS book bags (available from the school office) are a great way for books to be transported to and from school without books getting water damage or torn/bent. If you would like to purchase a book bag, please get in touch with the school office. All students need a school book bag when returning to learning at KCIS.
In the Reading Logs, at the back, you will find the 40 Book Reading Challenge. This is a whole school challenge where students are encouraged to read 40 books throughout the whole school year. Once a child completes a book, they can write the book name in the log (starting on page 47). Their class teachers will check the book challenge log once or twice a week and the students will be asked to discuss an aspect of the book with the teacher. Each child will have a book challenge key ring to go on their school bag, and for every book they read and discuss, the student will receive a bead for their keyring. As the year continues, students will collect and build up more and more beads on the key chain. Please encourage your child to take part in the challenge. 40 books may seem a big total to begin with but, as with any daunting challenge, encourage them to take it one book at a time.

In the Reading Logs, at the back, you will find the 40 Book Reading Challenge. This is a whole school challenge where students are encouraged to read 40 books throughout the whole school year. Once a child completes a book, they can write the book name in the log (starting on page 47). Their class teachers will check the book challenge log once or twice a week and the students will be asked to discuss an aspect of the book with the teacher. Each child will have a book challenge key ring to go on their school bag, and for every book they read and discuss, the student will receive a bead for their keyring. As the year continues, students will collect and build up more and more beads on the key chain. Please encourage your child to take part in the challenge. 40 books may seem a big total to begin with but, as with any daunting challenge, encourage them to take it one book at a time.