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Welcome to our Reading Page!
It is a place where you can find information and resources, as well as other websites to support your child at home with learning to decode words and other important reading concepts.
As whānau you play a big part in your child's learning every day, and you can support and build on what they learn at school too! Research shows that the single most effective way to improve a child’s reading ability is by reading! It is recommended that primary aged school children should read at home every day for 20 minutes.
Make reading fun!
Reading at home should be fun and easy – something you both look forward to - a time for laughter and talk.
Share the reading, take turns or see whether your child wants to read or be read to today
All children like to be read to, so keep reading to them. You can read in your first language!
Visit the library together and help them choose books to share
Read emails from family or whānau aloud
Play card and board games together.
Reading makes more sense if your child can relate it to their own life. Help them to make connections between what they are reading and their own lives and experiences. For example, "that’s a funny story about a grandad – what does your grandad do that makes you laugh?", "We saw a big mountain in that book, what is our mountain called, and where did the name come from?"
Look for opportunities for your child to read wherever you are – signs, advertising billboards, junk mail, recipes
Show your child that reading is fun and important to you by letting them see you reading magazines, books, newspapers.
Here's a tip - talk a lot to your child while you are doing things together. Use the language that works best for you and your child.
Talk about reading
Talk about pictures in books
Sing waiata and songs, read poems and make up rhymes together – the funnier the better
Be a role model. Let your child see you enjoying reading and talk about what you are enjoying
Point out words on signs, shops and labels
Play word games like "I Spy" and "Simon Says…"
Make it a special time together
Reading is a great chance for you and your child to spend special time together. Make reading:
quiet and relaxing
a time to sit close to your child
10–15 minutes without interruption, away from the TV
an enjoyable, interesting and special time
a time to praise your child for making an effort
Here's some tips:
- If your child is stuck on a word wait a few seconds, give them a chance to think.
- If they are still stuck, help them to try to work the word out by saying "read the sentence again and think what would make sense".
- Ask "could it be…?" (and give a word that might fit).
- The pictures also help them check they have got the right word. If they still can’t work out the word, tell them and praise their efforts. Remember, reading should be fun.
- Help your child to link stories to their own life. Remind them about what they have done when a similar thing happens in the story.
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