2. Choose Engaging Books
Introducing a variety of genres and formats including non-fiction, fiction, poetry and graphic novels is essential. Familiarising children with a diverse range of genres will help them to discover their own preferences but also open their eyes to a range of different worlds, cultures and characters allowing their imagination to be stretched and thrive. There are plenty of stories that include valuable real-life relevant topics – where you can then link the book topic to a new experience in their life, creating a deeper comprehension of shared experiences.
Alongside the school reading scheme, all children are given the opportunity to visit the library and make choices about the text type they want to focus on. The library books run alongside reading scheme books up until Year 3. Most children finish the reading scheme in Year 3 and are guided to chapter books. The element of free choice is empowering at this age – given the previously embedded knowledge of different reading styles, children will choose a wide variety of books on their own accord.
Having a focus text over a period of time is scientifically proven to improve engagement and enjoyment. Text-based activities and approaches develop children’s imagination, language and vocabulary prior to writing, supporting the development of children’s planning and ideation for writing.
At Greenfield, books are embedded into the curriculum over a two-week cycle in English.