Reading for Pleasure

We believe it is vital that children have time to read a variety of books so they can enjoy reading. Reading for pleasure. Not because it ticks off an objective or sets up a writing opportunity but, well, just because!

Strategies to support reading for pleasure

Reading Aloud

Reading aloud is one of the most important things our teachers do and is a frequent and regular part of each school day. Reading aloud enables children to experience and enjoy stories they might not otherwise meet. At Wheatley we make it a priority and ensure everyone understands the importance of it. Reading aloud is a non-negotiable that isn’t gobbled up by finishing off or tidying up. Time is set aside for it. By reading well-chosen books aloud, teachers help classes to become communities of readers – ensuring that they can share in experiences of a wide repertoire of books they enjoy. This links to the commitment we have to deepening and broadening the children’s vocabulary and our literacy focus for writing using quality texts.

Dedicated reading areas

Each classroom has a dedicated 'Reading Garden' they are designed to be comfortable and relaxed, with an outdoor feel. Under a canopy of lights and vines, the children can be sitting on the grass or comfy cushions and chairs – allowing their mind to get into a book, these serve as a constant reminder for the children to pick up a book and start reading. Classroom libraries with books from a variety of genres and covering a range of potential areas of interest increase pupils’ literacy-related skills and promote phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension and writing. These, alongside our spacious school library, are accessible, welcoming places that are stocked with good-quality, appropriate books.

Inspiring Reading

Books and information about books are displayed attractively in classrooms and library where browsing, choosing and reading can take place on a daily basis. We know that there are books which lend themselves to being talked about, thought through, returned to and which are engaging for children for a variety of reasons. Powerful stories engage children, stir ideas and feelings and excite the reader’s interest and imagination.

To inspire reading in children, we also:

• Invest heavily in reading resources that children will want to read and re-read including books, comics and poetry
• Have members of staff who are excellent reading role models. They lead by example, creating an environment that promotes reading as a socially engaging activity that is highly valued
• Promote books we think the children might enjoy or that staff are currently excited by
• Make use of interactive displays, competitions, incentives
• Welcome reading volunteers to provide children with more opportunities to share a book with an adult
• Encourage parents and carers to spend time reading with their child

Celebrating Reading

We celebrate literature by organising events such as author and illustrator visits or theatre trips to experience author presentations. 

This is a photograph from visit to see the author Jeff Kinney at the Oxford Playhouse. 

Author and illustrator, Clare Elsom visited our year 3 /4 classes and helped us create superhero characters.

On days such as World Book Day we set aside the timetable and really celebrate books. This year we engaged in all sorts of exciting activities such as speed dating with books, extreme reading consequences, book trailers and story crowns. We sometimes dress up as our favourite characters or in our pjyamas! We create stories using  characters and our own imagination. Every class also spends time sharing stories with their bug and, in our library, often culminating with our parents and carers joining us to share stories together.

Such events gives children a real reason for understanding characters, expressing preferences, talking about books they have enjoyed and hearing about books from their peers. And perhaps, most importantly, it enables them to see the power of a shared love of reading.