Reading in KS2

In KS2, whole class guided reading happens 4 times a week, with extra intervention where needed. The whole class guided reading sessions involve a range of teacher modelled reading, group and whole class echo reading and individual reading. We aim to listen to every child read aloud once a week to help develop children’s confidence, comprehension and inference. Using the texts studied, children then answer relevant questions which are tiered in difficultly. Each set of questions starts with several simple find and retrieve questions, which are accessible to all. These are followed by questions that match up with the yearly end of year expectation. At the end of each set of questions, 1 or 2 stretch and challenge questions are included for more able pupils (identified in blue). As well as focusing on improving the children’s comprehension skills, one of the main aims for all of our guided reading sessions is to broaden children’s vocabulary. This is achieved by encouraging children to identify unfamiliar words, which are then discussed and added to our ‘word walls’.

In addition to guided reading sessions, daily story time happens at the end of the day, where the teacher shares a ‘class text’ with the children. These texts have been carefully chosen with a clear rationale behind each one, ensuring we have included a range of genres, themes and authors across the whole of KS2. The aim of these daily sessions is to develop and nurture a love of reading. Copies of these class texts are provided for each class, so that children can continue to enjoy the books.

Reading at home in KS2

The children in Monkston bring home two books from school each week. The expectation is that children should choose 1 book that matches their reading colour and then one book for them to enjoy, either independently, or with an adult. If a child is a ‘free reader’, then they can choose 2 books of their choice. The expectation is that children are reading daily and that an adult is listening to them read at least 3 times a week. All children are given a reading diary at the start of each term, which should be signed by an adult at home every time they are listened to by an adult, or an older sibling. If your child has read three times in one week, they will be given one Monkston point. Children can change their books weekly during their class library session; however, children are allowed to keep a book for longer if they are still reading and enjoying it.