Our Reading Programme
Thurstable Loves To Read - Tutor Group Reading Programme
We have prioritised reading and tutors will read to their tutor groups in Years 7-10 for 20 minutes each day with each student having a copy of the class reader. Students will have a bookmark which they use to track the line they are reading, this ensures that they are reading the words as they are being read and to support staff so that they can check at a glance that everyone is reading together. The book list is detailed below and students will read at least three of the books each year.
The books chosen are age appropriate but also sufficiently challenging and not necessarily books that they are likely to have accessed independently. Our selection of books provide a rich and diverse experience which will change the students as all good books should such is their power over the imagination. There are clear links between children who read independently and their academic outcomes.
Year 7 Tutor Group Reads
Year 8 Tutor Group Reads
Year 9 Tutor Group Reads
Year 10 Tutor Group Reads
Sparx Reader
Sparx Reader is a reading, comprehension and vocabulary programme that gets all young people reading regularly to help improve their literacy and motivates them to read for pleasure. Any device with a web browser is able to access Sparx Reader.
Students take a test and then they choose a book according to their level. Sparx Reader will regularly check their understanding of the story throughout the book by asking questions based on comprehension of the text they are reading. Students are rewarded with Sparx Reader Points by reading carefully and over time, their literacy and reading abilities will improve.
Students always have a choice in what they read. The e-book library has modern fiction books from many publishers as well as classic stories. Once students reach the gold level, they have autonomy over the text they choose; they can add their own books from home too.
Tasks are personalised based on each student's reading ability so that every student can be successful with their reading. The books that a student can choose from are carefully chosen so that the text is accessible yet suitably challenging.
There is a really useful video on how parents can help with Spax Reader:
Reading in lessons & Vocabulary
This year we have been working on including reading opportunities within lessons e.g. guided reading is included in booklets in Humanities subjects teachers consistently model high standards of language throughout the school day so that students are incidentally and implicitly exposed to new vocabulary. It is also commonplace for students to meet key and powerful vocabulary in lessons through the completion of Frayer models in lessons.