Reading during Lockdown

22nd January 2021
One of the hardest subjects to teach online is reading. Sadly, we can't swap books; teachers can't listen to children read frequently and children cannot access our fabulous range of individual reading books. However, there is still lots we can do to promote and develop children's reading skills. For example, Key Stage 2 pupils are using Serial Mash for regular reading. There are also many online resources families can access to help enjoy and make progress with their reading.
We can highly recommend the LoveReading4Kids website on which is free to register. Not only does it provide ideas for books to read but there are a multitude of free downloadable extracts too – fiction, non-fiction and poetry. If you are running out of reading material then this really is an excellent resource. Oxford Reading Tree, https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/free-ebooks/ is a FANTASTIC website. It provides books for all book bands online, so the children can continue to read at home. The process of reading on the website is also really enjoyable (especially for younger children!) as you can 'turn the page' and there's an option for the computer to read the words out loud too. Oak Academy, https://library.thenational.academy/ has opened a virtual school library where they feature an author and share a book a week to read and complete activities. This week it is Tracey Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson.
Twinkl eBooks, www.twinkl.co.uk is a fabulous website with a range of eBooks, suitable for those reading at a range of levels from 'Pink' to 'Black'. These resources are free to download during the lockdown period, so if you want to download more than the selection below then register, log on and download at your leisure!