We teach reading through a set of teaching principles outlined in Reading Reconsidered by Doug Lemov. At TGS in Key Stage 2, Reading is taught as a whole class from a high-quality text and aims to enable children to forge futures as lifelong readers. Children are taught in a low-threat, high-accountability environment, where all children are enabled to be successful readers in their own right. We will accelerate pupil progress through the teaching of challenging novels and complementing and supplementing this reading with a skilful use of linked texts and non-fiction.
For independent reading in the classroom, we use Accountable Independent Reading, an approach that helps ensure that independent reading is accountable and of high quality. For students reading aloud, we use Control the Game: a subtle engineering of how you call on students to read aloud in a way which ensures that not only the primary reader but all readers are benefiting. For more information on these principles, see below.
Non-fiction is taught alongside the main text in order to assist with pupils’ comprehension and to enable deeper analysis of key themes. Children should also have access to more resistant complimentary texts alongside the class book.
Year 2 – Next Phase Readiness
In the summer term of Year 2, the vast majority of children will have completed the RWI pathway, including a RWI comprehension package. This means Year 2 children will spend the summer term being introduced to the Reading Reconsidered Principles through the means of a quality whole class text. This not only prepares them well for KS2 but also allows children to apply their decoding skills to comprehension strategies. All of the expectations for KS2 Reading apply to the Year 2 summer curriculum.