Senior Infants: Literacy
Suggestions to Reinforce Literacy Skills at Home
Summer Stars Reading Programme:
Information on the Summer Stars reading programme for children can be found by following this link:
https://www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/summer-stars
Partnered Reading Approach
Engage in shared reading aloud (child/adult) at the pupil's reading level (adult accentuates reading with expression and being mindful of reading rate as well.)
Guidelines for Parents:
1. Make sure the atmosphere is happy and relaxed.
2. Find a quiet place where there are no distractions.
3. Sit down together so that both can see the book.
4. Let the child hold the book or show you what to do.
5. Talk about the book and any illustrations first.
6. Talk about what has happened and what might happen next.
7. Smooth out any difficulties by reading any words your child doesn't know.
8. Talk about what you have read.
9. Give lots of praise for effort.
Follow this link for further guidelines from the National Educational Psychologists Service (NEPS) on Paired Reading at Home:
https://assets.gov.ie/41263/b5a89df5ab58412e8a01a2fedc8a9cd1.pdf
Praise
Praise your child when reading. Strategies for tackling unknown words that your chid has learned at school are:
I can start on the left.
I can say each sound.
I can blend the sounds together and read the word.
I can split the word into syllables.
I can check if it makes sense.
Reading to Siblings
Encourage your child to read familiar books aloud to younger/older siblings, other extended family members (about 5 mins)
Challenging Books
The parent/guardian or adult in the child’s life can also read more challenging books to child. Provide opportunities to further extend pupil’s range of vocabulary and develop listening skills.
Audio Books and eAudio Books – Borrow Box
We would recommend the use of eAudiobooks/eBooks
https://www.librariesireland.ie/elibrary/ebooks
Other useful websites to reinforce various literacy skills
https://www.starfall.com/h/ – Learn to Read