Supporting progression
As you become more confident at assessing the children’s level of reading, you will be able to plan more effectively and ensure they have the opportunity to improve their reading skills.
The ASb website [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] has hundreds of books that support teaching reading and extend children’s enjoyment of books.
Activity 6.7: Analysing stories to support reading development
It is important to be able to identify stories that are suitable for children at each of the six stages of development.
- Download the reading development template and look up the following nine titles on the ASb website:
- Counting cats
- My red ball
- Ah! Football!
- I like
- Friends
- Greedy Anansi
- Grandmother, Hare and Elephant
- I like to read
- A very tall man
Which books will be most suitable for the six stages of reading development? (Early Years Teachers will want to choose from Level 1 (first words) and Level 2 (first sentences).)
- Identify which of these nine books should go in the pre-reader, beginner and independent reader columns in the template.
- Note that some titles have several versions of text on the ASb site.
- You can use them at different stages of reading development.
- Research the site and find at least one or two more books for each column. Add them on the ‘Researched title 1’ and ‘Researched title 2’ lines of the table.
- You may want to look for titles in your home language.
- Plan to use at least one of these titles next term.
- Your choice may depend on the age and reading level of your class.
- Share your choice of books with a colleague.
- Explain to your colleague how you will use the books.
Discussion
The books for pre-readers are My red ball, I like and Counting cats.
The books for beginner readers are I like to read, Friends and A very tall man.
The books for pre-readers are Greedy Anansi, Ah! Football! and Grandmother, Hare and Elephant.
Strategies to assess children’s reading
