2.3 How did you learn to read?

Being able to make the links between your studies, your own experiences and what you do in the classroom is an important part of becoming a reflective practitioner and of developing your professional skills. The next activity asks you to think about what it is like to be a child learning to read.

Activity 5

Timing: Allow about 20 minutes

Think back to when you were a child and how you learned to read.

  • How were you encouraged to read?
  • Did you enjoy reading or did you find it a struggle?
  • What sorts of books did you like or dislike?
  • Can you remember a favourite book?
  • Were books the only things you read?
  • Do you think girls read more than boys?
  • Do boys read different books than girls?

Before you read the case study in Topic 3 about how 8-year-old twins were encouraged to read, make a few notes in response to these questions.

To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Comment

Everyone will have their own answers to these questions. Your own experience of learning to read may affect how you encourage the children in your care to read.

2.2 New ways to encourage reading

3 Boys, girls and reading