Canon Reading
“Small daily acts of reading matter.” (Quigley 2020)
Why we read:
Research is clear that a young person’s ability to read and their enthusiasm for reading are inextricably linked with their academic and wider success. Whilst many students begin their secondary education with the knowledge and skills required to read with accuracy, fluency and comprehension, some do not. It is our aim that Sidmouth College becomes a ‘reading college’ where students and staff are proud to think of themselves as readers.
Unlocking our students’ potential through reading is a complex task. It involves:
The Sidmouth Reading Canon:
We have decided to introduce daily reading into our curriculum. Each year group will have a different novel for the term. We are working towards a collection of texts which hold significant value, both in the style of writing and the messages they communicate. Year groups will be divided into groups to develop their cultural capital through shared reading experiences.
The texts children read as they move through their education form the foundation of their knowledge about how literature and society work. At Sidmouth we will endeavour to extend our students’ comprehension and knowledge through the challenge level of texts but also through their outlook and messages.
Our canon will encourage students to reflect on pivotal moments in history, empathise with characters of different ages and ethnicities, and experience a range of genres and writing styles. The aim is for our canon to ignite a lifelong passion for reading in every member of our college community.
How can parents and carers help?
It is vital that students understand how important reading is for their future success. Talk to your child about their reading at school but also support their reading at home. If you can read to your child please do; whatever age people are, they still enjoy listening to stories. Visit the library, share your enthusiasm for books, borrow book tapes to play in the car and encourage a reading time just before sleep.
Why we read:
Research is clear that a young person’s ability to read and their enthusiasm for reading are inextricably linked with their academic and wider success. Whilst many students begin their secondary education with the knowledge and skills required to read with accuracy, fluency and comprehension, some do not. It is our aim that Sidmouth College becomes a ‘reading college’ where students and staff are proud to think of themselves as readers.
Unlocking our students’ potential through reading is a complex task. It involves:
- Identifying and intervening with students whose reading knowledge and skills fall below
- that of their peers;
- Promoting the benefits of academic reading;
- Encouraging our students to read for pleasure.
The Sidmouth Reading Canon:
We have decided to introduce daily reading into our curriculum. Each year group will have a different novel for the term. We are working towards a collection of texts which hold significant value, both in the style of writing and the messages they communicate. Year groups will be divided into groups to develop their cultural capital through shared reading experiences.
The texts children read as they move through their education form the foundation of their knowledge about how literature and society work. At Sidmouth we will endeavour to extend our students’ comprehension and knowledge through the challenge level of texts but also through their outlook and messages.
Our canon will encourage students to reflect on pivotal moments in history, empathise with characters of different ages and ethnicities, and experience a range of genres and writing styles. The aim is for our canon to ignite a lifelong passion for reading in every member of our college community.
How can parents and carers help?
It is vital that students understand how important reading is for their future success. Talk to your child about their reading at school but also support their reading at home. If you can read to your child please do; whatever age people are, they still enjoy listening to stories. Visit the library, share your enthusiasm for books, borrow book tapes to play in the car and encourage a reading time just before sleep.
