Learning to Read and Reading to Learn

Reading is a wonderful way to connect to the world and to the ideas of others, and this term it is all about being connected! Any type of literature can give us a window into another world, another culture or another person's life.

At the beginning of the reading journey, we begin by 'Learning to Read'. This is about learning how texts work and how to decode the sounds we read. We spend time learning about how to retell stories to make sure we are not just 'sounding out' words (which is important) but also connecting with the ideas in the text. It's important to learn that the meaning of books and stories can be gained through both text and images at any level. 

Once we become more comfortable decoding texts, we begin to focus on 'Reading to Learn'. This requires the reader to engage more deeply with the texts and to learn from the information in texts.

It's important that we read, read read! In Tautoru, we spend time reading with a teacher and also developing our love of all types books and literature: comics, novels, graphic novels, poems, everything. At the moment we are reading The BFG by Rohal Dahl as a class.

If you'd like to know more about how reading progresses in the junior school, here is a presentation we did with more detailed information and tips on how you can help develop a love of reading at home.