Welcome to

• Reading in the 21st Century
• What does school readiness look like in 2021?
• The role of the school library and teacher librarian
• Schools and reading
• Readers Vs Recreational Reads
• Reading in all forms
• Social and emotional learning through books
• Mindful reading
• Reading aloud
• Reading habits
• Bringing books to life
• Extending the keen reader
• Supporting the reluctant reader
• Talking about the book and where to from here …  

You may find it useful to have this list of ways to encourage book chat and play…

• Create a dialogue around books and stories; ‘What was that story about?’ or ‘Did you like that character? Why?’
• Start to point out single words here and there for them to sound out.
• Alphabet books – ask children to tell you words that start with the same sound as the letter you’re looking at.
• Make book with your own/your child's pictures
• Respond to books artistically, in written form and in play- based experiences.
• Story maps
• Parts of a book
• Encourage open ended play inspired by books.
• Rhymes and songs
• Let your child practice drawing and writing with a range of different materials, such as      pencils, crayons and textas, to help develop their fine motor skills.
• Find words in the environment.

These questions are ones you may like to use when ‘talking books…

• Can you find the authors name on the cover? Can you find the illustrators name?
• What do you think of the illustrations in the book? Are they painted? Drawn? Collaged? Photographs? Are they black and white or coloured? How is colour used?
• What do you think might happen next in the story?
• If you were the author of the story would you have ended it the same way?
• What did you like or dislike about this book?
• What do you think the author was trying to say to us? What helped you figure out the message?
• What part of the story was the most exciting or interesting?
• Which character was your favourite? Why?
• Did any of the characters remind you of anyone that you know?
• Can you think of any other books that are similar to this one?
• Which is your favourite illustration? Why? Can you describe the illustration?
• Look at the cover. Did it give you clues about the story?
• Point to these parts of the book when I call them:  spine, front cover, back cover, blurb, title!
• How did this book make you feel? Was it a happy book? Thoughtful? A bit scary? An adventure?
• What would be a good food to eat while reading this book?
• What is the setting of this story?
• Can you ask me a question about the book we just read?
• Can you retell the story?
• Who is telling the story? (Point of view)
• Can you think of a friend who might also like this book? Why do you think they would like it?