Our Reading Approaches in Dosbarth Caradog

Reading in Dosbarth Caradog

In Dosbarth Caradog, we want reading to be something children look forward to, not simply something they do because it is part of the school day. We aim to give every pupil the opportunity to discover books they enjoy, develop their reading skills and become confident in sharing their thoughts and opinions about what they read.

Our classroom provides lots of opportunities to read, talk about books and discover new authors, characters and ideas. We will also be visiting the school library regulary to choose books and enjoy some quiet and comfortable spaces where they can become absorbed in a story

📖 Reading for Pleasure

Every day, pupils have time to read independently and choose books that capture their interest.

They are encouraged to:

• Explore different authors, genres and styles of writing

• Choose books that match their interests and reading preferences

• Recommend books to friends and share their favourite reads

• Read simply because they enjoy it

We believe that giving children choice and time to read is an important part of developing readers who will continue to enjoy books long after they leave primary school.

💬 Reading Together

We regularly come together to read, discuss and respond to texts. These sessions give pupils the chance to become more thoughtful readers and to look beyond the words on the page.

We explore:

• New and interesting vocabulary

• Retrieval and comprehension

• Inference and prediction

• Summarising and identifying key information

• Characters, themes and the author's ideas

• Higher-order questions that encourage children to explain and justify their thinking

Most importantly, we encourage children to talk about what they read. There isn't always one right answer, and hearing different viewpoints helps us to understand stories in new ways.

🌟 Our Class Books

Throughout the year, we share a selection of class novels together. These books give us the opportunity to become completely immersed in a story and experience it as a class.

We talk about characters we love (and sometimes those we definitely don't!), make predictions about what might happen next and discuss the emotions and ideas that the stories raise.

Our class books also provide opportunities to make connections with the wider world, develop empathy and consider different experiences and perspectives.

❤️ Growing as Readers

Our aim is not simply to improve reading ability. We want children to leave Dosbarth Caradog knowing what they enjoy reading, where to find their next great book and why reading matters.

Because sometimes, the book you pick up by chance can become the book you remember forever.

🧺 Little Library – Our Personal Interactive Reading Log

We also use Little Library, an engaging tool that allows pupils to:

• Log the books they have read

• Build a personal reading profile

• Track their progress

• Create a digital collection of their favourite books

This encourages ownership, pride, and reflection in each child’s reading journey.

Through a combination of independent reading, guided reading, theme-based novels, and access to modern digital tools like BorrowBox and Little Library, we are building a class community that enjoy reading.