I wonder if your children have been coming home and telling you about the many different texts they have been reading, hearing and seeing this term.
The Junior School staff has been working diligently on implementing the new English syllabus, in which there is a large focus on all the different forms of texts we have in our midst. As well as picture and chapter books, we have websites, illustrations, podcasts, advertisements, posters, films and videos, poetry and plays. There are texts that give us information, feed our creativity and imagination and ones that aim to persuade us to agree to a certain viewpoint. Some texts have a range of different purposes.
Helping our students make meaning from this vast range of texts is exciting and deeply challenging. How can you help us in our endeavour?
When your child reads or views a text, ask them to tell you what happened. Ask them to give you their opinion of the text. Talk to them about other texts that you know that may have a similar character or plot. Encourage your child to ask their teachers for text recommendations, or ask Mrs Issa or Mr Smith in the Library for help when borrowing. All of these will help your child’s engagement with text, and will help develop their vocabulary and background knowledge, two essential components of literacy success.
