This term in Year 5, students have been engaging in Modelled Reading. This is a structured and highly interactive approach that strengthens comprehension while also nurturing a genuine love of reading.
Modelled Reading is far more than silent reading time. During these sessions, the teacher reads a shared text aloud while deliberately modelling the thinking processes strong readers use. Students hear questions such as:
Why might the character have made that choice? What clues has the author given us? How does this connect to real life? Whose point of view are we seeing - and whose is missing?
By making these thinking strategies visible, students learn how to analyse character motivations, identify themes, interpret symbolism and infer meaning that is not directly stated.
A key focus this term has been developing empathy through literature. Students explore how understanding a character’s perspective helps them better understand people in real life. Stories allow them to “step into someone else’s shoes,” building both emotional intelligence and deeper comprehension.
Importantly, Modelled Reading teaches students that reading is active, not passive. Strong readers don’t just receive information they question, predict, connect and reflect. Through guided discussion, students are becoming increasingly confident in articulating their thinking and supporting their ideas with evidence from the text.
Alongside these skills, we are seeing something just as important: students are growing in their enjoyment of reading. As they begin to understand texts at a deeper level, they experience the satisfaction of uncovering meaning for themselves. Conversations become richer, insights become sharper and reading becomes something to look forward to rather than simply complete.
It has been wonderful to see Year 5 students engaging thoughtfully, challenging ideas respectfully and developing both the skills and the enthusiasm that will sustain them as lifelong readers.
Mr David Stroud
Junior School Teacher - Year 5 Year Leader