‘From the earliest ages, reading is much more than decoding. From the start, reading is also accessing and further acquiring language knowledge and domain knowledge. This means that instruction and practice in fluency of decoding need to be accompanied by instruction and practice in vocabulary and domain knowledge. If we want to raise later achievement …, we need to combine early instruction in the procedures of literacy with early instruction in the content of literacy, specifically: vocabulary, conventions of language, and knowledge of the world.’ 

E. D. Hirsch, Jr. (2003)

Intent

The aim of this reading spine is to provide an extensive list of books which staff can apply to their own long-term plans. These are books to use as class reads, study books for writing and whole class reading, recommendations for reading corners or for extracts. The intention is that by the time they reach year 6 and beyond, they have developed a wide, rich vocabulary and broader knowledge of the world and, as a result, are able to access the more complex books expected of them in secondary schools. It should be noted that book and text selection in school not only considers narratives and poems but also recognises that a good balance of topic-appropriate non-fiction should also be read to help further develop children’s background knowledge of the subject they are studying. 

Super 6 ensures children are experiencing a breadth of books that challenge and develop children’s curiosity and understanding of the world with the child’s experience always remaining central to the thinking of every practitioner. The Super 6 is designed to incorporate the recommended books from the United Learning Curriculum, a curriculum we follow in other key foundation subjects across our school.

The use of the Super 6 Reading Spine ensures our reading curriculum is ambitious and carefully sequenced to enable children to build their learning and knowledge over a sustained period of time. Each year group has their own specifically selected Super 6 matched to the high ambition of the text choices within each age range. Due to the diverse community of Prince Rock, Super 6 reflects the evolving demographics of children and uses a ‘windows and mirrors’ approach to reading. That is, children read and experience texts that show them the wider world as well as books that reflect their own families, communities and experiences. For example, multicultural/challenge is changed to protected characteristics. Picture only books are implemented across age groups to promote oracy and language development. Non-fiction and poetry are taught through whole class reading sessions and often provide essential links and the development of background knowledge.

Implementation

Whole Class Reading

Effective pedagogy in reading utilises different teaching and learning approaches to maximise pupil participation. Within our teacher-led whole class reading sessions, where we explore fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts, we utilise the following strategies to support the development of prosody:

• Model reading, echo reading, choral reading, paired reading, performance reading
• Use of the 6P’s for Fluency
• Text marking

This allows the children to:

• Become immersed in rich dialogue around the core themes that each book presents.
• Be exposed to a breadth of genres and authors, to support their independent book choices.
• Further deepen their ability to recognise and appreciate exemplary examples of writer’s style, before exploring and utilising such techniques within their own writing. 

Class Texts

Each half term, the children will complete an author study and explore the works of this particular author. The sharing of stories takes place everyday to promote the joy and love of reading. This enables children to find authors who they enjoy and enables staff to actively support them with their reading interests.

Impact

Pupils make better than expected progress in reading as we intensively close their reading gaps. Pupils are consistently challenged in all stages of their reading. This enables gaps in reading to be closed over time. The Super 6 support pupils in accessing and fully understanding a range of texts both confidently and competently. Through the love of reading the Super 6 books, these books will stay with the reader forever.

Useful Links:

www.booktrust.org.uk

www.literacytrust.org.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z3882hv

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zprrd2p