Reading 

One of the greatest skills our students can ever learn in their lives is the ability to read. Many studies indicate that a child’s emergent literacy skills significantly predict reading test scores in later years. A child’s capabilities in literacy allows them access to academic achievement in other subject areas. This then flows through a child’s schooling life, and then on into adult life, and subsequently, is linked to employment opportunities.

Parents and caregivers have a very important role to play in their child's literacy development both before and after they start school. One of the most effective things that parents can ever do is talking, listening and answering their child’s questions. Alongside this, you can enhance your child’s vocabulary and oral language by reading books together, taking trips to the library, playing informal games and play-based experiences together. Playing word games, teaching the alphabet and the sounds letters make, as well as rhyming words, will all positively contribute to your child’s literacy development.

Here at St. Joseph's our teaching staff strive everyday to improve the learning achievement of our students by fostering the development of literacy skills using the latest evidence-based reading instruction, alongside the Victorian Curriculum. The five essential sets of knowledge and skills for reading and a high quality literacy program includes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

As the first ‘teachers’ of your child, we ask that you work in collaboration with the school to support your child with learning to read at home. You can do this by encouraging them to participate in reading activities every day. 

Participation might involve:

• Reading to your child
• Reading with your child
• Listening to your child read
• Providing a quiet space and time for your child to read
• Talking to your child about what they are reading
• Asking questions about the texts your child is reading to promote critical thinking
• Encouraging your child to read a variety of texts  
• Signing the reading diary 

(Junior students should spend 10-15 minutes a night reading while Senior students should spend 15-30 minutes a night reading. We encourage all students to read as much as possible from a variety of texts).

Students will be provided with level appropriate books to read or may source their own suitable reading material. Teachers will review the students’ reading diaries regularly.

Source - fivefromfive, (2025).

Trish Martin

Learning Adjustment Leader