Reading Strategy
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.– Dr. Seuss
- Vision
- Cross-Curricular
- Key Principles
- Suggested Reading Lists
- DEAR Tutorial
- Supporting your child to read at home
- Reading Reward System
- School Library
Vision
Vision
At Oasis Academy Arena we think that reading, and in particular reading for pleasure, is one of the most important factors in allowing children to reach their full potential. A love of literature and a genuine desire to read opens doors to students that remain closed for reluctant readers, no matter how strong their ability. In order to support the drive to engage students with reading for enjoyment, the academy offers a range of activities and experiences linked to reading for pleasure.
The academy celebrates National Poetry Day each year with a focus on poetry in English lessons that is further reinforced by activities in coaching sessions. The English department also welcomes visiting authors into the academy to work with students of all ages and abilities on reading and creative writing skills. The academy has invested in the English Mastery programme, which we believe will further develop the skills of all students, irrespective of their starting point.
Of course, a love of reading is also fostered within English lessons with all students in Years 7 and 8 taking part in weekly Reading lessons as an addition to their traditional classes.
All students have access to well-resourced Library, which is at the centre of reading in the academy.
Cross-Curricular
Cross-Curricular
At the heart of our practice lies our acknowledgement that, whilst the basic skill of reading might be specifically delivered within the English curriculum, all teachers share responsibility for the consolidation of this skill and for their subject specific application.
In reading, subjects from across the curriculum offer opportunities for students to:
- Use reading to research the subject area
- Use the library and ICT facilities to support subject learning and the acquisition of multi-modal literacy
- Track their independent reading progress via DEAR time
- Be supported in independent reading within a range of subjects.
Key Principles
Key Principles
All staff aim to:
- Scaffold and support reading development through their subject;
- Present reading tasks at a suitable level;
- Draw students’ attention to structure, layout, format, print, topic sentences and other sign-posts;
- Help students to skim, scan, summarise or read intensively according to the task;
- Teach students to select or note only what is relevant;
- Support students who are at the early stages of reading via an Intervention programme (Lexia)
- Teach students to read identified subject vocabulary.
Suggested Reading Lists
DEAR Tutorial
DEAR Tutorial
At Oasis Academy Arena, we have designed a bespoke reading provision for our students which aims to build excellent communicators.
The DfE report ‘Reading Matters’ published in 2015 suggests that ‘’One in five children still leave primary school unable to read at a standard that will ensure they are well placed to succeed at secondary school.’’ Therefore, we have allocated time during our tutorial programme to demonstrate the significance that reading has for students at all levels.
| Year Group | Titles of Dear Tutorial books |
|---|---|
| Year 7 |
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| Year 8 |
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| Year 9 |
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| Year 10 |
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Supporting your child to read at home
Supporting your child to read at home
We believe that in order for students to truly reach their reading potential, they should also be reading regularly at home.
Guidance and strategies for supporting your child can be found in the parental information here.
Reading Reward System
Reading Reward System
|
Activity |
Reward |
|
Making good progress with their reading. |
5 Arena points. |
|
Reading well in the DEAR time. |
5 Arena points. |
|
Improving performance in reading test throughout the year. |
Certificate awarded. |
|
Reading a book and writing a review for the wall. |
Positive letter home and a queue jump pass for the lunch queue. |
|
Reader of the week (one for each tutor group). |
Positive letter home and a certificate. |
|
Reader of the half term (one for each tutor group). |
Positive letter home, a certificate and a bookmark. |
|
Reader of the year (one for each tutor group). |
Positive letter home, a certificate and a choosing a new book to be ordered for the academy library. |
|
Reading 10 challenging books during the academic year. |
A certificate and a suitable book of their choice being bought for the pupil to take home. |
|
Reading 20 challenging books during the academic year. |
A certificate and a suitable series of books of their choice being bought for the pupil to take home. |
School Library
Library
The Library will provide a high-quality service in support of teaching and learning.
The library is located on the ground floor, left of the reception, and is open before and after school and throughout the school day from 8am till 4pm for students to read or work. The library is looked after by Miss Le and open to all, providing a bright and pleasant environment for reading and studying.
Students are able to use this space throughout their time at Oasis Academy Arena to find lots of information to help with schoolwork and personal growth: with more than 4000 books, newspapers, and reference books, there’s plenty to be found in the library.
Bookish events and things to do are also posted in the library and around the school, including events like ‘Readathon,’ ‘Blind Date with a book,’ scavenger hunts, writing competitions and more!
Online Library
See below our online library provision:
- Free E-books and Audio-Books with Croydon Library: step by step guides on how to access Croydon Library's online e-book and audio-book collection and more.
- Search and reserve the School Library Books: step by step guides on how to search the school library collection and request and reserve school library books.
- Booklists: by year group, theme or recommended reads based on books you may have enjoyed.
- Write a book review: on a book you liked or disliked for Arena points.
- Book Matchmaking: Not sure what to read? Use this Book Matchmaking form to request a book hand selected by your librarian for you.
Borrowing books from the school library
Students may borrow up to 3 books for 3 weeks.
All you need to do to borrow a book is bring your smile and name to the main desk and your librarian will do the rest! Books can be renewed for a further 3 weeks if it has not been reserved by another student. Just bring the book to the librarian to renew it.
What happens if books are returned late or lost?
Students must take care of the items they borrow and remember to return them on time (see the date stamped inside). There is a helpful reminder system in place if you do forget: your tutor will remind you, and a letter may be sent home. You could be charged to replace any lost/damaged books.
Should you have any questions about our School Library please contact our Librarian Miss Le at Yen.Le@oasisarena.org