CARRY ON READING TOGETHER
For English, the single most important thing that you can do is to hear your child read. Good readers make good writers because they are exposed to a greater variety of vocabulary, syntax, grammar and style.When you listen to your child read, there are a number of things to remember:
- Make it fun! Use silly voices and read to each other as well as just listening.
- Ask questions about the text, the characters, the plot, the setting, the style of writing, and the words. Anything to get them to think about what they are reading and to consider the deeper messages hidden in the subtext.
- Read a wide range of writing – from comics to newspapers, novels to Pokemon cards, and even your child’s own writing!
- Look up individual words in a dictionary or thesaurus together to find out what they mean.
- Stop if they or you are tired.
- Be a good role model for reading. This is the perfect excuse to curl up on the sofa, forget the chores, and read a good book yourself!
Of course, children in Year 4 are perfectly capable of reading to themselves as well, and independent reading (and writing) must also be encouraged. However, it is important that those comprehension skills are regularly checked and reading aloud is perfect for that.
There are lots of free eBooks on the eBook library — a quick and easy way to expose children to different books without spending a lot of money.
Learn times tables
In maths, there is an expectation that by the end of Year 4 all times tables are known and learnt fluently. Anything you can do to help that knowledge go in and stay in is fantastic.
- Practise regularly, making sure to go back and repeat tables you have practised before.
- Sing tables in the car; at mealtimes; before bed; walking the dog; at any spare moment!
- Download an TTRockstars to practise on a laptop or tablet.
USEFUL RESOURCES