Reading

Accelerated Reader

All pupils from Year 3 to Year 5 participate in the Accelerated Reader Programme.

Throughout the year pupils will take a Star Reading Assessment. This will provide them with a reading range, officially called their ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development). This range provides pupils with the best level of books for them to read independently and make progress with their reading. The books in our school library’s have the book level on the spine, meaning it is easy for pupils to find a book within their level, which they then read and complete a short comprehension quiz on.

Pupils can quiz by following this link here:

If you would like to know what level a book is that you have at home, you can type the name of the book into this website here to find out.

Each term pupils have the opportunity to win prizes. For the first 30 quizzes they pass, they will be awarded a prize for each 5. These prizes are awarded weekly in their classrooms. If a pupil passes more than 30 quizzes in the term they will be rewarded achievement points.

Throughout the year pupils have the opportunity to earn badges:

The Bronze Reading Badge is for pupils who have read over 50,000 words.

The Silver Reading Badge is for pupils who have read over 250,000 words.

The Gold Reading Badge is for pupils who have read over 500,000 words.

The Millionaire Reading Badge is for pupils who have read over 1 Million words.

100 Book Challenge

We have compiled a list of 100 books that we think pupils would enjoy and created a ‘challenge’ to see how many of the pupils could read before they left our Primary stage and then a further 100 books for our Secondary pupils.

Our collection is full of a variety of texts – from classics and picture books to contemporary reads and graphic novels. We have included stand alone books as well as the first in some series to try and hook pupils into reading series after series.

Listed below are the full lists of the books (as well as the ages we recommend!) as well as a poster that can be printed to track the challenge.

Sparx Reader

All pupils in Year 6 and across our secondary phase have access to SPARX Reading. This programme adapts to pupils reading level and offers them an e book that is both age appropriate and at their current reading level. It will ask questions after short sections of text to check for careful reading. The programme is designed to help pupils build regular, independent reading habits and improve literacy skills.

The programme can be accessed here: https://sparxreader.com/. Pupils can log in by using Single Sign On and using their Google accounts.

Reading for Pleasure

In our Primary phase all pupils are encouraged to visit the Primary Library and have free choice of a book they will enjoy. This is in addition to their ‘downstairs’ book for our KS1 Pupils, AR book for Years 3-5 and SPARX book for our Year 6’s. Choosing a book that is interesting to them, without limitations of levels, is crucial in promoting a reading for pleasure atmosphere within the school. They are also welcome to bring in books from home, we do however ask that these be age appropriate.

In our Secondary phase we have some amazing fiction books that currently are housed in our Future’s Hub. Pupils are encouraged to browse these shelves during their free time and are welcome to take any book that interests them, we only ask that they return it when they are finished. Please note: any book with a green sticker on the spine means that the book is recommended for Year 9 pupils and older. This is because the content is targeted for more mature readers. If you are happy for your younger child to read these texts, please drop me an email (cbourner@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk) so I can make note of this.

If you are unsure of the suitability of a text, the attached document here can provide some advice and guidance on this.