Thank you to the parents and carers who were able to attend our recent Year 5 reading workshop. We know not everyone was able to join us, so this post is to share what we covered and how reading is taught and supported in Year 5.
Why daily reading matters
We began by talking about why reading every day is so important. Regular reading helps children to:
Develop a rich vocabulary, which supports both reading and writing
Build understanding of the world and expand their imagination
Improve listening and concentration skills
Strengthen confidence and enjoyment as readers
Just as importantly, reading together is a powerful way to bond with your child and show them that reading is valued.
How you can support reading at home
We discussed simple, practical ways families can support reading at home:
Aim to read with your child for around 15 minutes each day
Let your child choose their own book, whenever possible
Talk about the front cover, the title and what they think the book might be about
If your child has already started the book, ask them to summarise what has happened so far
Encourage conversation before, during and after reading
Reading at home is not meant to feel like a lesson. It should feel relaxed, supportive and enjoyable.
What to do when children make mistakes
We also talked about what not to worry about. When children read aloud:
It is okay if they misread a word
Many children will self-correct if given time
They are allowed to skip a word and come back to it
Correcting every mistake can be frustrating and knock confidence
Your role is to be a supportive adult, not to control the reading or focus only on sounding out tricky words.
Becoming a “reader thinker”
A key message from the workshop was that reading is thinking. In Year 5, we want children to think:
Before reading – predicting and activating prior knowledge
During reading – responding, questioning and clarifying
After reading – summarising, explaining and justifying ideas
This helps children to read with understanding, not just accuracy.
What guided reading looks like in Year 5
During the workshop, we modelled a guided reading lesson as it happens in our classrooms. Parents saw how:
Texts are carefully chosen to challenge thinking
Teachers model fluent reading and thinking aloud
Children are encouraged to explain their ideas using evidence from the text
We also highlighted how oracy plays a big role in reading lessons. Talk helps children to:
Clarify their thinking
Practise answering questions clearly
Build confidence before writing responses
Reading strategies we use in class
Parents also saw examples of reading approaches we regularly use, including:
Peer reading – children reading and supporting one another
Choral reading – reading together to build fluency and confidence
Repeated reading – rereading short sections to improve pace, expression and understanding
These strategies help children become more fluent, confident readers who enjoy reading.
Our shared goal
Our aim is to help every child become a confident, thoughtful reader who understands what they read and enjoys talking about books. By working together at school and at home, we can give children the best possible support.
If you have any questions about reading in Year 5 or would like further guidance on supporting reading at home, please speak to your child’s class teacher.
Thank you for your continued support.
