Reading and Spelling in Year 5

We try to encourage the children to become more independent readers as they approach the top end of the Junior School and therefore they will need to undertake private reading at home, as part of their homework.   Children can read a book of their own choice, which will hopefully encourage them to read more extensively. They will be closely monitored on their book choices to make sure they are reading a book which is suitable for their ability.    We would like the children to read four times a week and to record the pages they have read in the reading journal they have been provided with. If you feel that your child would benefit from reading aloud at home with you, we would encourage you to continue this. However, if your child is a more confident reader they can read independently, but a short conversation each week discussing the events in the book, will help keep you involved with your child’s reading.

Every week the children will have a reading lesson, where they will take it in turns to read with a teacher and their journal will be checked. Children will also have an opportunity to read aloud to a teacher and the class when we look at the class reader during our English lessons. We would appreciate it if you would sign your child’s journal weekly; you may also make any comments about their reading in here too.   A reading website was created at the end of last year by year 6, which contains book recommendations for both year 5 and 6. This site is a work in progress and will hopefully become a well-used resource for the children to share their reading choices. You can find this as a link below.The children will no longer receive a weekly spelling list in year 5, due to the increase in homework. They will still have spelling lessons, but with an emphasis on the understanding of spelling patterns and the accurate application of these in their writing. Their English homework will occasionally be a spelling activity reinforcing the work completed in class. They will, from time to time, be tested on words they spell incorrectly, but this will be done on an individual basis. However, if you would like to practise spelling with your child at home, we would recommend using the Spell Anywhere website. Instructions on how to use the website are linked below.

Click here to look at the Rougemont Reading website

Click here for a printable version of the reading list