Posted on

Shared Reading

Shared reading is a very good way for parents to help with their children’s reading. Research proves it helps develop reading fluency and comprehension and also develops a shared enthusiasm and confidence in the child.

Main Points

Shared reading should be done for five days each week over a period of around 8 weeks. Between 10 – 15 minutes is the recommended time to be spend reading. If however your child wants to do something else just wait until they are ready to do reading.

  • The setting for shared reading is very important. Try and find a place that is quiet and away from distractions.
  • Ensure that both you and your child are comfortable and relaxed and can both see the book.

Steps for Shared reading.

  • First talk to your child about the book- the title, cover picture, what they think its going to be about. Let your child do the talking.
  • You and your child both read out loud together. Match your speed with that of your child. Let them set the pace.
  • When your child comes to a word they don’t know give them time to look at the word and then you just say the word yourself, then let your child say it as well and carry on as before. You don’t make your child ‘break it up’ or ‘sound it out’.
  • Decide on a signal with your child ( a tap on the arm, nudge) so that he/she can then begin to read alone.
  • Again if he/she makes a mistake when reading alone you must read the word out loud for them and make sure your child says it right as well. Then you go back to reading out loud together until you get the signal to stop.

Through out the shared reading remember to praise you child and show them how pleased you are.

In addition it is nice to read to your child from a story that they might not be able to read themselves for a few minutes at the end of the shared reading session. This is great for building vocabulary.

Posted on

Jack and the Beanstalk

Having been postponed due to snow from before Christmas all eyes are on St. Anne’s Hall, Ballylinan this Monday and Tuesday Mar.14th and 15th for the staging of “Jack and the Beanstalk” by the children of Ballylinan N.S.

With a cast of 242(+1 adult) the children range in age from 5-13 years. For producer Bernie Dunne and her team of Ann Sourke, Suzanne Farrell, Paul Hickey and Michael Byrne this is the 7th consecutive year of children’s panto in Ballylinan starting with Pinnochio way back in 2004! The production receives wonderful local support and is a real “community event”. As is tradition the acting parts are played by the children from 6th class guided by their teacher Aileen Brennan and for the first time ever are joined by an adult, Michael Sourke as “The Giant” who is no stranger to panto(and Passion Play)!. All the other children join in at different stages with their own musical contribution so a night of top class entertainment is guaranteed!

Tickets are sold out for both performances but for these children it may be the start of a career “on the boards”!!

Continue reading “Jack and the Beanstalk”