Literacy Focus
St Raphael's School: Fostering a Love of Reading
At St Raphael's School, we believe that cultivating a love of reading is paramount in supporting children to reach their full potential. Principal Emma Fowler emphasises the importance of instilling this passion for reading early on, recognising it as one of the greatest gifts parents can offer their children. In an era dominated by screens, we understand the need to provide a compelling alternative. We firmly believe that immersing yourself in a book is the key to unlocking success in an overstimulated world.
Our Approach to Promoting Literacy
At St Raphael's School, reading is not merely a task; it is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We emphasise that stories are all around us, enriching our experiences and shaping our perspectives. We aim to show students that literature is not confined to homework but an essential part of how we live and learn.
Purposeful Reading Spaces
In our commitment to nurturing young readers, we have integrated purpose-built reading areas into our new school development. Central to this design is a special reading tree where teachers can conduct classes, ESOs can provide individual literacy support, and students can immerse themselves in the joy of reading.
Tailored Literacy Programs for Every Student
Our school utilises programs designed to support and enhance literacy learning at each student's individual level. From Reception to Year 3, learners engage in a multi-sensory approach based on The Science of Reading, which draws on evidence from education, linguistics, psychology, special education, and neuroscience.
The Science of Reading
The Science of Reading encompasses a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge and forms the basis of our literacy instruction. This evidence-based approach ensures that students receive targeted support in areas such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Using decodable readers to reinforce the learning that is happening in class, students use these texts to practise the skill of reading.
Developing Life-Long Readers
Our approach to reading does not end here. Students also engage in quality picture books, short reads, class novels and books of their own choice to support them to develop a love of reading. They have the opportunity to be exposed to a range of different texts and genres to help discover the style of book that they enjoy the most. Teachers use diagnostic tools to discover a student’s appropriate stretch zone and then support the child to choose books that are in this zone.
At St Raphael's School, we are dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in our students. Through tailored programs, purposeful spaces, parental involvement, and a holistic approach to literacy, we aim to empower young minds with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally.