Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Reading: For learners, for Wales

Reflective prompts

You might also find it useful to consider the following reflective prompts when looking at provision for reading or when you observe reading during your primary school experiences:

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• Strong reading begins with strong oracy. Which types of language experiences do pupils have?

Look and listen for:

• rich classroom talk
• storytelling and discussion
• adults modelling vocabulary and introducing pupils to new vocabulary and language structures
• pupils explaining and justifying their ideas and views

Ask yourself:

‘Are pupils developing the spoken language they need in order to understand what they will later read?’

• In the early years of a pupil’s primary education, pre-reading skills matter. How do adults ensure that pupils have secure foundations for reading, before the formal teaching of reading begins?

Look for:

• listening games and activities
• rhyme, rhythm and sound play
• shared enjoyment of stories and poems
• how pupils develop their attention, listening, turn-taking and talk
• how pupils develop their physical skills

Ask yourself:

‘How do adults build the groundwork for pupils’ reading development?’