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Example books to read together#

These slides are best viewed full screen. Select the 3 dots at the bottom of the slides and then select ‘Enter full screen’. 

Ring! Ring!#

Catching Mustelids#

Catching Mustelids slides

'Ring! Ring!' and 'Catching Mustelids' are examples of the kinds of books your child will be reading in the third year at school. You can use the slides below to read them with your child.

Reading books your child brings home from school#

In Year 3, your child is working towards becoming a fluent, independent reader.

The books they bring home could include fiction and non-fiction. Some will be at their level and already shared together in class. Others will have been chosen by your child from the school library.

Encouraging your child to read at home is a great opportunity to develop their reading skills and improve fluency.

Before reading#

  • Find a quiet place to read together. Choose a time when you both have the energy to enjoy it.
  • Be positive about this time. "Great! A new book."
  • Encourage your child so that reading is a positive experience. "I like hearing you read."
  • Activate their thinking. "What’s your book about today?" "Does it look real or made up?"
  • Look at the cover to make connections. "Remember when aunty came to stay? Do you think there are wētā in our garden?"

Reading the book#

  • Encourage your child to start reading. "Okay, let’s go. Read the first page for me."
  • If your child is reluctant, acknowledge their feelings and offer encouragement. "I can see you’re getting better each time." Offer alternatives. For example, read the first page to get them going or take turns to read a page.
  • Read to the end of the page, book, chapter or article, depending on how the reading is going.
  • Have a chat with your child about any new words they’re unsure of.
  • Ask questions. "Why do you think she did that?"
  • End on a positive note and give praise. "Thanks for that. You’re sounding great. Well done! I’m looking forward to the next book. You did really well at sounding out some of those new words."

After reading#

  • Encourage your child to discuss the text. "Did your enjoy the story? Why/why not?"
  • Help your child make connections to their own life. "That was a funny story about a grandad. What does your grandad do that makes you laugh?"
  • Ask if there was anything in the text your child would like to know more about. "How can you find that out?"
Ideas for when reading is hard

  • If your child stumbles over a word, give them time to work it out on their own.
  • Encourage them to sound the word out. Ask them if they think it sounds right.
  • If your child needs more help, you could ask them to find groups of letters they know, make a sound/sounds to break the word up and then blend it together.
  • Take turns reading a sentence, a paragraph, a page or a chapter.
  • Keep it light and positive.
  • If you or your child start to feel stressed, take a break. You could also read the rest of the story aloud to them.

Supporting reading at home#

  • Have fun singing along to songs or YouTube videos together.
  • Read to your child every day. You can use your first language.
  • Have a pile of reading materials available. For example, library books (non-fiction and fiction), online recipes, simple timetables, magazines and any other reading that supports your child’s current interest.
  • Encourage your child to retell favourite stories or parts of stories in their own words.
  • Play video games and card games together. You can even make the cards yourself.
  • Look for opportunities for your child to read wherever you are. For example, signs, advertising billboards, junk mail recipes and online content.
  • Show your child that reading is fun and important to you by letting them see you reading.
  • Visit the library often and help your child to choose books that interest them.
  • Talk with older people in your family about interesting stories and people from your child’s past that you could find out more about together.
  • Ask your child questions and support them to find the answers to widen their reading experiences. For example, "what’s the quickest biscuit recipe?" Or, "what time is the next bus to town?"