1. Scotland Reads Parental Training
November 2016
Kim Ross, Learning Support Teacher
Jill Armour, Acting Head Teacher
Learning and Teaching Scotland

2. Why? Paired Reading – tried and tested
Child choice: Selecting own material, choosing to read alone or together = enthusiasm
Lack of pressure: help given with words, thinking time, no sense of failure
Self-esteem: Lots of praise given, encouraged to read = motivation and enjoyment
Attention: More time spent individually than possible in class, etc
Meaning from reading: Not always having to sound out, get words right first time, so can concentrate on making sense of what they are reading
Learning by example: Given good example of pronunciation, expression and how punctuation affects reading.
Practice: More time to read, to come across new words, etc
Learning and Teaching Scotland

3. Choosing a Book A book that your child is interested in
and has helped to choose
Fiction or non-fiction
5+ errors per page is appropriate
for paired reading
Learning and Teaching Scotland

4. How? Paired Reading Techniques – Reading Together
Sit side by side in comfortable, quiet location. Talk about title, cover, illustrations, etc.
Start by reading together
Match your speed to the child’s, adjusting if child reads too slowly or quickly
When you have finished reading ask questions and discuss what you have read
Learning and Teaching Scotland

5. How? Paired Reading Techniques – Mistakes
If a mistake is made, allow four seconds for child to correct it
If not corrected, say word for child and ask them to repeat correctly
Use praise – think about your body language. See ‘Ways to Praise’
Read together until signal given.
Learning and Teaching Scotland

6. Giving praise
Learning and Teaching Scotland

7. Learning and Teaching Scotland

8. How? Paired Reading Techniques – Reading Alone
Child agrees signal – knock, tap etc to show when they want to read alone. Praise for reading alone.
Child reads alone. If a mistake is made, allow four seconds for child to correct it
If child self-corrects, they continue to read alone
If not corrected, say word for child and ask them to repeat correctly
Start reading together again until next signal
Remember – praise!
Learning and Teaching Scotland

9. In order to be effective:
Paired Reading
How often?
In order to be effective:
10 – 15 minutes
3 – 4 times per week
Learning and Teaching Scotland

10. Before Reading Before Reading Strategies
Act as a warm-up to prepare child
Cover, title, illustrations, author, blurb
Predict
Learning and Teaching Scotland

11. Review of Paired Reading Techniques
Stick with basic method for 6 weeks
Sitting comfortably
Before reading strategies and chat with child
Read together at same pace
Errors – four seconds to correct, say word and child repeats
Praise
Child reads alone on given signal
Errors – 4 seconds to correct – if not, read together
Ask questions, discuss
Learning and Teaching Scotland

12. Effective Questioning and Thinking
Open questions
Closed questions
yes / no answer
Learning and Teaching Scotland