On Thursday morning over 30 parents in Year 1 and 2 came to learn about our online subscription to ‘Bug Club’. This is a reading resource that allows children to practice their phonics skills and reading skills at home using any device. It also of course allows parents to share reading with their children and see the level of reading their child is able to understand. It is the comprehension of a book that is so important and so the ability to re-read texts is an important aspect of the child’s library that they can access on Bug Club. The children will only move up to the next level of book band once the teachers know the children are ready to develop their reading skills further.
Yesterday the parents were using a variety of mobile phones, tablets and computers to access their child’s Bug Club account and directly access what the children were reading. They could see the questions the children were asked by clicking on the ‘bugs’ on selected pages, to check their understanding. Parents saw the rewards that are in place to further encourage reading. The receiving of virtual stickers and simple quick games is a great incentive for many children.
Children are assigned one book per week. This is not a replacement for books or a stand-alone resource as the children also receive an English and Vietnamese reading book each week along with their choice of library book. We have a clear planned progression of reading throughout the school which starts with our early phonics program. There will be a presentation about using phonics and an example of it in use in a class later in the year so please do watch out for that.
Thank you to Ms. Katie for organizing the event and to our translators Ms. Them and Ms. Jeong Eun Kim. Materials from the training will be provided to all parents over the next few days and you will also be able to access the presentation on the portal.
Have a great weekend.
Mr Nicholas West – Head of Primary
