Drop everything and read comes to Abbeywood!
In Term 2, Abbeywood Community School will start to ‘Drop Everything and Read’, an exciting new addition to our school timetable. Across the country, schools have been taking part in this with great results. At Abbeywood, we believe in ensuring your child’s experience is well-rounded, purposeful and aspirational, and reading is a huge part of that. Students who read tend to have greater empathy with others, develop a better range of vocabulary, feel happier and calmer and are able to access texts across the curriculum with more ease and confidence.
How it will work ....
Year 7 Students
Once a week, your child will Drop Everything and Read for the first 20 minutes of a lesson. All students and staff will be doing this, at the same time! We hope this moment in the week to simply read and enjoy something we have all chosen for ourselves will be a meaningful and important moment in the day.
Year 8 - 10 Students
In two tutor periods per week, your child will be asked to take out their independent reading book, which they have selected this term, and read in silence. Once a week, they will Drop Everything and Read for the first 20 minutes of a lesson. All students and staff will be doing this, at the same time! We hope this moment in the week to simply read and enjoy something we have all chosen for ourselves will be a meaningful and important moment in the day.
What if my child forgets their book…
The reading book will be part of the students’ BRONZE equipment – so it is expected that they have it every day. A Q code will be given on the register if they fail to bring a book. Students are expected to change their book for a new one once they have finished the one they started, either in our well-stocked library or by bringing a book from home.
How can I help…
Year 7 Students
Students in year 7 have reading logs to complete, so you can help by listening to your child read, talking to them about their book, sharing books you have enjoyed, selecting a book from the library together etc. If your child is struggling to find something they enjoy, talk to them about what they have enjoyed in the past and go from there. Our librarian and many of our staff love talking books, so there is always someone to ask for inspiration. And most of all: be positive about reading!
Year 8 - 10 Students
Students in year 8 and 9 have reading logs to complete – 30 minutes per week for year 9 and 45 minutes per week in year 8 – so you can help by listening to your child read, talking to them about their book, sharing books you have enjoyed, selecting a book from the library together etc. If your child is struggling to find something they enjoy, talk to them about what they have enjoyed in the past and go from there. Our librarian and many of our staff love talking books, so there is always someone to ask for inspiration. And most of all: be positive about reading!
Guided reading for Year 7 students
We are very excited to announce the start of Guided Reading, new to Abbeywood for YEAR 7 ONLY next term! In four tutor sessions per week, students will read a class book together. Their tutor will read with them, with students following along. The class readers have been carefully selected and students have been busily voting for which one their group would like to start with. Over the course of the year, your child will therefore read an extra selection of books, enjoying the experience of reading along with their whole class.
