Booking Parent Teacher Interviews

From Monday next week, Parent Teacher Interviews will be open to register via the Parent Portal.  If you are unsure of how to schedule a time with your child's teacher, please refer to the instruction video via the below link.

Sentral Parents App Parent Teacher Interviews

The Importance of Reading in Your Child’s Learning Journey

Reading is essential for developing confident communicators who can understand and use language creatively and critically. It forms the foundation of students’ ability to communicate, think critically, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. Reading supports the development of literacy skills that are essential across all learning areas, helping students become confident, creative, and informed global citizens. Strong reading skills are vital not only for academic success but also for active participation in society. Through reading, students learn to interpret and respond to a wide range of texts, fostering comprehension, fluency, and a lifelong love of learning.

What is Reading Fluency?

Reading fluency is more than just reading quickly, it is the ability to read accurately, at a suitable pace, and with expression. Together, these elements help children comprehend and enjoy what they read. When children read fluently, they can focus on understanding the meaning of the text rather than decoding each word.

Our teachers are using different strategies in class to support and develop our learners’ reading fluency. Our Year Six students were even treated to a special visit from Graham Healy—long-time 4GR radio announcer, beloved voice of the Downs, former Member of Parliament, and proud grandfather of Hudson and Cooper Blackburn.

Graham brought his warmth and charisma into the classroom, modelling the art of reading fluently. Students were captivated by his expressive style and learned first hand the importance of pausing, tone, phrasing, and rate when reading to an audience.

He shared his top tips for reading aloud:

• Read daily—and imagine you’re reading to an audience.
• Prepare by reading over the text beforehand.
• Project your voice so everyone can hear and feel the story.

Thank you Mr Healy for giving us your time and for sharing your expertise with our Lourdes Learners.

Why Is Fluency Important?

Fluent readers are better able to understand texts, which supports learning across all subjects. Fluency also boosts confidence and motivation to read, making reading a more enjoyable experience.

Strategies for Supporting Fluency at Home

Here are some simple, effective ways you can help your child become a more fluent reader:

1. Read Aloud Together

• Model fluent reading by reading aloud to your child.
• Use varied tone, pitch, and pacing to show how expression brings a story to life.
• Encourage your child to mimic your reading style.
• Follow Graham Healy’s tips for reading aloud – as above

2. Choral Reading

• Read a passage together at the same time.
• This builds confidence and reinforces pacing and expression.

3. Echo Reading

• You read a sentence or paragraph first, then your child repeats it.
• This helps them hear and practice fluent reading with support.

4. Repeated Reading

• Have your child read the same short passage multiple times.
• Repetition improves word recognition, speed, and confidence.

5. Use Audiobooks

• Listening to fluent reading through audiobooks can help children internalize rhythm and expression.
• Follow along with the printed book to reinforce word recognition.

6. Phrase Chunking Practice

• Help your child group words into meaningful phrases rather than reading word-by-word.
• Use punctuation as a guide to chunk text naturally.

7. Celebrate Progress

• Praise your child’s efforts and improvements.
• Make reading a positive and rewarding experience.

Fluency is a vital bridge between decoding and comprehension. By incorporating these strategies into your daily reading routine, you’re helping your child become a confident, capable reader. If you have questions or would like more resources, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, we’re here to support you.

Miranda

Miranda Murray
Assistant Principal