Reading

Reading at FNPS

At FNPS, our educators are passionate in their approach to literacy, supporting every child on their reading journey. We aim to help students become confident readers who not only read fluently but also understand the purpose and power of reading. Our focus is on developing functional literacy—ensuring that students can make sense of what they read, apply it in real-life situations, and see reading as a valuable tool for learning, thinking, and connecting with the world around them. Through engaging lessons and individual support, we nurture a love of reading while building the skills students need to succeed in school and beyond.

Junior Reading Program

In the Junior years (P-2), we focus on building strong foundations to foster a love of reading. Our approach is based on direct and explicit phonics instruction, which helps our students understand how phonemes (the sounds of spoken language) and graphemes (the letters that represent them in written language) work together. We use decodable readers that reflect what students are learning in class, giving them the confidence to practise and succeed. We also explore the building blocks of words through morphology and etymology, helping students understand how words are formed and where they come from.

Students build fluency skills and comprehension through shared reading experiences and small focus groups. These sessions allow us to explore stories together, make connections to our own lives, and begin to think beyond the text—inferring, predicting, and synthesising ideas.

Importantly, we choose books that connect with our current transdisciplinary theme in the PYP, ensuring reading is meaningful and linked to their broader learning.

Senior Reading Program

Transitioning into the Senior years, our reading program evolves to challenge and engage upper primary students more deeply. They continue to develop their ability to identify features of fiction and non-fiction texts, applying these to their own writing and broadening their comprehension in a range of contexts. Reading and writing are closely connected, with students actively analysing how authors use language, structure, and style to communicate with a diverse range of audiences. 

We explore how texts differ in purpose and how authors craft their voice to suit different readers. Comparing the work of different authors helps students think critically about what they read and reflect on their own preferences as emerging young members of society.

In addition to developing detailed comprehension and inference skills, we continue to build vocabulary through the study of morphology and etymology. This deepens their understanding of language and supports their growth as independent readers and thinkers.

Reading Intervention

Our Reading Intervention program is designed to support students who need a little extra help with their reading journey. Using the Decodable Readers Australia program, we provide small-group instruction focused on phonics and early reading skills.

This targeted support is tailored to each child’s individual needs. By working in small groups, we can ensure that every child gets the attention they need to develop their decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills. Our goal is to build confidence and competence, helping every child become a successful reader.

Proven Benefits of Reading With Your Child

Parents and carers who read aloud with children in a secure, safe and comfortable context motivate their children to read.

Parents’ perceptions, values, attitudes, and expectations play an important role in influencing their children’s attitudes toward reading and subsequent literacy development. When children share a book with someone who makes them feel special, the attitude that reading is pleasurable is transferred to other reading encounters.

Taking some time out of the family’s very busy schedules to read has lifelong benefits: