At Alder, we want to ensure that all students develop a love of reading.

Throughout the curriculum, students are provided with opportunities to read challenging texts related to topics. All students are required to have a reading book in school as part of their basic equipment. Form time is used for reading whole class texts as well as monitoring students’ individual reading progress. We also have our wonderful librarian, Ms Glynn, who is available to support students every day during form time, brunch or lunch time, and after school.

Reading support

We assess all student reading ages using NGRT reading tests – an adaptive online test that enables us to identify students who need support.

Assessment informed reading interventions are put in place to provide a bespoke and targeted school-wide reading and literacy programme.

We understand that some students may need bespoke reading and literacy support, so we offer a range of interventions to ensure students are able to access the curriculum confidently. Students will be screened prior to beginning the intervention to ensure it is the appropriate intervention for them.

 

Stanine 1 or 2 Stanine 3 or 4 Stanine 5 or 6 Stanine 7, 8 or 9

Dependent on average score:

  • Lexonik Leap
  • Lexonik Advance
  • SparxReader

Dependent on average score:

  • Lexonik Advance
  • Lexia PowerUp
  • SparxReader
  • SparxReader
  • 16 Before 16 Reading Challenge

 
  • SparxReader
  • 16 Before 16 Reading Challenge
  • Graduation Challenge

 

Our intervention team:

  • Ms M Glynn
  • Mrs McSevney
  • Mrs France

 

Reading challenges and incentives

Here, you will find our 16 Before 16 challenge alongside our Graduation list for our readers who have completed our 16 Before 16 challenge.

 

Form-time reading

Once a week in Y7, 8, 9 and 10 students read a book during form time. Students are expected to read alongside their form tutor to promote reading widely.

Here are a few examples that students may have the opportunity to read:

  • In Year 7, students may read: Ghost Boys, The Boy in the Tower, or When the Sky Falls.
  • In Year 8, students may read: I Am Malala, Hound of the Baskervilles, or October, October.
  • In Year 9, students may read: Lord of the Flies, The Woman in Black, or The Watcher in the Shadows.
  • In Year 10, students may read: Crossing the Line, Tsunami Girl, or I Must Betray You.

 

Form-time vocabulary

Once a week, students will complete a form time task designed to encourage them to decode words using their knowledge of morphology. This half-term, students are exploring the root word ‘ject’ and will explore the words:

  • Interject
  • Trajectory
  • Conjecture
  • Dejected
  • Eject
  • (to) Object

 

Library

At Alder, we are lucky to have a library that is always busy. Our school librarian, Ms Glynn, has created a space where students can:

  • Use the computers.
  • Get support with homework, namely SparxReader.
  • Use as a quiet space for reading.
  • Explore the 16 Before 16 Reading Challenge.
  • Become a student librarian.
  • Attend D&D club!

 

The library offers a diverse range of books for all ages and reading abilities. Click here to explore the library using the library app: Alder Library