Celebrating reading milestone with a party

Prep students at Cowes Primary School marked an exciting milestone this month with a Reading Party.

The party aimed at celebrating the extension of their home reading program through the introduction of new decodable books.

"The event showcased a shared love of reading as students proudly explored their new books for the very first time," a school spokesperson said.

"A highlight of the celebration was the involvement of our Year 6 buddies, who joined the Preps to share in this special moment.

"Sitting side by side, the older students supported and encouraged their buddies to read their books for the very first time. The buddies were very impressed listening to their Prep Buddies read, so early on in their learning journey."

Throughout the party, students also participated in a range of activities designed to strengthen their sound knowledge and early reading skills.

"These activities supported students in developing confidence with the building blocks of reading, reinforcing the important connection between sounds and letters," the spokesperson said.

"The introduction of decodable books is an important step in each child's reading development.

"By using decodable books, students are encouraged to rely on phonic decoding strategies, sounding out words from left to right rather than guessing from pictures or predicting based on context.

"Developing a strong home and school reading routine will support our students reading success. The Reading Party was a celebration of progress, partnership, and the power of early literacy," continued the spokesperson.

"We are incredibly proud of our Cowes Primary School prep students as they take this important next step in their reading journey and look forward to seeing their confidence continue to grow at home and in the classroom."