Supporting your child's reading journey at ARTS Education doesn't stop at the classroom door! Teachers are their reading champions, but you can be their ultimate cheerleader at home.

Sparking a love for reading at home goes beyond just assigned school books. Make your house a haven for exploration by creating a cosy reading nook or take trips to the library to let your child choose books that pique their interest. Encourage them to read everything from comics and magazines to cookbooks and signs around town. Most importantly, set a positive example by letting them see you enjoying your own reading material! This playful approach will make reading a natural part of your child's day and fuel their desire to keep pushing their skills.

Dive into our curated collection of online resources! We've unlocked a world of eBooks, audiobooks, and digital archives to complement the amazing selection at ARTS Education's school library and online library. Now you can explore hidden gems and classic reads you might not have found on the shelf!

When choosing books for your child, remember to consider their emotional maturity to ensure the themes and content resonate with them.

Encourage your child to step outside of their comfort zone and try some genres that they don’t normally read (in addition to the ones they already enjoy).

If you are parent of a student that attends ARTS Education please ask a member of staff for access to the schools online library

Chapter One, a global literacy champion for over 30 years, unlocks a world of reading for children. Through in-school tutoring and online volunteer programs, they provide personalised support for young learners. Their Global Free Library, a digital haven for diverse stories, expands children's horizons and fosters a love for reading. With a reach spanning the US, Canada, and the UK, Chapter One empowers children to embark on a magical literacy journey.

Click here to access Chapter One free global library

Project Gutenberg is a treasure trove for book lovers, offering a vast collection of over 70,000 free ebooks. You can delve into the world's greatest literature, with a focus on older works where the copyright has expired in the US. Whether you prefer epub or Kindle formats, you can download the ebooks to read at your leisure or explore them directly on the website.

Click here to access Project Gutenberg

TIPS TO ENCOURAGE READING AT HOME

Lead by example: Let your child see you enjoying your own reading material. Discuss the books you're reading, what you like and dislike about them. This normalises reading and makes it seem fun.

Turn it into an adventure: Read aloud together, using silly voices for characters and acting out scenes. After reading, talk about the story, ask questions, and encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings.

Make reading everywhere: Incorporate reading throughout the day. Look at books while waiting at the doctor's office, read menus at restaurants, or read street signs together on walks.

Celebrate reading milestones: Acknowledge and praise your child's progress, whether it's finishing a book, learning a new word, or mastering a difficult reading passage.

Visit the library regularly: Trips to the library are a great way to expose your child to a wide variety of books. Let them explore different sections, attend story time events, and participate in book clubs.

Graphic novels: once dismissed as comic books, are now recognised as literature. These books may be the key to getting some teenagers hooked on books and are available in a wide range of genres, from adventure and fantasy to historical fiction, memoir, and biography, so certainly, there is a graphic novel out there to suit your teenager's taste.

Audiobooks: Let your teenager get an audiobook to listen to on the way to school or on long drives. They can download audiobooks to their smartphones to not risk looking uncool because they will be under headphones or have their earbuds in.

Merge movies with books: Hollywood is turning to teen literature for ideas more than ever. Offer your teenager the print version to read before or after a big film comes out and discuss with them the similarities and the differences between the two. Which was better? The book or movie? Why?

Kids Discover Online offers a variety of educational units for children on a variety of topics. These topics include science units like flowers, the human body, and space. They also have units on social studies topics such as World History. In addition, Kids Discover Online offers units on engineering and inventions.

Click here to access Kids Discover Online

Open Library, a project by the non-profit Internet Archive, is like a giant online card catalogue for books. You can browse their massive collection by subject, author, or even curated lists created by other users, making it a great resource for finding your next favourite read.

Click here to access Open Library

Year 7 students in KS3 age 11-12

Year 8 students in KS3 age 12-13

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Year 10 students in KS4 age 14-15

Year 11 students in KS4 age 15-16

Magazines and newspapers for children and teenagers

Spark a love of reading! Find the perfect books based on your child's school year.

Kids.nationalgeographic.com is a treasure trove of fun and educational content for curious young minds. Packed with articles, games, videos, and activities, it ignites a love for exploration and discovery in a way that's both entertaining and informative. Whether your child is fascinated by ferocious animals or curious about the wonders of science, National Geographic Kids has something to spark their imagination and fuel their thirst for knowledge.

Click here to access Kids.nationalgeographic.com

Manybooks.net is your one-stop shop for a free literary adventure. Dive into a massive collection of over 50,000 ebooks, from timeless classics to exciting new releases. Browse by genre, discover hidden gems in their special collections, or simply get inspired by their editor's picks. With a user-friendly platform and multiple download formats compatible with most eReaders, Manybooks.net makes it easy to find your next great read and keep your bookshelf overflowing, all for free.

Click here to access Manybooks.net

What if your child is reading below expectations?

Teachers and parents need to have high but realistic expectations. You and your school should monitor your child's progress carefully. Remember that most children do not improve their reading steadily but sometimes worsen first before improving even more. Ensure that you ask your child what they think of the books they read at school and look at them yourself. Make sure that your child is not getting bored by finding their books too easy, but do make sure that they choose the books they want to read as often as possible. It is very off-putting to be told what to read. You can ask a teacher, bookseller, or librarians for help with book choices. Remember that a longer book is not always more difficult and that even confident new readers may not be ready to read long books.

What if your child has dyslexia?

Arrange a meeting with the SENCo and your child's teacher to discuss your child's needs and, if appropriate, arrange to get them tested for dyslexia.

The British Dyslexia Association can provide you with advice and support.

Barrington Stoke is a publisher that specialises in dyslexia and may be a valuable resource to consider.

"Whenever people talk about dyslexia, it's important to know that some of the smartest people in the world are dyslexic. We just see things differently, so that's an advantage. I just learn a different way, there nothing bad about it" – Charlotte McKinney