In this section
Reading
Welcome to our section on Reading. We will be publishing book reviews, learning activities and information from other sources including the Brent Library Service.
Reading for Pleasure Policy 2025-26
CLICK HERE for the latest Who Am I Author Challenge! The answer will be revealed below soon…
St Joseph's Summer Reading Challenge
We have set a summer reading challenge for all children that will be in Year 2 to Year 6 classes from September 2025. Please click on the link below for all the details!
Summer Reading Challenge Winners 2025
Brent Libraries October Half-Term Activities
Please click below for information about Brent Libraries October Half-Term Activities Newsletters!
Brent Libraries October Half-Term Newsletter
Reading Challenge Ladder 2024-25
Who Am I? Author Challenge
World Book Day
Phonics
The videos below show some of the skills our pupils have developed in Phonics.
In Video 1, the teacher is starting the phonics lesson by going through the complex speed chart. The teacher is using the pointing stick to go through the stretchy sounds (which are the long sounds) and the bouncy sounds (which are the short sounds).
In Video 2, the teacher is asking the children to read the words on the cards. There are four sets of words. The first set of words requires the children to find the special friend in the word before they sound it out in front of the class. The second set of cards are asking the children to do the same thing but instead of saying it out loud they use their sounds in their head. The third set of cards are for the speedy words. The children read these words by sight. The final set of words are alien words which are words that are made up. The children are asked to look for the special friend in the word before they sound the word out in front of the class.
In Video 3, two Year 1 children are doing partner reading. They take it in turns to read the sounds and the list of vocabulary at the start of the book before reading the story together. At the end they have time to read some speedy words at the back of the book to practise their word reading.
Video 2 – Start of Phonics Lesson
Book Talk
Every week in assembly staff or pupils will get an opportunity to recommend a book that they have read and explain why they are recommending it.
Library
We are very fortunate at St Joseph’s to have a well-stocked, inviting library where we can borrow books both fiction and non-fiction as well as poetry, graphic novels and many, many more. There are comfortable places to sit and enjoy a book.
Click here to see our Year 3 pupils enjoying this wonderful space.
Click here to see Year 5 hearing about the new library books which were purchased from the fundraising on World Book Day!
The Reading Cloud library system allows us to easily look for books and authors and even recommends things for us to read.
Please click here for access to the Reading Cloud.
Please click here for the Reading Cloud guide.
Please click here for information about the Library Opening.
Recommended Reading Lists
Reading Workshops for Parents
Please click here for the presentation to EYFS parents.
Please click here for the presentation to KS1 parents.
Please click here for the presentation to KS2 parents.
Please click here for reading language questions for Years 3 to 6.
Brent Library Summer Reading Challenge
Brent Library have set a summer reading challenge for all children. Please click on the link below for all the details!
Brent Library Summer Reading Challenge 2025
Pupil Book Reviews
Staff Book Reviews
The Reading Club meets regularly to read together, to think about the themes raised, to take part in linked activities and to write a book review. Please click below for some of the latest book reviews from our staff.