READING for Year 2
Hopefully all or most of the children in Year 2 have enjoyed a very successful year 1 and are finding that the world of words are opening up to them. Year 2 children often feel very proud of what they have learnt, and feel empowered to go on to new heights.
If not ... if you have a low stream, or a large number of the children seem to be discouraged, then look back at the Reading for Year 1 page and get some ideas for livening things up.
What should Year 2 children be reading?
Year 2 children are still learning phonics - working on the harder complex sounds. But they should also be increasing their bank of sight words or 'tricky words' - remembering words by a variety of clues which include the shape of the word and maybe some of the letters.
They should be very excited about reading and the possibilities it opens up to them - the knowledge they can learn, the stories they can enjoy, and the ideas they can find out about things to do.
Obviously they are going to be reading the material in their KSSR text book - but if that is all they read then it is very sad, and they will not do well in the long run!
A strong interest in reading at this age will guarantee lifelong success. Really.
With the language hurdle to overcome, they need to be extra motivated to try anyway - so they need a dedicated teacher - you.
As long as the subject matter is acceptable for young people, they should be allowed to try to read anything. It is the teacher's job to find their areas of interest and encourage them, or else inspire them to be interested in a wide range of topics.
For example: Many children become fascinated with topics of science, nature, animals, outer space, prehistoric animals, big machinery, transport, sport, games ...
Get them involved in Extensive Reading, and open the world up to them.
Take them to the library, help the to find suitable materials. Remember, they don't need to know or understand every word - read the pictures and grow their interest in the topic.
If not ... if you have a low stream, or a large number of the children seem to be discouraged, then look back at the Reading for Year 1 page and get some ideas for livening things up.
What should Year 2 children be reading?
Year 2 children are still learning phonics - working on the harder complex sounds. But they should also be increasing their bank of sight words or 'tricky words' - remembering words by a variety of clues which include the shape of the word and maybe some of the letters.
They should be very excited about reading and the possibilities it opens up to them - the knowledge they can learn, the stories they can enjoy, and the ideas they can find out about things to do.
Obviously they are going to be reading the material in their KSSR text book - but if that is all they read then it is very sad, and they will not do well in the long run!
A strong interest in reading at this age will guarantee lifelong success. Really.
With the language hurdle to overcome, they need to be extra motivated to try anyway - so they need a dedicated teacher - you.
As long as the subject matter is acceptable for young people, they should be allowed to try to read anything. It is the teacher's job to find their areas of interest and encourage them, or else inspire them to be interested in a wide range of topics.
For example: Many children become fascinated with topics of science, nature, animals, outer space, prehistoric animals, big machinery, transport, sport, games ...
Get them involved in Extensive Reading, and open the world up to them.
Take them to the library, help the to find suitable materials. Remember, they don't need to know or understand every word - read the pictures and grow their interest in the topic.
Create your own READING MATERIAL
Too difficult? NO! It doesn't have to be perfect, and the children love to read stories about themselves or someone they know, or even someone who is similar to them. We don't have to get bogged down with non-fictional content and traditional stories only.
Firstly, have a look at the Little Books that you can make. Start simple, and build up to pop-up books. The children can make up their own stories and write them, or tell you their stories and you write them, or you can make up stories about them and put them in a little book.
Then make a Big Book, copying the little book, so that you can do Shared Reading as an activity, reading it together.
On the Year 1 Reading page is an example of a Pop-Up little book that you can print out and help each child to make - and read - and copy into a Big Book as well. In year 2 you could still use it, and/or change and adapt it.
Find Some Reading Material:
There is more along these lines on the website: Stories for Malaysian Kids.
Firstly, have a look at the Little Books that you can make. Start simple, and build up to pop-up books. The children can make up their own stories and write them, or tell you their stories and you write them, or you can make up stories about them and put them in a little book.
Then make a Big Book, copying the little book, so that you can do Shared Reading as an activity, reading it together.
On the Year 1 Reading page is an example of a Pop-Up little book that you can print out and help each child to make - and read - and copy into a Big Book as well. In year 2 you could still use it, and/or change and adapt it.
Find Some Reading Material:
There is more along these lines on the website: Stories for Malaysian Kids.