Suggested Independent Reading Activities

Suggested Independent Reading Activities

• Re-reading shared texts, rhymes, poems individually or with a partner.
• Re-reading familiar texts – previously read guided reading book or other familiar text.
• Cut-up sentences from the text.
• Response to texts through illustration, drama, role play or use of puppets.
• Listening to taped stories.
• Sequencing activities: pictures, sentences, key events, etc.
• Character(s) from the text – insert text into speech bubbles.
• Writing a similar story on the computer.
• Read a range of other books by the same author/publisher (in pairs, to puppets, etc).
• Matching pictures and text.
• Simple book review (sentence starters and smiley faces to rate the book).
• With support from a TA:
• Re-enact the story.
• Re-tell the story using puppets and props.
• Read the story onto tape.
• Re-reading the text.
• Book making based on the story read. For example: zig zag books.
• Close activity – missing high frequency words, verbs, nouns, rhyming words etc.
• Matching games – (word matching, letter matching).
• Phonic games/ activities
• High frequency word snap/lotto.

• Reading journals – reflecting on any aspect of the text.
• Re-reading or continuing to read the text.
• Preparing for a guided reading session by reading a part of the text.
• Text marking, e.g. highlight in ‘blue’ evidence about the character’s feelings.
• Research (ICT and books).
• Reading other texts on the same topic or by the same author.
• Writing thought bubbles about sections of text to record thoughts and feelings.
• Re-writing a section of the text as a comic.
• Re-writing a section of the text from the point of view of another character.
• KWL grid (mainly non-fiction)

• Comprehension – this could be varied by: asking children to write questions for each other to answer; writing the answers and the children write the questions. Ensure comprehension covers the six QC/A assessment areas.
• Drama activities: hot seating; mime; performing a scene from the text.
• Debate/group discussion.
• Reading the story onto a tape.