Story time for Success!

Did you know that story time isn’t just for bedtime? It’s actually one of the best ways to prepare your child for the 4+ assessments! Here’s how…
When your child listens to stories, they’re not just hearing words—they’re building focus, vocabulary, and comprehension (all essential for 4+ success!)

Want to make the most of story time? Try this 3-step technique to boost their learning:

1. Pause & Predict – Stop mid-story and ask, “What do you think happens next?” (Encourages critical thinking!)

I always ask my students ‘What do you think will happen next?’ when we are reading stories together. Students as young as two are asked this question every single week! Your child will 100% be asked to make predictions in their 4+ Assessment. So by exposing them to this questions frequently, your child will build the confidence that they need in order to be able to predict accurately based on the story that they are read.

2. Spot the Details – Point to pictures and say, “Can you find something red?” (Builds observation skills!)

In our lessons, we do picture analysis every single week. When I do picture analysis with my students, I simple start off by asking them, ‘What do you see?’ Done consistently every single week (and with their parents during the week) this activity alone strengthens and builds their vocabulary. Asking my students focused questions allows them to enhance their questioning skills and be able to answer more and more complex questions

3. Retell the Story – After reading, ask them to summarise in their own words. (Boosts memory & verbal expression!) Simply ask your child - ‘What happened in the story?’

Just 10 minutes a day can make a HUGE difference! Try this today & tell me—what book are you reading?

Consistently reading with your child every day for only 10 minutes equates to 70 minutes a week. In a month that’s nearly 5 hours of reading time!

It’s those little moments of time that count when it comes to 4+ Assessment preparation.