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Reading Together: A programme which enables parents to help their children with reading at home

Reading Together Workshop 2Reading Together is a research-based workshop programme for parents, children and teachers. It is designed to help parents support their children's reading at home more effectively (and thereby also support teachers in their classroom programmes).

The workshop programme has been shown to raise children's reading achievement in a sustained manner, and to improve relationships between children and parents, and between parents and teachers (the original research was a randomised, controlled trial - the gold standard used by US federal authorities)1,2. It has been successfully implemented by teachers in various parts of New Zealand since 1982, and teachers find that the programme is practical and manageable3,4.

Reading Together is a low-cost programme comprising 4 x 1hr15min workshops, spread over seven weeks (for further information, see overview of workshops). Workshops are run by interested teachers, and are held at times which suit them and the parents involved.

If you would like more information, the article Reading Together: A programme which enables parents to help their children with reading at home is available for download below. This article:

  • summarises the research design and results of the Reading Together programme
  • outlines its successful implementation throughout New Zealand since 1982
  • identifies reasons for the programme's success
  • links Reading Together with current research

 The resources for the programme can be ordered here.

Reading Together: Ministry of Education Documents

In 2007, the New Zealand Ministry of Education funded a research study5 into the effectiveness of Reading Together. The in-depth study (led by Dr Bryan Tuck) investigated the ongoing implementation (since 2005) of Reading Together at St Joseph’s Primary School, Otahuhu, Auckland. The research revealed:

  • statistically significant gains in students’ levels of reading comprehension,
  • positive and constructive changes in parents’ relationships with their children, and
  • positive shifts in children’s independent reading and relationships between teachers and parents.

The report of the St Joseph’s Otahuhu research study is available for download below (and is also available on the Education Counts site). Information about the implementation of Reading Together at St Joseph’s is also contained in the article Reading Together: St Joseph's Otahuhu 6 (available for download below). Written by Liz Horgan (Principal), Cathy Franich (DP) and Marian Wards (AP), this article describes the successful implementation of Reading Together at St Joseph's and provides feedback from workshop participants. Further information about the implementation of Reading Together at St Joseph's is contained in Home-School Partnership: Reading Together7.

In 2009, a document summarising research evidence relating to Reading Together (1982-2009) was prepared by The Biddulph Group at the request of Group Māori, Ministry of Education National Office, as part of Whānau Engaged in Learning initiatives within Ka Hikitia. The document is available for download below.

Quick Links for Reading Together

Ministry of Education's Leadership Best Evidence Synthesis

In 2009, the Ministry of Education's Best Evidence Synthesis School Leadership and Student Outcomes: Identifying What Works and Why8 reported that:

... different types of parental involvement can have large, small, or even negative influences on student achievement. [p 44]

... It is also possible for schools to invest considerable time, energy and resources in engaging with families and communities in ways that have little - or even negative - impacts on student outcomes. For example, homework can support or undermine student achievement depending on how it is designed. Similarly, while most parents attempt to help their young children with reading, this can be a frustrating and negative experience for both parent and child. Positive effects are more likely to be associated with programmes that support parents with strategies for effective help. [p 45]

... Reading Together has proven to be a cost-effective intervention to support parents in assisting their children with reading. [p 162]

References

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Documents (in PDF)

Copyright (c) 2010 The Biddulph Group