St. Joseph's National School 
Derrywash, Castlebar

In First Class in Derrywash NS we use our PM Readers for 'Guided Reading' four times a week. This is an intensive programme of reading and writing, which gives the children lots of opportunities to read books at their own level of competency. It gradually lifts the complexity of what they can do in both reading and writing. The aim of 'Guided Reading' is to develop enjoyment, fluency, comprehension and speed of reading. Each day the children get a new reader which they practice at school, under the guidance of teachers and our SNA, and bring home to read for their parents that night. We have found this programme to be very successful, and beneficial to children of all reading abilities.