ABSTRACT
Once children have learnt to read, the continuing challenge for teachers is to help them become engaged, enthusiastic and fluent readers who understand the pleasures and usefulness of reading, and who choose to read beyond the demands of the curriculum. Helping children develop into such readers requires more than simply giving children the opportunities to read longer and increasingly complex texts, although such experiences are important. This chapter focuses on teaching reading creatively to 7-11year-olds; the primary focus is on supporting deeper engagement with texts through creative approaches that build a reflective reading culture within the classroom, develop children’s understanding of the texts they read and encourage personal responses, including critical readings. It also looks at how teachers can support children as they develop and expand their reading preferences and highlights the importance of teachers’ own experiences and knowledge of children’s books and reading.
