Cross-Age Reading

Last week, our Years 9 and 10 English classes visited students in Palm House for a cross-age reading session. There is a real sense of occasion when a Year 9 or 10 student sits down with a Year 1 child to open a picture book. The younger boys look up at them in a way that is hard to miss.

To them, these older students seem much bigger, much older, almost like giants and that shapes the experience from the very beginning.

It was a pleasure to see the older students step into a mentoring role, guiding conversations about character, plot and illustration. Holding the attention of a younger audience takes more than simply reading the words. It asks them to think about how a story sounds, how it moves and how to draw someone into it. In doing this, they begin to recognise their own influence.

There is a growing confidence in taking the lead and a stronger understanding of how stories work. Explaining a narrative to a younger student also deepens their own engagement with it.

For the younger boys, the experience goes well beyond listening. Sitting alongside an older student brings a sense of importance and connection. They are often more open in their thinking, asking questions freely and following ideas further than they might in a more formal setting. These moments strengthen the sense of belonging across the School. Time spent together in this way helps bridge the gap between year levels and builds relationships that carry beyond the classroom.

Reading together reminds us that books are not just part of learning. They give students a way to connect, to share and to see themselves in others. We look forward to continuing the program each term, as it has quickly become a highlight for both our Senior and Junior students.

Alison Winter 
Teacher-Librarian