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Reading VIPERS

Reading Vipers

Children are taught the skills of reading (outlined in the National Curriculum and the KS1 and KS2 test domains) through the use of VIPERS which were created by Rob Smith (The Literacy Shed).

The Reading Vipers can be used by both KS1 and KS2 with a little adaption. The main difference being in the S.

Sequence – KS1

Summarise – KS2

In KS1, ‘Explain’; is not one of the content domains, rather it asks children why they have come to a certain conclusion, to explain their preferences, thoughts and opinions about a text.

In KS2, the Explain section covers the additional content domains of 2F, 2G and 2H which are not present in KS1.

What are Vipers?

VIPERS is an anagram to aid the recall of the 6 reading domains as part of the UK’s reading curriculum.  They are the key areas which we feel children need to know and understand in order to improve their comprehension of texts.

VIPERS stands for:

 

The 6 domains focus on the comprehension aspect of reading and not the mechanics: decoding, fluency, prosody etc. As such, VIPERS is not a reading scheme but rather a method of ensuring that teachers ask, and students are familiar with, a range of questions. They allow the teacher to track the type of questions asked and the children’s responses to these which allows for targeted questioning afterwards.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage One children reading skills are taught and practised using the VIPERS during whole class reading sessions.

KS1 Content Domain Reference

VIPER

1a draw on knowledge of vocabulary to understand texts

Vocabulary

1b identify/ explain key aspects of fiction and non-fiction, such as characters, events, titles and information.

Retrieve

1c identify and explain the sequences of events in texts

Sequence

1d make inferences from the text

Infer

1e predict what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far

Predict

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage Two children reading skills are taught and practised using VIPERS during whole class reading sessions.

KS2 Content Domain Reference

VIPER

2a Give/explain the meaning of words in context

Vocabulary

2b retrieve and record information/ identify key details from fiction and non/fiction

Retrieve

2c summarise main ideas from more than one paragraph

Summarise

2d make inferences from the text/ explain and justify inferences with evidence from the text

Infer

2e predict what might happen from details stated or implied

Predict

2f identify/explain how information/ narrative content is related and contributes to meaning as a whole

Explain

2g identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of words and phrases

Explain

2h make comparisons within a text

Explain

reading-vipersDownload

Reading-VIPERS-Question-Stems-KS1Download

Reading-VIPERS-Question-Stems-KS2Download

 

Awards

 

George Carey
Church of England
Primary School

A Christian School For All

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Telephone: 0208 270 4040

Email: office@george-carey.bardaglea.org.uk