Building a Strong Reading Culture at Citipointe Christian College, QLD

School Snapshot

Citipointe Christian College in Queensland has cultivated a vibrant school-wide reading culture that begins in the earliest years and extends right through to Year 6. With leadership that has consistently prioritised literacy, the college has embedded daily reading as a cornerstone of its educational approach.

A Culture of Reading from Day One

From the very start of their schooling, students at Citipointe are immersed in a culture where reading is non-negotiable. Through the Home Reading Program, Preparatory students engage in daily reading, earning ribbons after reaching 100 and 200 nights of reading.

“Ensuring students understand the importance of reading from the beginning of their schooling journey sets them up for success with their daily reading habits,” explained Kirsten van der Walt, Head of Lower Primary Curriculum.

As students progress, Accelerated Reader (AR) becomes the next milestone. Beginning in Year 2, once students reach level 4.5, they transition into AR – something many children eagerly anticipate. “Students have a strong desire to go onto AR as they see it as the next step in their reading journey. They love the autonomy of choosing their own books, which makes them feel more in control of their reading,” Kirsten noted.

Word Count Growth

The impact of Citipointe’s reading culture and the use of Accelerated Reader is evident in the total word counts achieved by students across the school.

327

million words read

in 2024

students collectively read 327,238,797 words.

363

million words read

By the end of Term 3, 2025

this had grown to 363,785,164 words.

These figures highlight not only the consistency of daily reading habits but also the enthusiasm students have developed for reading more widely and frequently.

Leadership that Champions Literacy

A commitment to literacy has long been embedded in the leadership at Citipointe. From the Principal to classroom teachers, every level of leadership has emphasised the importance of reading.

“Our school has a history of very strong leaders who are passionate about literacy and students enjoying reading and having a love of literature. We know that when students love reading, this impacts all other areas of the curriculum,” said Kirsten.

What the research shows:

Australia (longitudinal): By secondary school, enjoyment of reading predicts later achievement (Grades 7→9), not just the other way round (RI-CLPM on 2,716 students using NAPLAN).
UK (longitudinal): Reading for pleasure is linked to faster progress in mathematics, vocabulary and spelling between ages 10-16 – an effect ~4× larger than having a parent with a degree (British Cohort Study / CLS analysis).

Practical Implementation in Classrooms

The combination of Star Reading and Accelerated Reader is integral to how Citipointe structures reading across its primary years. At the beginning of each unit, students sit a Star Reading test to determine their ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development). These levels are shared with students and parents, helping to guide book choices.

In classrooms, daily reading timeslots of 10–20 minutes are built into timetables for either independent reading or AR quizzes. Books in the library are carefully labelled with AR stickers, and students are encouraged to borrow at the upper end of their ZPD to stretch their skills.

“Star Reading takes away the administrative pressures of assessing for teachers, which means more time can be spent on actually teaching reading. Accelerated Reader then individualises targets, making sure every child has their own achievable goals,” Kirsten shared.

Celebrating Success and Keeping Motivation High

Motivation plays a central role in the program’s success. Teachers at Citipointe celebrate reading achievements in their own ways – printing certificates, giving out prizes, or recognising milestones in class.

“By acknowledging the hard work of students who are authentically completing quizzes and reaching their targets, students value reading and the AR program,” Kirsten explained.

Empowering Parents to Support at Home

Parental involvement is actively encouraged. Citipointe has run seminars such as Moving Beyond the Home Reading Program, where parents are introduced to AR, shown how to access accounts, and taught how to track progress.

“Parents really value the support. Even for students on AR, we encourage parents to listen to their children read aloud so they don’t lose fluency and accuracy,” Kirsten said.

Impact on Students and Teachers

Teachers at Citipointe have also been upskilled in small-group guided reading, shared reading, and one-on-one support. The culture of reading from Prep creates consistency across year levels.

Students, meanwhile, have flourished under the program. “It is exciting seeing students who once struggled with reading become passionate when they feel more autonomy – whether it’s choosing books for a light holiday read or pushing themselves with more challenging texts,” Kirsten reflected.

With data from Star Reading and AR, the school can quickly identify both students who need extension and those who require additional support.

Looking Ahead

Citipointe plans to further strengthen its reading culture by returning to acknowledging high achievers in more visible ways, while also deepening teacher expertise in AR and data use.

“A strong reading culture comes from all parties – parents, students, and teachers. It starts in Prep, even before children can read. By building daily routines, embedding teacher-led reading, and using AR and Star Reading to provide clear, individualised goals, schools can set students up for lifelong reading success,” Kirsten concluded.

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