Anne Hill International School (AHI) held its October Coffee Morning sessions on 6 and 8 October 2026 at An Phu Campus (Preschool) and Vo Truong Toan Campus (Primary & Secondary), Ho Chi Minh City. The two sessions, “Helping Your Child to Read: The Power of Phonics” for Preschool parents and “Developing Reading Habits” for Primary parents, offered practical insights and group discussions on supporting children’s reading development at different stages. As part of Coffee Morning at AHI, parents also connected with the Academic Leadership Team and explored ways to encourage learning beyond the classroom.
Photo: Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), introducing the topic of developing reading habits during the Primary Coffee Morning at AHI Multi-purpose Hall.
Coffee Morning with the Leadership Team: Connecting Home and School
Coffee Morning at AHI is held monthly across the school’s three campuses, giving parents opportunities to connect with the Academic Leadership Team (ALT). In addition, quarterly sessions with the Executive Management Board (EMB) provide first-hand updates on key school initiatives and developments, alongside insights into upcoming plans and strategic priorities. Parents can also share their perspectives through two-way discussions, with their feedback helping shape AHI’s continued growth and development.
Photo: Coffee and refreshments prepared for parents during Coffee Morning at AHI.
In October, the Preschool session explored the role of phonics in early reading, while the Primary session focused on developing reading habits and motivating children to read. Led by Ms Leean Woodland, Vice-Principal (Preschool), and Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), respectively, the sessions combined insights from the hosts with group discussions. Over coffee and refreshments, parents shared their experiences and discussed practical ways to support their children’s learning at home. The intimate, small-group setting also gave parents opportunities to hear different perspectives and learn from other families’ experiences.
One parent shared how much they appreciated the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other families facing similar situations. The sessions deepened parents’ understanding of their children’s development and how to support their growth both in and beyond the classroom.
Preschool Coffee Morning (6 October): The Power of Phonics
Photo: Ms Leean Woodland introducing phonics at the Preschool Coffee Morning.
Fun and laughter filled the Preschool Coffee Morning workshop on 6 October at Room F.004, An Phu Campus. Hosted by Ms Leean Woodland, the session, “Helping Your Child to Read: The Power of Phonics”, introduced parents to practical approaches for supporting their children’s early reading development.
Ms Leean first introduced parents to basic yet effective guidelines for helping children learn to read more quickly and enjoy the process. She then demonstrated the approach by guiding parents through reading unfamiliar Russian letters, showing how quickly adults could learn when using the right techniques. For parents, the task offered a glimpse of the challenges children face when first learning the alphabet and blending phonetic sounds into words.
Through this exercise, parents experienced first-hand the challenges of learning an unfamiliar writing system. Ms Leean’s demonstration showed how the right techniques can make reading feel less daunting, highlighting the value of patience and encouragement as children build confidence and develop a lasting enjoyment of reading. Parents left the workshop feeling empowered to support their children on their reading journey.
Learn more about our Preschool curriculum.
Primary Coffee Morning (8 October): Developing Reading Habits
In the “Developing Reading Habits” session, Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), explored why some children read independently while others need more encouragement. He highlighted that developing reading skills is only part of the journey. Motivation, curiosity and autonomy are equally important in helping children become regular readers. Rather than following a rigid routine, families were encouraged to find what works best for their child. As Mr Ben explained, “There is not one perfect reading routine. The best one is the one that works for you, your child and your family.”
Photo: A selection of books used in the Primary curriculum at AHI.
Photo: Parents connecting over discussions about books at the Primary Coffee Morning at AHI.
Finding the right time is a crucial part of establishing a reading routine. One parent reflected on how children’s energy levels affect their willingness to read, sharing, “That also correlates to energy levels. It is much harder to get them to read after a long day at school, whereas it is easier if it is a weekend activity like spending a Saturday afternoon at a bookstore.”
The discussion highlighted how reading can become a more natural part of family life when it fits a child’s interests and daily schedule.
Parents put these ideas into practice through a role-play activity, working in smaller groups to discuss scenarios involving students with different reading habits. These included a Year 1 student who enjoyed being read to but avoided reading independently, a Year 3 student who preferred comics and graphic novels, and older children who had lost interest in books or increasingly turned to screens. The activity encouraged parents to consider what might be behind a child’s reluctance to read and how they could respond to their individual needs.
Photo: Parents taking part in a role-play activity, exchanging ideas and perspectives.
Mr Ben encouraged parents to let children explore different types of reading material, including comics, graphic novels and magazines, rather than limiting them to chapter books. As he put it, “Life is too short to read books that do not interest you.”
Giving children the freedom to choose what they read can help sustain their interest, while reading together allows parents to share that enjoyment with them. Even when children can read independently, sharing stories introduces new vocabulary and more complex texts without the pressure of reading alone. Together, these approaches can help make reading an enjoyable and lasting part of family life.
A Shared Conversation: Building Home-School Partnerships
Photo: Parents presenting their key takeaways following small-group discussions.
Coffee Mornings at AHI reflect the value of a strong home-school partnership. By exploring relevant topics together, these sessions encourage parent engagement and help families gain a clearer understanding of how children learn and the different ways they can be supported at home and at school.
Thank you to all the parents who joined us and contributed to the October Coffee Mornings. We look forward to welcoming more families to future sessions as we continue learning and growing together as one community.
Want to explore more? Take a look at our Events Calendar.
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