Literacy
Literacy skills are fundamental to learning in all areas of the primary curriculum, therefore at Barrowhall Literacy teaching and learning is a major focus and priority.
Our Literacy curriculum is designed to develop children's ability to communicate effectively in speech and in writing. Further more it is aimed that our pupils become enthusiastic and responsive readers who can read for pleasure and to obtain information.
More specifically the National Literacy Strategy says:
Literate pupils should:
- Read and write with confidence
- Be able to orchestrate a full range of reading cues (phonic, graphical, syntactic, contextual}
- Understand the sound and spelling system and use this to spell and read accurately
- Have fluent legible handwriting
- Have an interest in words and their meanings and growing vocabulary
- Know, understand and be able to understand a range of genres in fiction and poetry
- Understand ,use and be able to write a range of non-fiction text
- Plan, draft, revise and edit their own writing
- Have suitable technical vocabulary to discuss aspects of their reading and writing
- Be interested in books, read with enjoyment and evaluate and justify their preferences
A more detailed description of the curriculum content is available through school or can be viewed on The Standards Site: Primary National Literacy Strategy
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/
Please note that this scheme of work is currently being revised and a new refined scheme will be taught in the Autumn Tern 2006.
A large proportion or our work in English is delivered through the daily Literacy Hour. In 2006/7 the school is moving towards a more cross- curricular approach where aspects of the literacy will be taught in a more meaningful and realistic context linked to a central theme or topic.
How reading is taught in school
Reading is taught through shared reading (whole class) and guided reading (small groups of children of similar ability). Guided reading is when reading skills are taught from such as decoding in Reception to inference and deduction in reading comprehension in Year 6. Most of the independent reading needs to take place at home but in the Key Stage two short silent reading sessions are built into the timetable.
How writing is taught in school
Firstly pupils are given a wide experience of reading and then analyzing the language and textual features of a particular type or genre of writing. This leads to the teacher sharing or modeling writing with the class. More intensive teaching is through 'Guided Writing' and addressing individual needs. Eventually pupils are given the opportunity to plan and write for an extended period. Sometimes pupils are asked to assess or edit their work either with a "writing buddy" or by themselves enabling them to produce a final draft of their work. All pupils have their own personal writing target which they work toward achieving during independent writing sessions.
Speaking and Listening
Children are encouraged to develop the skills to be confident and effective communicators - this includes discussing texts, answering questions and expressing their preference; working in small groups with adults; working on activities in drama lessons; discussing issues in Circle Time and class councils and occasionally speaking in assemblies of school performances.
Parents Support
Parents can support their children's learning in Literacy through out the Primary years. From an early stage parents are asked to hear their children read and assist with the learning of spellings at home. When your child is a fluent reader and reading for his or her own pleasure, it is still important to be involved, questioning their understanding, particularly the inferences in the text.
Literacy homework is currently given on a weekly basis, but in the future "Literacy Tasks" will be set at the beginning of each half term. Parents will be actively encouraged to support and guide their children through these longer activities.
