Literacy

Curriculum Information for Parents

5th March 2015

Reading•Word Reading •Comprehension

Writing•Composition•Transcription (spelling and handwriting)•Grammar

Communication •Speaking and Listening•Performing

English across the curriculum•Reading, Writing and Communicating for a real purpose.

Different Aspects of the English Curriculum

Reading•Phonics – Hedgehog and Squirrel class•Shared Reading (whole class reading)•Guided Reading (small groups)•Individual reading (with parents, teachers and other adults in school)•Reading for pleasure (individual reading of books of own choice)•Comprehension •Reading across the curriculum/for a real purpose.

How each aspect of English is taught

Writing•Phonics – Hedgehog/Squirrel class•Individual/independent writing •Writing across the curriculum/for a real purpose•Big Write - weekly•Spelling taught within phonics younger children and discretely for older children with weekly spelling tests. •Simple aspects of grammar taught within English lessons in KS1 and weekly EGPS/SPAG lessons in key stage 2.

How each aspect of English is taught

Communication•Speaking and Listening is promoted throughout the curriculum. •Talk partners. •Think, Pair, Share.•Reading aloud to the class or an audience.•Drama activities•Self and peer assessment.• Discussions within the class.•Performing to the class. •Class assemblies/ celebration assemblies weekly•Use of digital media to record and appraise performances.

How each aspect of English is taught

How English is taught in each area of the school)

Foundation Stage (Reception)• Phonics in small groups (Letters and Sounds)•English whole class work based around a story•Daily activities set up in Reading and Writing areas.•Adult led small group activities•Opportunities for writing in all areas especially within role play areas and outdoors.

How English is taught in each area of the school)

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)•Phonics lessons – These half hour sessions 4 times a week•Literacy lessons•Phonics screening test (usually in June). Year 1 pupils and those in year 2 who did not meet the required standard in year 1. •Extended writing lessons (Big Write)•Guided reading •Individual reading •Reading, writing and communication across the curriculum and for a real purpose•Discrete handwriting sessions.•Preparation for End of Key Stage 1 Tasks and Tests for Reading and Writing- these help to verify Teacher Assessments.

How English is taught in each area of the school)

Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6)

•Daily English lessons including one specific grammar lesson•Extended Writing – Big Write•Guided reading sessions, which include comprehension activities•Separate spellings and handwriting sessions•Reading, writing and communication across the curriculum and for a real purpose. •Termly assessments which verify teacher judgements •End of Key stage SATs tests for Reading and SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar). Writing is assessed by class teachers and moderated separately.

Different writing genres

• Narrative/Story writing• Instructions• Recounts • Persuasive Writing• Chronological and non-chronological reports• Discussions texts• Explanation texts• Poetry

Display boards in the corridors show children examples of these genres.

We have also set up a ‘Writer of the Month’ display in the corridor. One child from each year group is chosen on a monthly basis

VCOP and Cross-curricular Writing

VocabularyConnectivesOpenersPunctuation

This runs alongside Big Write

Creative CurriculumEmbedding Reading, Writing and Speaking an Listening skills across the curriculum to bring meaning and purpose for children to ‘apply’ their skills.

Teachers aim to provide opportunities for children to write in all aspects of the curriculum. LF (Literacy Co-ordinator) keeps a file on examples of writing in other areas of the curriculum.

Examples of how we engage children in writing

Paintings, photographs and pictures as a visual prompt

•Brainstorm adjectives, metaphors, similes etc based on a photo•Decide on the best/most powerful and turn into a single sentence/ line of poetry•Put them into an agreed order, edit•Use this to create the opening paragraph for a story. •Share with others

Artefacts• Interesting/unusual artefact• Small mixed groups• Large paper/pens• Questions who? What? When?

Where? Why? How?• Think of as many questions as they

can about the artefact.• Move to the next table and add to

ideas• Share

Wordless texts

• Model how to use the book to create a story• Use Sticky notes to note down ideas for speech/thought

bubbles. • Consider how the text could be used to write you own story.• Explore how each group/individual have different

ideas/themes.• Promote discussion and comprehension.• Build vocabulary and inspire story telling• Allow children to focus on characters, plot, setting• Perfect for providing a context for grammar, punctuation,

spelling.• Share• Display ideas

Readathon

To celebrate World Book Day, we have decided to run a Readathon. The children have set themselves a reading challenge which they will complete over the next few weeks.Money raised from their sponsorships will go towards a number of different children’s charities. Today, each teacher has visited another class to share stories with them and talk about Readathon and how it is going so far.