September has come and gone and the October break is almost here. The SAC Literacy Team has some new materials and CLPL which have been shared over the term – if you missed them you will find out about them here:
Category: Literacy Professional Learning 2021- 2022
CLPL opportunities that will be advertised on Gateway. These are generally for primary and secondary practitioners and cover Reading, Writing, Listening & Talking, Speech, Language & Communication and Grammar & KAL.
Have a good break.East Ayrshire Giglets Leaders Event
We are delighted to invite headteachers, senior management and literacy leaders to our first East Ayrshire Giglets Leaders Event.
There is a choice of two dates and times: Thursday 10th June, 4.00 pm or Tuesday 15th June, 3.30 pm.
In this session, we’ll let you know what is new at Giglets, some top tips, and have a focus on how to develop key reading strategies in the classroom. Gail Elder, Literacy Education Manager with the East Ayrshire Scottish Attainment Challenge team will also talk about how Giglets fits with East Ayrshire Literacy priorities.
We’ll have the opportunity for some professional dialogue, discussing our successes and challenges in teaching reading.
To guarantee your place please follow this link.
Scroll to the date (10th or 15th June), select the time, insert your details and select ‘Book’. You will then receive an email with the Teams link to attend the event. If you have any problems with this please feel free to RSVP to us by replying to this email.
If you are unable to attend, please do feel free to forward this invite to any staff who may be interested.
As part of our partnership with East Ayrshire, we also run termly reviews to discuss implementation, successes and challenges with using Giglets. You can also book a 30-minute call to discuss Giglets in your school for a time that best suits you.
I look forward to speaking to you soon and if you have any questions before the event, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Seona
Seona MacRuary
Head of Education Engagement
Building Blocks of Literacy – A SWEIC Professional Learning Opportunity
Building Blocks of Literacy – A SWEIC Professional Learning Opportunity
In 2019 East and North Ayrshire collaborated to deliver professional learning on literacy to a cohort of P1 teachers from both authorities. In 2020, we moved to an online format and opened the professional learning sessions to all four SWEIC authorities. Over 120 P1 teachers from over 70 schools joined this year’s programme. We have very positive feedback from the teachers on both the learning inputs and the opportunity to discuss the content and the impact on practice with other staff from across the SWEIC.
This year we are delighted to open up the opportunity to any teachers in the SWEIC who are working with children at the Early stage of literacy learning. The programme will have the same content as last session: an in-depth focus on literacy learning and teaching at this stage providing teachers with the knowledge of what underpins literacy learning and the tools to build a reader and writer. The delivery team includes experienced teachers and Speech and Language Therapists.
East Ayrshire teachers who are interested should speak to their HT who can contact gail.elder@eastayrshire.org.uk and add names to this form
Programme Introduction: for HT/DHT and Teachers
Wednesday 25th August 2021 4pm -5pm
- Introduction to the programme
- Organisation of discussion groups
- Phonological Awareness screener
- The Primary One year
- Curriculum calendar
- Pace & challenge
- Classroom organisation
Dates of Sessions:
Language & Communication + Phonological Awareness: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 08.09.2 + 20.10.21
Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Spelling & Handwriting: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 17.11.21 + 19.01.22
Building a Reader and a Writer: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 23.02.22 + 23.03.22
Discussion groups TBA.
All on MS Teams.
An Invitation to Building Blocks of Literacy – A SWEIC Professional Learning Opportunity
Building Blocks of Literacy – A SWEIC Professional Learning Opportunity
In 2019 East and North Ayrshire collaborated to deliver professional learning on literacy to a cohort of P1 teachers from both authorities. In 2020, we moved to an online format and opened the professional learning sessions to all four SWEIC authorities. Over 120 P1 teachers from over 70 schools joined this year’s programme. We have very positive feedback from the teachers on both the learning inputs and the opportunity to discuss the content and the impact on practice with other staff from across the SWEIC.
This year we are delighted to open up the opportunity to any teachers in the SWEIC who are working with children at the Early stage of literacy learning. The programme will have the same content as last session: an in-depth focus on literacy learning and teaching at this stage providing teachers with the knowledge of what underpins literacy learning and the tools to build a reader and writer. The delivery team includes experienced teachers and Speech and Language Therapists.
East Ayrshire teachers who are interested should speak to their HT who can contact gail.elder@eastayrshire.org.uk and add names to this form
Programme Introduction: for HT/DHT and Teachers
Wednesday 25th August 2021 4pm -5pm
- Introduction to the programme
- Organisation of discussion groups
- Phonological Awareness screener
- The Primary One year
- Curriculum calendar
- Pace & challenge
- Classroom organisation
Dates of Sessions:
Language & Communication + Phonological Awareness: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 08.09.2 + 20.10.21
Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Spelling & Handwriting: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 17.11.21 + 19.01.22
Building a Reader and a Writer: Wednesday 4-5.15pm 23.02.22 + 23.03.22
Discussion groups TBA.
All on MS Teams.
Local and national resources to support home or remote learning
Literacy Resources to support learning from home.
Over the initial lockdown a vast amount of teaching resources was created to support teachers, learners and families with on-line remote learning in literacy. The aim of this post is to highlight and signpost, in one place, a range of high-quality resources to support you as you deliver literacy learning to pupils learning at home.
Guidance on approaches to Blended Learning is provided on the East Ayrshire Glow tile: East Ayrshire Blended Learning Key Documents and Guidance
Support for Planning, Learning Teaching and Assessment in Literacy
In this section are some of the best resources, approaches and sources of inspiration in relation to Literacy. The SAC Literacy Team will continue to add resources to our Literacy Teams site and Glow.
To access the Literacy Teams site you need to send your Glow email address to Gail Elder (gail.elder@eastayrshire.org.uk or one of the SAC Literacy Team: alison.wood@eastayrshire.org.uk, craig.mcallister@eastayrshire.org.uk, sara.green@eastayrshire.org.uk or nicola.macey@eastayrshire.org.uk)
The SAC Literacy Team – EA Literacy Resources
A wide range of resources to support comprehension and writing work. A range of text types is included – books and films available online. The resources are also available on the Home Learning Hub resources are arranged across Early to Third/Fourth Level.
We also have a huge range of Storybook and novel resources available on our Glow pages.
Have you thought about using DARTs activities (on our Literacy Teams site) as part of your home learning? If this is new to you (DARTs = Directed Activities Related to Texts) there is a CLPL teacher session available for you to learn more. There is also a suite of films, texts and activities available here: DARTs on Glow
Home learning support for phonics – printable phonemes and Elkonin boxes available here: Printable graphemes to replace magnetic letters
SAC Speech and Language Team’s Resources
The SAC SaLT team has created some super resources for you to share with families. Find them on our Literacy Teams page here: Speech and Language Channel
Parent Information Keyring Packs
These can be ordered from the Printing Service or shared online with parents. The ALP pack gives parents information about East Ayrshire’s Active Literacy Programme. There is also a pack, created in collaboration with our SaLT team to help parents support the development of phonological awareness skills for Early into First Level children.
EAC has purchased access for all our schools to Giglets (for 3 years). You may have attended the training session in June, but more can be organised. If you do not already have login details for your pupils, please email seona@giglets.com and copy in gail.elder@eastayrshire.org.uk
The Modelling Guide that shows how Giglets and ALP align is available.
East Ayrshire Learning Outdoors Support Team (LOST)
East Ayrshire LOST have developed a range of activities to take learning in Literacy into outdoor spaces. A great source of inspiration when planning learning.
East Ayrshire Home Learning Hub More ideas for family learning activities.
Pobble can provide stimuli for all sorts of literacy activities.
Professional Learning
Access to Professional Learning and Resources information on professional learning and links to resources and the online training hosted is on our Teams site. (Request access to the Literacy Teams Site) You will need a Glow account to access Teams.
Any staff wishing to refresh their knowledge or start their East Ayrshire Active Literacy journey, please follow the links to the recorded ALP sessions, or look in the Recorded Training Sessions channel to the left of this post. They are organised as follows:
- Stages 1-3 Session One- An Introduction to the Active Literacy Programme (ALP)
- Stages 4-7 Session One (and secondary staff)- An Introduction to the ALP
- Stages 1-3 Session Two – Phonics and Spelling
- Stages 4-7 Session Two- Phonics and Spelling
- Stages 1-3 Session Three A and B – Reading
- Stages 4-7 Session Three A and B – Reading
We have a Literacy Teams Site where there are also links to all the resources and recorded sessions. Teams will most likely continue to be the platform for any Literacy Training and CLPL sessions for the foreseeable future.
- Speech & Language Resources on Glow this includes information and guidance for engaging parents with the importance of Listening and Phonological Awareness
- Literacy – Listening & Talking Resources on Glow for staff
SAC DUG Delivering Understandable Grammar
We have developed our writing resources for EA schools to ensure there is guidance and starter lessons for each CFE text type.
SAC COW is now available to support you in the delivery of writing across all text types. There is a whole suite of professional learning sessions which outline the EA approach to teaching writing in our schools.
NATIONAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT BLENDED LEARNING
e-Sgoil 
Education Scotland, e-Sgoil, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), the Scottish Government and Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs) are working in partnership to increase the support available nationally for e-learning and you will be able to access that range of support here.
The National e-Learning offer complements the online learning being provided by schools, local authorities and RICs across Scotland.
e-sgoil Study Support Schedule
e-sgoil BGE Offer (From P2 – S3)
e-sgoil Resources to support teaching remotely
Education Scotland Literacy and English PLC provides a range of resources to support planning, learning, teaching and assessment in Literacy across all levels.
Scotland Learns – Literacy and English
Useful Literacy Website Links – in Literacy Organiser format Compiled by Literacy Leads across Scotland, this document has a wealth of links to support professional learning and resources to support remote learning.
Robert Burns- work recorded by the BBC
SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST CLPL for learning professionals
Scottish Book Trust offers funded online and in-person training courses for teachers and learning professionals.
The Two O’Shanters – Robert Burns Workshop
If you’d like to add a twist to your Burns this year for Upper Primary and Secondary, take a look at this talented Performance Poet, Simon Lamb as recommended by SWEIC colleagues.
Simon is offering a workshop of @ 90 mins (start until break/break until lunch or afternoon slot) for £150 in person or a 45-50 mins £75 online/Covid friendly workshop (special prices for our SWEIC Group – he lives in Prestwick!).
Here’s a wee taster of his work:
Further Giglets Training Webinars for EA staff
The fantastic Giglets team is offering further Giglets training webinars for staff who have yet to attend this training. The Giglets resource has been bought for all EA schools for 3 years and most of our schools have already signed up.
The Giglets resource is an online library of books from a range of genres. The SAC Literacy team is developing a resource to support using Giglets text to model reading into writing for the main text types of writing we teach.
https://events-emea3.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/3941009992/en/events/catalog.html?from-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fgiglets.adobeconnect.com#=undefinedcurrentSearchTagcurrentSearchTagcurrentSearchTagcurrentSearchTag=4035157332Giglets Training Webinar
East Ayrshire has joined up with Giglets to provide a varied online reading resource. To find out how it can be used effectively, please join one of the EA training webinars this week:
Tales of Discovery – from the Creative Minds Team
Hello everyone. Many of you are already familiar with the work of Creative Minds through projects such as Paint a Thousand Words and our recent creative storytelling sessions. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, it is hard to know when we will be able to resume school visits but we remain at your disposal and have developed a range of creative inputs available on our Glow pages. In particular I would like to draw your attention to Tales of Discovery our creative storytelling resource pitched at P4 – P7 although the stories can be appreciated by all ages.
The attached pdf gives an overview of the resource, which offers a selection of audio books and activities to support reading, writing, talking and listening, with links to IDL and expressive arts. I would be particularly interested to hear from you as to how we can develop this resource and would welcome any feedback. I would also be happy to run online CLPL sessions on teams for anyone interested. Click the link below or find us via the Creative Minds Glow Tile (Drama, Literature and Media / Literacy and English). Please let me know if there are any navigation issues. I look forward to hearing from you.from Joe Gallagher
