40 Secondary Probationers attended a twilight session looking at literacy across learning. After an overview of local and national priorities, teachers engaged in a range of activities examining literacy within their own subject areas.

Competence and confidence in literacy, including competence in grammar, spelling and the spoken word, are essential for progress in all areas of the curriculum. Because of this, all teachers have responsibility for promoting language and literacy development. Every teacher in each area of the curriculum needs to find opportunities to encourage all young people to explain their thinking, debate their ideas and read and write at a level which will help them to develop their language skills further.  This course  provided participants with the opportunity to reflect on this followed by an overview of Falkirk Council’s Literacy Strategy. It  addressed work stream 3 ‘Further develop literacy across learning in the broad general education and the senior phase’.

Colleagues were provided an overview of ‘Active Literacy’  in Falkirk establishments and then engaged in professional dialogue.

After taking part in a range of active literacy activities including a spelling  ‘test’, they considered spelling strategies and words which are essential for their courses.

Here are a sample of their wordles:

HISTORY

BIOLOGY

 

HOME ECONOMICS

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

 

ENGLISH