Active Literacy 

Strategies were introduced to support around the teaching of reading using the successful Active Literacy approach. Reading activities with a link to a writing task is timetabled daily in every class from P3-P7 with the aim of enhancing higher order thinking skills to deepen understanding of a variety of texts such as their independent reading book or class novel study. The Active literacy approach moves away from traditional desk-based learning as it emphasises working in groups and pairs. It also encourages children to talk to their peers, teachers and families about the books they are reading. This approach involves them applying a range of strategies. The children are provided with learning experiences to further develop their comprehension using the strategies Prior Knowledge, Fluency and Metalinguistics, Visualisation, Inference, Main Ideas and Summarising. 

The programme is in the second year at school and children appear to be responding enthusiastically and can communicate increased understanding of their reading. The teaching team have also developed increased confidence in providing a wide range of learning and higher order thinking experiences. The children talk eagerly about the events and descriptions in these books and the children’s prior knowledge, metalinguistic skills and ability to visualise the main events or key information is the basis of the learning and the pupils have become confident with these techniques, allowing them to get a richer experience from what they have read.