Literacy | Bargeddie Primary

Listening and Talking

Listening and talking have implications for speech development, thinking and learning, generally. In the early years, listening is one of the most important means by which knowledge is acquired. Listening is an active process which has to be encouraged and developed. Talking is the main means of social communication and interaction. Children are given the opportunity to talk in groups, to the whole class and in assemblies, about a wide range of topics. As pupils become more competent they are then encouraged to prepare and deliver presentations to their peers and present at special events and in so doing, develop greater self-confidence.

Reading and Writing

In our infant department children follow a programme, ‘Active Literacy.’ This involves the children in a wide variety of activities to develop Literacy skills. These basic skills are promoted through a systematic and progressive programme. Each week children are introduced to new sounds and commonly used, every day words. Gradually, this knowledge, which is essential for reading and writing, is developed. Pupils will also receive several reading books each week, which are tailored to match the child’s specific level of ability. These books cover both fiction and non- fiction. We ask that parents and carers spend time with their child reading and discussing these books, regularly each week.

In our junior and senior departments the focus is on teaching children to become more reflective and responsive readers who can not only read the lines, but who can also ‘read between and beyond the lines.’ To do this, children engage in novel studies. The children read and enjoy selected children’s novels and then explore the text in depth, developing their comprehension skills and further developing their vocabulary.

Each class has a well-stocked fiction library. Pupils in the junior and senior stages, borrow these books to read at home. Pupils in the infant department receive ‘Story Bags,’ to promote reading for enjoyment. Furthermore, a mobile library also visits regularly. When reading for specific information, the internet is also utilised.

Pupils will use their knowledge of phonics and common words to help them produce pieces of writing. As children progress through the school, they will develop skills in handwriting, spelling, punctuation, grammar and structure. The development of reading and writing skills is extremely important as pupils use these skills across all areas of the curriculum.

There are two aspects to the languages area of the curriculum.

The first covers experiences and outcomes in the language a young person needs in order to engage fully in society and in learning – whether that is English, Gaelic or for young people who need additional support, the means of communication which enables them to communicate most effectively.
The second covers experiences and outcomes in modern languages.

We reflect, communicate and develop our ideas through language. Literacy offers an essential passport to learning, helping children and young people to achieve their full potential and be ready for active involvement in society and work. Furthermore, literature opens up new horizons and a love of reading can be an important starting point for lifelong learning. As we communicate increasingly through digital technologies, we need to be able to interpret and convey information in new ways and to apply discernment. Also Scotland has a rich diversity of languages, including Scots and the growing number of community languages such as Urdu, Punjabi and Polish. This diversity offers rich opportunities for learning. Learning other languages enables children and young people to make connections with different people and their cultures and to play a fuller part as global citizens.

Learning through the languages area of the curriculum enables children and young people to:

develop their ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings and respond to those of other people
develop the high level of skills in listening, talking, reading and writing which are essential for learning, life and work
use different media effectively for learning and communication
develop a secure understanding of how language works and use language well to communicate ideas and information in English and in other languages
exercise their intellectual curiosity by questioning and developing their understanding and use creative and critical thinking to develop ideas and arguments
enhance their enjoyment and their understanding of their own and other cultures though literature and other forms of language
develop competence in different languages so that they can understand and communicate effectively