In Newarthill Primary we follow North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Literacy Approach. This Literacy programme uses a variety of strategies that are designed to incorporate visual, auditory and kinesthetic (active) learning. ‘Phonics’, the sound of the letters, is taught alongside early reading skills such as using pictorial clues. Work is carried out within the contexts of the class or group reading lessons and throughout many other curricular areas.
From First Level onwards the focus for teaching and learning moves to more complex skills of comprehension with children again using a variety of materials to consolidate and extend their skills. We use a range of novels and commercially produced resources to develop reading and comprehension skills. Talking and listening and knowledge about language skills are linked to work in reading.
The development of writing and handwriting skills are directly taught as part of North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Literacy Programme. Children are taught the skills they need in groups and targets are set and worked towards.
Children are given opportunities to develop their talking and listening skills through play and these skills are further enhanced and transferred across all other areas of the curriculum.
We are continually updating expanding our provision of library books in order to encourage an interest in reading for information and for enjoyment.
The development of literacy skills plays an important role in all learning.
Pupils develop and extend literacy skills when they have opportunities to:
- communicate, collaborate and build relationships
- reflect on and explain literacy and thinking skills, using feedback to help them improve and sensitively provide useful feedback for others
- engage with and create a wide range of texts in different media, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by ICT
- develop an understanding of what is special, vibrant and valuable about their own and other cultures and their languages
- explore the richness and diversity of language, how it can affect them, and the wide range of ways in which they can be creative
- extend and enrich vocabulary through listening, talking, watching and reading.
In developing English language skills pupils:
- engage with a wide range of texts and develop an appreciation of the richness and breadth of Scotland’s literary and linguistic heritage
- enjoy exploring and discussing word patterns and text structures.
