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 my 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.
Literacy in St. Timothy’s
Reading, writing, talking, listening.
We regard it as important that children should be able to read fluently, accurately and with understanding such material as is appropriate to their age and ability. The teaching of reading begins with formal pre-reading activities leading to word recognition and phonics.
The reading books in Pr 1 -3 are from a variety of publishers. All books are levelled and matched to reading age so that all pupils are given books at an appropriate level. In line with North Lanarkshire Guidelines we also have whole class reading sessions where talking and listening as well as reading skills are developed.
Pupil’s comprehension of what they are reading is further enhanced in these weekly sessions. Novel studies at Pr 4-7 gives pupils experience of extended reading and supports them in producing extended writing pieces. At Pr 1-3 we have introduced Active Literacy which is a multi sensory approach to teaching reading, spelling and writing. It also assists with talking and listening. Big Books are used from Pr 1 -7. They are used for a variety of approaches; grammar, punctuation, reading for information, genre, comprehension.
Once a child has been taught to read, formal reading is not confined to one particular book but includes reading in all the other areas of the curriculum for example problem solving in mathematics, the ability to use reference books and the pleasure of private reading. Thus, throughout the day, a child will have many different reading experiences. There is a variety of fiction in classroom libraries and in the school library.
There is also a good selection of interesting and helpful reference books, which benefit the children in all areas of the curriculum. As at the early stages the aspects of talking and listening are developed through T.V., extracts from novels, views of other pupils, teacher instructions etc.
North Lanarkshire’s writing Programme is used. This recommends a weekly writing lesson lasting 1-hour 30 mins for all stages. 5 or 6 children from each class are chosen as Star Writers each week. Approx once per term a Star Writer’s assembly is held where one star writer from each class is selected to read their story to the whole school. Parents of pupils, and members of the community are invited to this assembly.
