Reading
The school’s aim is that pupils learn to read in order to read to learn. We use Story World & Discovery World to teach Primary 1 – 3. Around Primary 4 we encourage pupils to become more independent in their reading by introducing them to Literacy Circles. Pupils work as a team, adopting roles, to study their book – a bit like a book club.
In Primary 1 we use Jolly Phonics to help pupils sound and recognise letters. Pupils learn through hearing, seeing and doing. Jolly Phonics is a synthetic approach to learning sounds.
We encourage all our pupils to enjoy reading and we lend Story Bags to Primary 1 pupils to take home and enjoy with parents.
Writing
Children experience many different types of writing.
* Personal: writing about own experiences
* Functional: writing for a purpose
* Imaginative: developing own ideas and thoughts
We take a reciprocal approach to spelling. This encourages pupils to learn about spelling rules/phonics and common words using a problem solving approach.
To support writing we use Big Writing to support pupils to develop their tools for writing. We call this VCOP – vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation.
Talking & Listening
Pupils learn to talk and listen to each other by taking turns and responding to their peers. The school develops these skills by pupils getting involved in Circle Time and also by encouraging pupils to work with Learning Partners and in cooperative groups.
Pupils are also encouraged to speak in front of the class, at assemblies and to the wider community. This encourages them to become confident, clear, fluent speakers.
