Literacy
Introduction
2007/8 has seen many changes to Literacy. The government has revised the National Literacy Strategy and expects schools to adopt the Renewed Literacy Framework by September 2008. Here at Gospel Oak we have been implementing the changes since September 2007. We have also introduced Letters and Sounds (a new phonics programme for the teaching of early reading) introduced a guided reading scheme in Key Stage 2 and have continued to use Curricular Layered Targets to further raise the standards of writing throughout the school.
Renewed Literacy Framework
The changes in the Renewed Literacy Framework reflect significant developments in the use of technology in teaching and learning, the continual drive towards improving standards and the introduction of the Foundation Stage as the first stage of the National Curriculum.
- The most significant changes to the way Literacy is now taught are as follows:
- Units of work are taught over an extended period of time so children are more able to get to grips with each text genre before moving on to the next.
- Each unit has a final written outcome which is usually published in a form that the children are very proud of.
- Increased use of ICT and visual literacy (such as film and interactive on screen texts) to stimulate the imagination and motivate children.
- Increased use of speaking, listening, group work and drama.
- Increased flexibility, creativity and cross curricular links in lessons.
- The framework is extended to begin in the Foundation Stage to create greater continuity and coherence.
Here are some examples of the final written outcome for a unit of work
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Reading
Last autumn, Key Stage 2 teachers were each given £200 to spend on sprucing up their classroom book corners. Many teachers consulted children when ordering and were able to purchase a selection of much loved books for their class. All Key Stage 2 classes will have a further £100 this year to continue extending their collection. After a successful few years to encourage children to read more, the Reading Bug has been rested this year in order to focus more on writing. However, we still expect children to be reading and filling in their reading records daily.
Letters and Sounds
Our new phonics programme has been introduced very successfully into the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Its aim is to secure fluent word recognition skills for reading by the end of Year 2.The programme teaches children to link sounds to specific letters and read words by putting sounds together in order. It also helps them to spell by breaking down words into their separate sounds. Letters and Sounds is taught daily in sessions lasting between 10 and 20 minutes in all Foundation and Key Stage 1 classes.
Children can be supported with their reading at home by helping them to break down words into their individual letter sounds. Click on this link here to hear how each letter should be sounded out.
Writing
To improve standards in writing, we are continuing to use Curricular Layered Targets introduced last year. These are specific targets which are layered down throughout the school according to year group and ability. Targets are focused on for either a term or a half term and are referred to constantly throughout the teaching of Literacy, as well as being taught discretely through guided writing. Achievement of these targets is tracked and monitored every term. All teachers aim for children to take ownership of their targets and to keep them at the forefront of their minds. As such, targets are displayed clearly in every classroom. Every week, a child from each class is chosen as ‘Punctuator of the week’. They are given a certificate and their name and photo is displayed in the main entrance. We will soon be launching a big push on handwriting and as such, a child from each class will be chosen as ‘Handwriter of the fortnight’. Their name will be published in the school newsletter.
An example of classroom display to support curricular layered targets
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