Literacy News
Autumn 1 2015
Welcome back to the new term!
I hope you have had an enjoyable and restful Summer Break.
In this issue I am offering the KS1 teaching sequence The Dark by Lemony Snicket.
If you would like an editable copy of the sequence please send me a request and I will send directly to you.
I hope you find it useful!
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
Reading
From this years results in South Tyneside it is evident that boys reading is a key issue.
Try these top tips from Gary Wilson, one of the UK’s leading authorities on raising boys’ achievement, to help get your boys reading & writing - and loving it!
· Connecting the learning is particularly important for boys. If they don’t see a clear
sense and purpose, many won’t engage.
· Give them the big picture. Mapping out ideas using graphic organisers of any kind
can really aid a boy’s engagement with learning.
· Create as many opportunities for reflection as you can. For many boys this is the
weakest link in their learning process.
· Give boys a system. Checklists, learning mats, success criteria really help boys.
· Talk, talk, talk and more talk prior to writing. For many boys, writing without talking their ideas first can be a real problem.
· Short term goals and short term rewards. “Boy friendly chunks” work best for most
boys.
· For many boys, to function effectively in group work there needs to be a clear
outcome. They need to be grouped effectively, have clear roles and there needs
to be an element of challenge.
· Present a challenge the minute they set foot in the classroom - problem-solving
works best.
· Make sure there are some opportunities for active learning in all lessons.
· Reduce peer pressure by giving peer leaders a positive focus for their natural
leadership ability.
· Reflect on how you talk to boys and how you talk to girls - look at the frequency,
the nature and the quality of those interactions. Many boys believe teachers
prefer girls just because of the way we talk to them.
· Make it fun! Relate to their personal interests - value what it is that boys bring to the table and let’s help stop the negative labelling that so many boys suffer from.
For more information click on the link below
Reading Apps
As you know boys love using ICT to engage them with their learning so why not try these KS2 Reading Apps to improve their comprehension skills.
Find in the App Store.
Have a go and let me know what you think.
Reading Comprehension Prep (Peekaboo Studios LLC)
This App:
Has 12 original stories
A choice of fiction and non-fiction texts
Tests comprehension with a variety of questions about the selected passage
Mr Thorne's Comprehension Sentence Level
This App:
Is designed to give children, parents and teachers an indication of reading ability at sentence level
Over 800 simple, compound and complex sentences that change each time a challenge is undertaken
Missing words can be determined using comprehension skills to read the sentence, understand the sentence and select the word that best fits the sentence
Could be used in Yr2 as well as KS2
Abitalk - Science Reading Comprehension
Training
If boys reading is an issue in your school and you would like some training for staff please contact me.
In the Spring Term in association with Oxford University Press we will hopefully be hosting (with an expert in this field) a training event around boys and reading.
I will keep you updated!
Northern Children’s Book Festival 2015 - 9th – 21st November
Would your school be interested in participating in this year's Northern Childrens Book Festival. The Northern Children’s Book Festival is the biggest children’s book event in Europe. Over a two week period in November over 40 visiting authors, poets and performers visit the North East of England.
The authors this year are:
Tuesday 10th November
Caryl Hart KS1
Traditional Tales session
Wednesday 11th November
Craig Bradley KS1 & 2
Lots of performance poetry, songs, jokes, stories, interaction. Writing a poem together as a group, making poems up on spur of moment, turning poems into songs
Friday 13th November
Guy Bass KS2
Interactive (and active!) stand-up with readings, pictures, PowerPoint and participation
Monday 16th November
Paul Cookson KS2
Performance poetry, audience participation with added ukulele.
Wednesday 18th November
Korky Paul KS1
Drawing, portrait painting and stories
Thursday 19th November
Barry Hutchinson KS2
Talk about the Benjamin Blank series, where the ideas came from, and then an interactive session on using fears to create mash-up monsters. This is done as the whole group, with pupils getting to vote on their favourite ideas.
Thursday 19th November
Tommy Donbavand KS2
‘Giant Crabs Ate My Brain!’ author talk – fast, funny and interactive.
Booking & Costs
The cost to the school would be £220 for a morning (two sessions by the author) or £110 for an afternoon session(one session by the author) Books would be provided for sale on the day for the children who visit the author. A collection of books will be loaned to your school prior to the visit to help your teachers prepare for your author encounter.
Authors are allocated on a first come first served basis and places book up very quickly. If you would be interested in participating or would like to ask anything else about the Northern Children’s Book Festival please contact
Pauline Martin
Tel : 0191 4282318
pauline.martin@southtyneside.gov.uk
http://www.southtyneside.info/
Stock and Reader Development Librarian
Jarrow Library
Cambrian Street
Jarrow
Tyne and Wear
NE32 3QN
Autumn Term Literacy CPD
Look out in the School Workforce Development Programme for the following Literacy CPD.
Please note the date of Improving Boys Writing Using ICT has changed.
October
Thursday 8th KS1 Grammar (1-4pm)
Wednesday 14th Literacy Network (4-5.30pm)
Thursday 22nd Success in Spelling (1-4pm)
November
Thursday 5th Year 6 Writing Moderation (1-4pm)
Thursday 12th KS2 Grammar (1-4pm)
Thursday 19th Improving Boys Writing Using ICT (1-4pm)
December
Wednesday 2nd Improving Boys Writing Using ICT (1-4pm)
Thursday 3rd NQT Reading (1-4pm)
Thursday 10th Reading for Teaching Assistants (1-4pm)
In-school Training
Dates for your Diary
Here you will find a list of Literacy events you may want to celebrate.
For more information click on the links.
Roald Dahl Day - 13th September
Celebrate Roald Dahl's birthday on 13th September!
For some excellent ideas visit the Roald Dahl website.
http://www.roalddahl.com/create-and-learn/join-in/roald-dahl-day
Dahlicious Dress Up Day - Friday 25th September
This year's Dahlicious Dress Up Day takes place on Friday 25th September. Schools and workplaces across the UK will be brimming with Oompa-Loompas, Twits and Matildas in aid of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity.
We know that serious illness often forces children to grow up too soon. The money raised will help us ensure that children in the UK living with serious, rare and undiagnosed conditions have the chance to have a childhood full of marvellous mischief.
To register click on the link below
http://www.roalddahl.com/charity/fundraising-and-events/dahlicious-dress-up-day
National Poetry Day - Thursday 8th October
National Poetry Day, the annual mass celebration of poetry and all things poetical, will mark its 21st birthday on Thursday 8 October 2015. This year’s theme is Light: proprietors of power stations and lighthouses, opticians, photographers and firework-makers are among the professions pledged to participate by displaying poems.
For more information have a look at their website
http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poetry-day/what-is-national-poetry-day/
Everybody Writes Day - Wednesday 21st October
National Non-Fiction November
The theme for National Non-Fiction November is MAPS!
What could your school do during November to explore the wonderful world of non-fiction for children?
Full details can be found here: http://www.fcbg.org.uk/national-non-fiction-november/
Any Ideas?
I would love teachers to add to the next newsletter so any fantastic literacy ideas or things you have done in your school that have made a real difference and you would like to share with others please email me.
The next newsletter will be going out after the half term holiday so any ideas before then would be greatly appreciated.
Anna Hawkins
Email: Anna.Hawkins@southtyneside.gov.uk
Website: www.southtyneside.gov.uk
Location: South Shields Town Hall, Westoe Road, South Shields, United Kingdom
Phone: 0191 4247772