VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM Without good phonics, decoding and
comprehension, children are automatically on the back foot by the time they start secondary school. Year 7 is when we want to introduce students to more advanced forms of literacy – more
challenging concepts, critical thinking – and it is a much harder job for staff and children if the basics aren’t firmly in place. Gaps need to be quickly identified and addressed, otherwise we run the risk of children falling behind and even disengaging from school. This can have a major impact on children’s achievement by the end of Year 11 .
Howdoes improving literacy help pupils in other academic areas?
How does improving literacy help pupils in other academic areas?
I think most teachers would agree that literacy is the first building block to success in all areas of the curriculum. At the most basic level, if a child can’t read well, they could struggle with their school work and learning across every subject, not to mention the impact on their confidence and self-esteem. At secondary level, literacy
proficiency gives children the platform to develop a broad and subject specific vocabulary – selecting the right words to meaningfully express a specific point in an English essay, for example, or
preparing a scientific report with the appropriate terminology. This all helps them to achieve all they are capable of.We are trying to ensure our students are able t o find meaningful work in the future, and that they have plenty of opportunities open to them. Helping them to develop a joy of reading can only support this.
However, it’s really important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that good literacy is a skill forever, not just for school. Reading for pleasure builds empathy, broadens minds and can be hugely inspiring at all ages – it is the gift tha t keeps on giving .
Howhas Impact Through Reading improved outcomes in the school?
How has Impact Through Reading improved outcomes in the school?
There have been improvements in reading ages across Key Stage 3.We have seen children who started school with literacy levels two years below their chronological age make up to 15 months of progress in just eight months. As we share strategies for improving literacy with teachers, and not just English teachers, learning is constantly personalised and barriers to reading are continually being chipped away.
We have used Impact Through Reading for six years in our school and have seen a
corresponding upturn in our English GCSE results. This is, of course, testament to the quality of teaching, but the fact we are all able to work together, reinforcing the same strategies across lesson time and in one-to-one sessions, play s a part .
Howhave the children taken to it?
reat enjoyment from completing an online quiz l about them.When boys can often trail behind girls at reading, it is a good way of levelling the playing field and opening up a world of literacy for even the most unenthusiastic teenager. I have long been a passionate advocate of the importance of libraries and the amazing work many librarians do. It is wonderful to see a child who has previously been unmotivated to read rush in, enthusing about a book they have just read from the library and desperate to choose the next one. Hearing children talk about how their improved reading is helping them to participate more in class is also intensely gratifyin g .
al g It
What do the teachers th nk of it? What do the teachers think of it?i
The feedback from teachers across our school has been very positive. It has encouraged all departments to get involved and adopt similar
How have the children taken to it? has been a huge hit with the children
strategies to boosting literacy skills, which makes for a very streamlined approach for our students. Impact Through Reading is a simple and
n., who take
straightforward way of gleaning information that helps teachers do their jobs. It’s the equivalent of turning a weekly timetable of 25 lessons into 25 hours of reading reinforcement. And that can only spark an upwards spiral across th e curriculum
What advice would you offer to other schools looking to improve literacy rates? The first step is understanding why a young person struggles to read, and then ensure the focus is on enjoyment.
What advicewould you offer to other schools looking to improve literacy rates?
The experience for some children is a constant ‘stop-start’ when reading as they attempt to decode difficult words. The key to breaking this cycle is to focus on the fun and embed reading as a good habit, in school and at home. Frequency, quantity and complexity of reading can be slowly built up, but if you get the fun part right from the start, the rest will follow.
Find outmore about Impact Through Readin g here:
https://home.mi
www.monkswa
crolib.co.uk/impact.html lk.herts.sch.uk
VIEWFROMTHE CLASSROOM
March 02 81
2018
wwweducation-tod ya
.co.uk.co.uk 71 www.
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