Reading Lunch: Thursday 30th November 2017

To celebrate positive reading habits during Book Week Scotland, Scottish Book Trust are encouraging children, young people and adults alike to share their love for reading on our national day, St Andrew’s Day, on the 30th of November through having a Reading Lunch.

Whether it be a cosy corner in the library or inside the school polytunnel, make lunchtime on the 30th of November a time for sharing what you love to read with a Reading Lunch. Reading Lunches are for everyone, so whether you’re at your desk, in the staffroom or in the canteen, crack open a good book at lunchtime.

Following our earlier post about the Primary 1 Bookbug Pack for 2017/2018, we’re delighted to share that CALL Scotland have again worked in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust to create accessible versions of the text. These are great resoruces which can enable learners who require additional support to access the texts through providing accessible formats.

The three symbolised accessible formats are as follows:

• Recorded PowerPoint Show 1997-2003 (for each of the 3 books)
• Switch Prompt PowerPoint Show 1997-2003 (for each of the 3 books) (for simple
  switch access)
• Keynote switch prompt for iPad (for each of the 3 books)

CLICK HERE – CALL Scotland P1 Bookbug Pack

In the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017, we celebrate the richness of Scotland’s intriguing history, impressive cultural heritage and fascinating archaeology at exciting experiences and events.

To celebrate, Education Scotland have launched a Creative Writing competition at the Scottish Learning Festival on 20 September. Learners of any and all ages are invited to enter to win Scots Language books for their school. Learners should write a poem or short story of not more than 750 words in length. The story or poem must be written in Scots language – though can be in any dialect of Scots, as broad or unique as the writer would like.

CLICK HERE – Scots Language Competition

For more information on supporting Scots Language, click below:
CLICK HERE – Highland Literacy Scots

Next week, Monday 13th November 2017 – Friday 17th November 2017, is:
World Nursery Rhyme Week

When taking a developmental approach to emerging literacy, nursery rhymes are a great way of supporting the development of literacy, language and communication skills. Get your children involved next week with the FREE RESOURCES available from Music Bug.

CLICK HERE for World Nursery Rhyme Week Information and Registration

“Rhyme a Day Challenge” songs for 2017

• Monday 13th November 2017: ‘Bobby Shafto’.
• Tuesday 14th November 2017: ‘Lavenders Blue’.
• Wednesday 15th November 2017: ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’.
• Thursday 16th November 2017: ‘Wind the Bobbin Up’.
• Friday 17th November 2017: ‘Old King Cole.

CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD RESOURCES

Stairway to Reading has been designed to help pupils who have already started on reading instruction and are experiencing some form of difficulty.

As with all interventions, it is important that it is followed accurately if you want to achieve the desired results. The programme begins with a placement test and then, using a variety of interactive strategies, takes the pupils forward in their learning.

In the introduction, we are given excellent insight to the problems that struggling readers face and strategies that we can use to help meet their individual needs.  The programme comes with a variety of materials and ideas to help deliver this structured learning experience.

It is free of charge under a Creative Commons Licence and well worth viewing for consideration.

CLICK HERE – Stairway to Reading

Following our post on SPELD SA Phonic Readers, Hilton Primary School, Inverness, have kindly shared some simple decodable resources which they have created to support family engagement through home learning.

The eight mini-books which have been created have been designed as simple four page decodable readers which can be used to demonstrate learners’ blending skills. There has been positive feedback from families on their children feeling achievement, being able to read the words on the page using their phonic skills.

These mini-books are available to download in black and white and can be personalised as appropriate. There has been careful consideration with regards to the chosen vocabulary to support the development of rhyme awareness and detection.

• CLICK HERE – Jobs: Bob, Pat and Sam

• CLICK HERE – Zug the Bug

• CLICK HERE – Pat the Cat

• CLICK HERE – Jen the Hen

• CLICK HERE – Jack and Jill

• CLICK HERE – Dug the Pug

• CLICK HERE – Dan the Man

• CLICK HERE – Bob the Dog

In addition to the mini-readers, the school have also created phonic spelling boards. These have been laminated and children use drywipe markers to write the words using their knowledge of phonics.

• CLICK HERE – Jobs – Bob, Pat and Sam Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Zug the Bug Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Pat the Cat Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Jen the Hen Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Jack and Jill Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Dug the Pug Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Dan the Man Spelling Board

• CLICK HERE – Bob the Dog Spelling Board

On the National Improvement Hub, Education Scotland have published a resource to support Literacy Across Learning in Secondary Schools.

CLICK HERE – Education Scotland: Secondary Literacy across Learning

This resource can be used in sections at INSET or at department meetings to explore literacy across learning in curricular areas. It can also be used in its entirety as a means of checking on progress and next steps for departments as they work on literacy across learning.

The listening and talking section identifies the key areas for focus of these skills:

• Active listening
• Group discussions
• Individual talk

Guidance is given on assessment and effective feedback.

Reading strategies are provided to support coverage of the themes and enable learners to read using higher order skills:

• analyse and evaluate new information
• synthesise ideas and apply  learning in unfamiliar contexts, with increasing independence
• develop critical literacy skills, including the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion
• recognise persuasive language and evaluate the reliability and relevance of sources.

There is also practical advice on choosing appropriate texts of the correct level of challenge and supporting learners as they access these texts.

Writing across the subject areas is supported in several areas:

• type and purpose of the writing
• agreed criteria for success (differentiated to meet the needs of all learners and build on prior learning)
• support for planning
• opportunities for individual or peer evaluation
• time for learners to review and edit their writing.

CLICK HERE – Education Scotland: Secondary Literacy across Learning

On Thursday 26th October 2017, 11am – 11.40am, the Scottish Book Trust are hosting children’s author Kes Gary, author of ‘Quick Quack Quentin‘, which features in the P2 Read, Write, Count pack, through Authors Live. This is a great way to kick start Read, Write, Count – the session aimed at P1 – P3 pupils.

Authors Live sessions can be watched live, or can be accessed in the Watch on Demand section of the Scottish Book Trust website.

CLICK HERE – SIGN UP AUTHORS LIVE: KES GRAY

Date: Thursday 26th October 2017
Time: 11am – 11.40am
Target Audience: P1 – P3

Work with young people aged 13 – 19? If so, the ‘What’s Your Story?’ partnership provides support for creative writers.

CLICK HERE – ‘What’s Your Story’? Information

The ‘What’s Your Story?’ initiative is looking for young people aged 14 – 17 to support through an all expenses paid programme. Find out more…

CLICK HERE – This Year’s Application (Due 16th October 2017)

If you missed it, CLICK HERE for the August 2017 Emerging Literacy Update

This month’s update includes information on:

• P1 Bookbug Family Packs
• P2 and P3 Read, Write, Count Family Packs
• November Emerging Literacy Networks
• Coming soon… developments for Term 2

CLICK HERE to download the September 2017 Emerging Literacy update.