We all know the importance of developing a culture of reading in the classroom and beyond, for reading for enjoyment as well as reading for information and continuously showing the value of reading.  

Although we constantly face a battle with time, we should try to ensure that children are reading every day and that we are providing challenges as well as activities that will support increased fluency and accuracy.  

As children progress through school, it is important to increase their exposure to, and engagement with, different types of factual books and to provide them with the skills they need, to read for information and purpose. 

Although you will have your own bank of resources and resources which fit into your whole school approach, you may also find others below which can be used to augment or substitute your current day to day learning and teaching provision.

Reading in Primary One and Two

Reading in Primary Three to Five

Reading in Primary Six and Seven

For more information, go to the Literacy Road Map on SharePoint.

If you are looking for information and resources on different aspects of literacy, you will find a variety of useful documents on the Highland Literacy Road Map. It is situated on Highland Council’s Share Point under the English and Literacy tab.

One slide which you may wish to look at, is the Literacy Road Map Signposts, which holds information around assessing, planning, learning and moderation. You will find that on slide three of the Road Map.

Mission Dyslexia in your school

By now your school will have received a free copy of Mission Dyslexia to help teachers support pupils with dyslexia.  These books were sent to all primary schools in Highland Council.

We hope that the books have been shared with relevant staff such as support for learning teachers.

The books were paid for by your local volunteer-led branch of Dyslexia Scotland.

We’d like to offer 2 free short sessions to explain a little bit more about the background to the book, how you can use it in your school and how others have used it. The informal sessions will take place on Zoom.

One of the book’s authors and Dyslexia Scotland Ambassador Paul McNeill will give a short overview of the resource and help you maximise its use in schools.

Book a free place via Eventbrite:

30 January 4pm – 5pm

or

13 February 4pm – 5pm

Please contact lena@dyslexiascotland.org.uk with any queries

The philosophy of Curriculum for Excellence is that of a future-oriented education, aiming to help students develop into successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors (referred to as the “four capacities”).

Join this Book Discovery session where Scottish Book Trust staff will take you through some contemporary text recommendations on this theme; activity ideas to use in your setting; and highlight resources that will support you. There will also be the opportunity for discussion with other learning professionals about using texts to explore the four capacities.

For teachers new to Primary One, or those wishing to continue to explore Emerging Literacy or help to support others through Emerging Literacy networks, Network Two will be available on Thursday 15^th December.  Please sign up through CPD.

Support Networks

Support Network 2 Term 2         Thursday 15^th December 2022    15:45 – 16:45

Network Two will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Concepts of Print/Reading

Teachers attending should have looked at the Highland Literacy Concepts of Print Continuum and the Emerging Literacy Training video 5 on Emerging Literacy.

Support Network 3 Term 3         Thursday 16^th March 2023           15:45 – 16:45

Network Three will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Progression/Writing

Teachers should have accessed the Highland Literacy Oral Language Tool kit and looked at the information around Sequence and Narative prior to the network.

Support Network 4 Term 4         Thursday 1^st June 2023                 15:45 – 16:45

Network Four will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Transition and Achievement of a Level.

We are excited to introduce Jen Grainge, who has recently taken up a new post as School Communities Regional Outreach Coordinator for the Highlands.

The second Emerging Literacy Network will run on Thursday 15th December 2022 from 15:45 to 16:45.

We will be focusing on Concepts of Print and reading. Practitioners attending the session should have looked at the Highland Literacy Concepts of Print Continuum and the Emerging Literacy Training video 5.

This network with provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Concepts of Print and reading.

Practitioners in Highland Council should sign up through the CPD calendar.

These sessions are for Highland Council practitioners in Early Years who wish to explore the Words Up Early key messages in depth.

You will find the details for pre-tasks and the Google meet Code on the Highland Council Digital Hub online calendar.

For teachers new to Primary One, who wish to take part in Emerging Literacy networks.  The first network is due on the 15^th of September.  Please sign up through CPD.

Support Networks

Support Network 1 Term 1         Thursday 15^th Sept 2022              15:45 – 16:45

Network One will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around the Phonalogical Awareness Screener and to tour through what is in the Emerging Literacy Share Point Site.

Teachers attending should bring with them their data from the Phonological Awareness Screeners.

Support Network 2 Term 2         Thursday 15^th December 2022    15:45 – 16:45

Network Two will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Concepts of Print/Reading

Teachers attending should have looked at the Highland Literacy Concepts of Print Continuum and the Emerging Literacy Training video 5 on Emerging Literacy.

Support Network 3 Term 3         Thursday 16^th March 2023           15:45 – 16:45

Network Three will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Progression/Writing

Teachers should have accessed the Highland Literacy Oral Language Tool kit and looked at the information around Sequence and Narative prior to the network.

Support Network 4 Term 4         Thursday 1^st June 2023                 15:45 – 16:45

Network Four will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Transition and Achievement of a Level.

For teachers new to Primary One, who wish to take part in Emerging Literacy training or wish a refresher course, the second Session is on the 1^st September with the first Network of the year on September 15^th.  Please sign up through CPD.

Session 2

1^st September 2022 from 15:45 to 17:00 – Concepts of Print and Pre-handwriting Skills

Support Networks

Support Network 1 Term 1         Thursday 15^th Sept 2022              15:45 – 16:45

Network One will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around the Phonalogical Awareness Screener and to tour through what is in the Emerging Literacy Share Point Site.

Teachers attending should bring with them their data from the Phonological Awareness Screeners.

Support Network 2 Term 2         Thursday 15^th December 2022    15:45 – 16:45

Network Two will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Concepts of Print/Reading

Teachers attending should have looked at the Highland Literacy Concepts of Print Continuum and the Emerging Literacy Training video 5 on Emerging Literacy.

Support Network 3 Term 3         Thursday 16^th March 2023           15:45 – 16:45

Network Three will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Progression/Writing

Teachers should have accessed the Highland Literacy Oral Language Tool kit and looked at the information around Sequence and Narative prior to the network.

Support Network 4 Term 4         Thursday 1^st June 2023                 15:45 – 16:45

Network Four will provide the opportunity to ask questions and share best practice around Transition and Achievement of a Level.