To support schools in taking a developmental approach to Emerging Literacy in the 18/19 session, the network sessions are available to apply for through the CPD calendar for those new to and those continuing to embed Emerging Literacy. The networks are designed for class teachers, ASN teachers and school senior managers, as well as educational psychologist and allied health professionals, to support both those new to and those continuing to embed a whole-school approach to Emerging Literacy. It is appreciated if those signing-up for next year’s networks do so by Monday 25^th June 2018. Venues will be confirmed in the new session.

For further information see May 2018 Emerging Literacy Update

The Verbal Reasoning and Abstract Thinking guidance sits as part of the Oral Language Toolkit. This will be added to periodically throughout the 2018/2019 session, and updates share through blog posts.

Children’s verbal reasoning skills and abstract thinking skills enable them to demonstrate their oral language comprehension skills which underpin their understanding across learning. This needs to be supported through modelling, commenting and developmentally appropriate questioning.

When planning for the use of multi-modal texts within the classroom environment, check out the ‘Starfall – I’m Reading‘ site. The site includes a number of different texts, with audio support, which can be used within literacy workshops.

CLICK HERE – Starfall – I’m Reading

Have you seen the new Blanks Language Question Fans?

The Blanks Language Scheme supports practitioners to reflect on their interactions to ensure that they’re matched to the children’s stage of development.

To support questioning development, linked to the four levels of Blanks Language, Blanks Language Question Fans have been created for use across learning.

Find out more about the development of Blanks Language in our Verbal Reasoning and Abstract Thinking guidance.

With the glorious Highland sunshine out to play, June’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust encourages you to think about the concept of “where” withe a beach setting.

This month’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust asks you to ‘Write a story set on a beach.’

You could explore the ‘Sequence and Narrative‘ resources when supporting your teaching of the concept of ‘where’. The resources have been designed to develop children’s understanding of the sequence and narrative concepts which support oral language comprehension and the creation of texts.

CLICK HERE – Sequence and Narrative

The deadline is Tuesday 3rd July 2018. The two Young Writers categories are open to all children and young people from 5 to 18.

CLICK HERE – ’50 Word Fiction’

Author, Adrian Edmondson, of the book ‘Tilly and the Time Machine‘, will be on Authors Live on Thursday 14th June 2018, 11am – 11.40am.

Adrian will encourage pupils to play a time-travel sound game. Adrian will also explore remembrance and memory as a time machine, as well as discussing his own experience writing and creating stories. Tune in for an exciting, engaging and hilarious event with Adrian exploring history, adventure and time travel!

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: ADRIAN EDMONDSON

Date: Thursday 14th June 2018
Time: 11am – 11.40am
Target Audience: P3 – P7

Please note that the link to watch is emailed to you manually by one of the Scottish Book Trust team. As this is not an automatic process, please sign up to watch as soon as you can so that they can get your link to you in plenty of time.

Cressida Cowell, author and illustrator of the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, and ‘The Wizards of Once‘ series, as well as the Emily Brown picture book series, is aiming to inspire writing through Free Writing Friday.

The campaign, run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and Hachette Children’s Group, encourages teachers to set aside time every Friday for their pupils to write whatever they want, however they want, in their very own notebook.

Find out more by accessing the link below:

CLICK HERE – Free Writing Friday

Have you checked out ‘StoryPlace!’?

StoryPlace! is a great site which includes a number of interactive stories, songs and games to support literacy development.

CLICK HERE: StoryPlace!

The National Literacy Trust have created some guidnace to support early years settings, schools and partner agencies in ‘Making the Most of the Home Learning Environment‘.

The guidance includes some practical examples of how they’ve developed a culture of family learning as part of their setting.

CLICK HERE – Making the Most of the Home Learning Environment

Join the Northern Alliance YAMMER site for Emerging Literacy to take part in the conversations on taking a developmental approach to Emerging Literacy

The Emerging Literacy: May 2018 – Update includes information on the:

• 2018/2019 Highland schools SIP Template

• School support for 2018/2019 – including training and networks.

CLICK HERE: Emerging Literacy – May 2018 Update