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.

Have you checked out the programme for Ness Book Fest?

Ness Book Fest is back for another year following the success of last year. Between Thursday 5th October and Sunday 8th October there are a number of book themed events for children, young people and adults. There are an array of events over the four days which promote a love for positive story reading and writing behaviours. Check out the programme below to see the events which are taking place between 05/10/17 and 08/10/2017, including a number of published authors.

As part of the programme, Ness Book Fest are encouraging as many schools as possible to take part in the Big Read-In. On Thursday 5th October, between 9.20am – 9.35am, provide a space for children and young people to read and send a picture to Ness Book Fest via @NessBookFest on Twitter.

CLICK HERE – Ness Book Fest 2017 PROGRAMME

No Pens Day Wednesday encourages schools and settings to put down their pens and to run a day of speaking and listening activities.

This year’s No Pens Day Wednesday will take place on Wednesday 4th October 2017.

Why don’t you try putting away the pens and pencils for a day, and looking at ways to develop your pupils’ oral language?

Click the image above for the No Pens Day Wednesday 2017 Activity Pack. The pack is full of information and ideas how Early Years, Primary and Secondary settings can support this.

In classrooms across the country we’re sure that there’s been discussions about the opening of the Queensferry Crossing. Use this as a stimulus as part of the Scottish Book Trust’s ’50 Word Fiction’

This month’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust asks you to ‘Write a story that features a bridge.’

The deadline is Saturday 30th September 2017. The Young Writers category is open to all children and young people under 18.

CLICK HERE – ’50 Word Fiction’