Next week Monday 7th November-Friday 11th November is:
World Nursery Rhyme week.

We know when developing phonological awareness that strengthening rhyme awareness will support the development of rhyme production.

Get your children involved next week with the free resources available from Music Bug.

CLICK HERE for World Nursery Rhyme Week Information

“Rhyme a Day Challenge” songs for 2016

• Monday 7th November – “Doctor Foster”.
• Tuesday 8th November – “Baa Baa Black Sheep”.
• Wednesday 9th November – “Two Little Dickie Birds”.
• Thursday 10th November  – “Incy Wincy Spider”.
• Friday 11th November – “Hey Diddle Diddle”

CLICK HERE to register and access FREE resources

NessBookFest is coming to Inverness between the 10th and 12th of November. There are a number of events available which are ideal for children and young people – a great opportunity to support children and young people’s awareness of live literature.

For more information about NessBookFest and the events which are taking place CLICK HERE to access the programme of events.

CLICK HERE for ticket and booking information

If you missed it, CLICK HERE for the August 2016 Emerging Literacy Update

The October 2016 Emerging Literacy update includes information on:

• Highland Emerging Literacy Local Networks
• Primary 1 Bookbug Pack
• Pre-Handwriting
• Recent Blog Posts
• Education, Children and Adult Services Committee

CLICK HERE to download the October 2016 Emerging Literacy update.

When develop learners’ pre-handwriting skills there are a number of resources that can be used to support fine motor development through the use of the Pre-Handwriting resources.

We know it’s also extremely important to develop gross motor movements. The Infinity Walk is one task which can develop this – perfect for a writing warm up exercise. Check out the videos below from John Murray, Occupational Therapist.

A great activity which can be developed both indoors and outdoors.

Many schools across Highland develop The Highland Clearances as a ‘Historical Context’ using the Highland Council Social Studies Progression. With newly released children’s bestseller, Fir for Luck, from Highland author Barbara Henderson, it’s a great opportunity to build an Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) context around the text to develop Literacy and Social Studies through The Highland Clearances.

The novel offers a fresh insight into 19th century events in Sutherland. Henderson’s Fir for Luck is told in present tense and from a child’s point of view. Fast-paced, based on true events, and with a feisty main character, the novel is designed to feel accessible to a modern audience whilst retaining vivid period detail.

Inverness-based author Barbara Henderson recently launched Fir for Luck at Crown Primary School in Inverness. She has also recently worked with Durness Primary School and has previously supported World Book Day through events such as a ‘Blind Book Date’.

Barbara is able to support schools in developing  their context with events such as:

• Live Reading workshops
• Drama workshops
• Creative Writing workshops
• Puppetry workshops

Contact Barbara on: scattyscribbler@gmail.com

Teach children between P1 and P3? Join the Scottish Book Trust on Authors Live, Thursday 27th October 2016 – 11am – 11.40am, as they dive into their hilarious picture book series, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam!

CLICK HERE – Tracey Corderoy and Steven Linton Authors Live

This is particularly great for P2 pupils as Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam is one of the books within the P2 Read, Write, Count Pack.

CLICK HERE – Read, Write, Count information for schools

Futurelearn are offering free six week online CPD on Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales beginning Monday 24th October 2016.

Having completed the online CPD course when it was offered last year, this is a great CPD opportunity for practitioners. The course analyses popular fairytales and looks at fairytale structures. This professional learning can then be taken back into the classroom, introducing the fairytales through both reading and writing workshops.

CLICK HERE for the fairytales which are used.

CLICK HERE – Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales

The Primary 1 Bookbug packs are on their way to schools in preparation for Book Week Scotland on Monday 21st – Sunday 27th November. Look at the great books inside P1 Bookbug Family Pack this year. Gaelic editions will be sent to schools with Gaelic Medium pupils.

As well as the sessions that have been offered by Highland Libraries there are a number of resources available on the Scottish Book Trust’s website:

CLICK HERE – P1 Bookbug Pack RESOURCES

We recommend that the Learning Resource is a good place to start. Click on the image below to access the Bookbug Picture Book Prize Learning Resource.

CLICK HERE – P1 Bookbug Family Pack Information

Have you got Literacy as part of your School Improvement Plan? Have you got an interest in developing your own practice in Literacy and English?

The Highland Literacy Toolkit is a suite of Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) resources that can be used by individuals, groups of practitioners or whole staff groups. Each PowerPoint includes facilitator’s notes to support delivery, resources to use during collegiate sessions and follow-up links. Each PowerPoint is linked to the Quality Indicators within How Good Is Our School 4 (HGIOS4).

Click on the links below to access each of the Highland Literacy Toolkit PowerPoints, or check out the Literacy Toolkit tab. Individuals, groups and schools can select the aspects which are relevant to them.

1. Asking the Right Questions at the Right Time
2. Building Vocabulary for Better Literacy
3. Developing Thinking
4. Group Talk – A Focus on the Individual
5. Handwriting vs. Keyboard Skills
6. Learning and Teaching – A Focus on Writing
7. Literacy Across Learning
8. Literacy through Exploration
9. Reading Between the Lines
10. Read With Confidence
11. Spelling and Beyond
12. Talk With Confidence
13. Writing Feedback – Technical vs. Content
14. Write With Confidence

CLICK HERE – Highland Literacy Toolkit Update 2016

Do your learners ‘warm up’ their hands before a writing task? Check out the video below from John Murray, Occupational Therapist, who demonstrates the Zoom Game.

The Zoom Game is a one minute hand warm up which develops hand/eye co-ordination and motor control.

Let us know how your learners get on with the Zoom Game by leaving a comment. This is a warm up game which could also be done at home prior to writing tasks.