A new resource has been created and added to ‘The Literacy Toolkit’ section of our blog.
Developing Thinking is a PowerPoint which can be used to explore the research and views around Developing Thinking, in particular higher order thinking, and to generate professional dialogue and action relating to this with a view to improving experiences for the young people in school.
Storyline Online is a fantastic free resource that houses a number of different stories that are read to you.
We definitely recommend you add this one to your Internet Favourites.
The Literacy Improvement Plan for the 2014/2015 session is concentrating on four action projects:
AP1: Progression within and through the Broad General Education and Senior Phase
AP2: Literacy across learning within and through the Broad General Education and Senior Phase
AP3: Transitions within and through the Broad General Education and Senior Phase
AP4: Tracking within and through the Broad General Education and Senior Phase.
A new resource has been created and added to ‘The Literacy Toolkit’ section of our blog.
Handwriting vs. Keyboard Skills is a PowerPoint which can be used as part of professional development with staff to explore keyboard skills within the classroom environment.
It also includes links which were referred to in our earlier post on Keyboard Skills . . .
PowToon is an excellent FREE resource that can be used by learners and teachers to create animations and presentations. Digital Literacy skills are crucial for the 21st century; we want to support learners in creating a range of different texts.
Create your free account by CLICKING HERE, pressing ‘Start Now’ and following the instructions. Make sure you select ‘Teacher’ when subscribing.
There are oodles of how-to videos which can be found by simply typing ‘PowToon’ into Youtube . . . meaning you can brush-up on your animation skills alongside learners.
An Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) topic such as World War II is an excellent stimulus which can be used to explore texts across many genres. There are some fantastic WWII novels and information texts out there to explore . . .
Teaching learners through the genre of play scripts is an excellent gateway into bringing a text alive through drama.
A Highland practitioner has kindly shared a resource which they have created and used with learners. The play could be taken in its current form, or edited for/by learners where deemed appropriate. You may wish to put on a production or teach a Reading for Information or Writer’s Craft lesson based on the text.
The text based around WWII explores the themes of family and patriotism. There is also a poignant link to WWI – great if you’re studying the 100 year anniversary.
The Literacy Shed is packed full of ideas that can be used as a stimulus for writing.
The wonderful images created by Zev Hoover AKA Fiddle Oak [a play on ‘little folk’] can be used to develop creativity in writing. Each image incorporates little people into everyday environments. A great opportunity to develop descriptive
Diamond 9 is a great structure that can be used to facilitate group discussion.
Learners are given a topic, e.g. People who help us, and nine possible options. As a group they have to categorise the options from the highest to lowest priority, discussing and justifying their opinions.
During the Scottish Summary of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN) Diamond 9 tasks were used to assess listening and talking skills in P4 and P7.
CLICK HERE for First Level videos and resources
CLICK HERE for Second Level videos and resources
Diamond 9 tasks can be differentiated across subject areas and Levels and used for a range of discussion topics.
CLICK HERE – Blank Diamond 9 template
CLICK HERE – Diamond 9 ideas TES
Group Talk Feedback – A Focus on the Individual can be used to facilitate professional dialogue around the concept of assessing group talk.
Sometimes the writer doesn’t give us the full picture. Sometimes they provide us with clues, but don’t write something explicitly. It’s crucial that we are teaching learners the comprehension skill of ‘Inferring meaning’, based on the evidence that is presented as well as their background knowledge.
In The CAFE Book, The Sisters suggest playing The Inferring Game. A simple game where the teacher provides learners with a statement:
e.g. “You are in school sitting at your table when all of a sudden you hear an ear-piercing noise and everyone walks out the classroom.”
Given a chance to work with a partner, learners would highlight all of the clues the writer has provided:
1) school
2) loud noise
3) leaving the room
Based on the clues given and their previous experience, of course . . . it was the fire alarm.
Click the links below to access some inference activities and games:
Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
What can you infer?
Inference Riddles
Detective Notebook
Inferring Activities
The clip below can be used to assist with the teaching of Making Inferences:
Let us know what resources you use to support the teaching of making inferences.
At the International Literacy Day conference on the 4th of September one of the workshops introduced the concept of Rap Battles, Word Wars and Poetry Slams.
South Lanarkshire practitioner Peter Kelly talked about how he engaged his S2 pupils in poetry with a 21st century twist. This was inspired by the Authors Live – Poetry Slam event, hosted by the Scottish Book Trust, where poets went head-to-head in a Poetry Slam . . . a little like a poetry talent contest.
Learners worked collaboratively to write pieces of poetry based on discursive subjects such as technology and TV talent shows. In South Lanarkshire learners went head-to-head across schools in the Authority. Check out the Word War Battles blog for more information.
Watch the video below to see the South Lanarkshire 2013 Word War Final:
CLICK HERE for a How-to on running a Poetry Slam
CLICK HERE for discursive writing activities for a Rap Battle
CLICK HERE for a guide on staging a Word War
This could be used as a way of engaging learners in topical debates whilst incorporating poetry, rhythm and rhyme. Although the resources are tailored at Third Level, the principles could be used with P7 as a transition event for S1. Mixing P7 pupils from feeder schools with S1 pupils from the Secondary could be a great transition project.
HIGHLAND LITERACY 