Curriculum focus: Literacy
Literacy at Sprowston Junior School
In a similar way to maths, literacy can divide opinion. Some people love it and some people would rather avoid it. The problem with Literacy is that there are so many parts to it. Before children even start to write they have to: know how to read; know how words work together; think of the ideas; choose the words to use; decide how to spell the words; formulate a sentence and finally write it down.
At Sprowston Junior School we use a variety of strategies to support the children in each of these areas so that they can become confident readers and writers.
Literacy lessons
Each class has a literacy lesson every day. The lesson will include time for a shared activity where reading or writing is modelled followed by time for the children to talk about and formulate ideas with peers before writing them down.
Children are also taught through guided sessions, where small groups are supported to complete tasks together therefore building confidence and knowledge.
Each class has a teaching assistant who is there to support and extend the children’s learning when needed.
Reading at SJS
The children at SJS are exposed to reading through all subjects. We ensure that the children experience a range of texts through literacy lessons, guided reading, story time and across the curriculum. Children have ‘Accelerated Reader’ twice a week where they get to independently read and quiz on their reading books. Those children that need support with their reading will get that through 1:1 reading and intervention group time.
We also have a reading events through the year including book fairs and book week where we get to dress up as our favourite book characters.
The literacy environment
Sprowston Junior School provides a literacy rich environment where children take pride in their written work, have the desire to use the very best vocabulary, read with enthusiasm and communicate effectively.
Each classroom has help stations which include: word walls; grammar support; spelling rules/strategies; dictionaries and WAGOLLs. A WAGOLL is ‘what a good one looks like’- a helpful display that shows the children what they are aiming for and gives them hints and tips of how to get there.
Each classroom also has a reading corner, providing a comfortable reading area surrounded by books and reading inspirations.
Spelling and handwriting
Successful spelling can be really tricky for many children (and adults!). At SJS we aim to teach the children spelling twice a week as well as integrating it into all lessons where appropriate. We teach the children to: split words up; sound words out; look for words in words; create rhymes; use different colours to spot sounds and to work out the origin of words. Children are encouraged to practise spellings at home and to use strategies when faced with difficult spellings.
Lower down the school we teach the children ‘Nelson handwriting script’, a joined, fluent style of writing. The joining of letters is in our school policy and we aim for all children to do this. As the children move through the school, they are still taught handwriting when needed and are gradually encouraged to find their own joined, fluent style.
Literacy websites
There are many useful websites that support the learning of literacy, below are a few that we particularly used to support home learning during lockdown. There are many more that focus on specific areas like phonics, spelling, reading and sentence structure.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f
https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/
https://www.thenational.academy/
Literacy priorities this year
Every year we look at what has worked well and what we need to adapt or change to make literacy at Sprowston Junior even better. This helps us identify areas that we need to focus on for the forthcoming school year. This year’s focus areas are…
- To continue to raise the amount of children who achieve ‘greater depth’- those working above expected.
- To focus on presentation of written pieces of work across the curriculum ensuring that the children are producing work that they are very proud of.
- To encourage the children to self assess and up level their work through an 8 week focused plan on ‘assessment and feedback’.
