Gr 1-5 Literacy Parent Workshop

A.AnitaDate: 22 September 2016

What was the last book that you read?

The vital role of parents as role models for their children

Key elements of our Literacy Programme

Blocked time each day for each grade from Gr 1 - Gr 5

Differentiated instruction based on individual needs

EAL and Learning Support working with homeroom teachers

Balanced Reading and Writing Programme with Oral Language

woven through

Daily iRead and follow up Literacy activities at home

Phonics

Key building block in developing reading and writing skills

Understanding the link between letters and the many sounds they make

Explicit teaching and opportunities for inquiry and applying phonics knowledge to reading and writing activities

Guided Reading

Teacher supported reading of the text at an instructional reading levelSmall groups of students of similar ability working with the teacherEach child has their own copy of the text to work withTeacher acts as a guide, students are responsible for reading focusing on comprehension of the text.

Comprehension

Literal comprehension

● Questions where the answer can be found directly in the text

● Who, What, Where, When questions

● Retelling the story

● Structure; Beginning, Middle with a problem and ending

Inferential comprehension“Reading between the lines”

● Questions where the answer cannot be found directly in the text

● Predicting before and during reading, summarising

● Why, How questions

● Relate to student’s own knowledge and experiences to draw conclusions

Balanced writing programme

Big Writing

How can I help my child with their writing?

Strong, vivid vocabulary: “You chose a really interesting word to describe that monster – ferocious. That word

makes me go WOW!

Idea development: “You described how the lizard’s tongue works really clearly. At first I couldn’t understand

how a tongue can smell, but this sentence helps.”

Audience awareness: “This sentence starter really grabbed my attention.”

Organisation: “Nice connectives here: ‘On the other hand.’ That’s a good way to show that you’re going to talk

about a different side of the issue.”

Attempts at sophisticated punctuation: “Is that a semicolon? Wow, that’s a pretty advanced punctuation

mark. I like to see you trying new things with your writing.”

Proof-reading: Encourage your child to re-read their work, “How can you make your writing better? Does that

word look right?”

What is Big Writing?

3 key elements1. “Talking time” Related to the text type or topic the children will be writing about2. Big Write Day: Session 1 VCOP and planning timeBuild on existing skills, use assessment to guide next steps3. Big Write Day: Session 2 Silent, individual writing timeSetting the scene in the classroom to encourage creativity and concentration, time prompts

Differentiation in Big Writing

Start with ASSESSMENT

Set TARGETS to improve

Plan VCOP

lessons

Take into account PLPs

Termly assessment

tasksBig Write session as part of weekly writing tasks

TTALK

VCOPWhat is VCOP?

Connectives

Openers

Punctuation

Vocabulary

Quickly, the fox jumped over the babbling creek

in hot pursuit of the rabbits. Frightened, the

rabbits were hopping and jumping quickly as they

desperately tried to reach safety. The fox could

smell their fear as they reached the edge of the

forest. He knew that dawn was approaching and

soon he would not be able to hide under the

cover of darkness…

VCOP -Detail and description

The role of assessment

ReadingPhonics

Running recordsSRI (Scholastic Reading

Inventory) Gr 2-5ISA (International Schools

Assessment) Gr 3-5

WritingPhonics

Writing levelsISA (International Schools

Assessment) Gr 3-5Spelling

We use assessment to help us plan learning activities specific to the needs of each child.

The importance of GROWTH

Further support at home

Be good role models, encourage vocabulary development, be involved, ask questions. Model what we want our children to be, confident readers and writers who can think critically and apply their literacy skills in a range of settings.Encourage students to be strong speakers, readers and writers in their Mother TongueEncourage genuine opportunities to write; postcards, birthday cards, diaries, recipesiRead - reading DAILY Use our school libraryCheck the unit flyers posted on the grade level blogsHomework grid - Writing task each weekRaz Kids/Study ladder/Khan academy