Literacy at LJFS
“Today a reader, tomorrow and leader”
The Literacy curriculum in schools is a foundational component of education, designed to equip students with essential reading, writing, and communication skills. The intent, implementation, and impact of this curriculum are crucial to understanding its role in shaping students’ academic and personal development.
Intent: The primary intent of the Literacy curriculum is to foster a love for reading, writing, and discussion among students. It aims to develop their ability to communicate effectively and think critically. Schools strive to ensure that students become proficient in reading and writing, which are fundamental skills necessary for success in all academic subjects and in life. The curriculum is designed to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for literature and the arts, encouraging students to engage with texts in a meaningful way.
Implementation: Implementing the Literacy curriculum involves a structured approach that includes a variety of teaching methods and resources. Teachers are tasked with creating an engaging learning environment that supports diverse learning styles and needs. This may involve the use of interactive activities, group discussions, and technology to enhance learning experiences. Schools often provide professional development for teachers to ensure they are equipped with the latest pedagogical strategies. Additionally, the curriculum is tailored to meet the individual needs of students, with a focus on early communication skills and the development of a rich vocabulary.
Impact: The impact of a well-implemented Literacy curriculum is profound. Students who are literate are better prepared to succeed academically and socially. They are able to comprehend complex texts, express their ideas clearly, and engage in thoughtful discussions. Literacy skills are linked to improved academic performance across all subjects, as reading and writing are integral to understanding and communicating knowledge. Furthermore, literacy empowers students to become informed citizens, capable of critical thinking and problem-solving in a rapidly changing world.
Year 7 Literacy Curriculum Term 1
What else do we do?
Across the curriculum, literacy is important for an understanding of a subject but also in accessing keywords and concepts. But we also want our students to read for pleasure and enjoy what they are reading in school. Each form has an age appropriate text that they read together in form, recent research from the Education Endowment Foundation indicates that this is a key way to improve vocabulary. There is a session each week during afternoon form when students can access and choose a reader from the library.
We also participate in BookBuzz in Year 7 and 8 where students get to select from a list of books a book that they would like to read and can keep. It is a hope that this will be the start of a reading journey that continues through school. Recommended book sites for suggested reads are listed below
The Reading Tests are conducted through Key Stage 3 so that we can monitor the impact of our literacy across the curriculum and our reading schemes. These outcomes are shared with parents on Parents Evening and strategies to address this will be advised.
Years 8, 9 and 10 have Reading Ambassadors- these are keen readers that encourage and recommend reading and books to their peers, they also host and promote the annual Scholastic Book Fair.
The scholastic Book fair is an opportunity to purchase reading books for children at a reduced price, based on their wish lists created in school. For each book sold, the school receives funding that can support the purchase of new books for our library collection. This year our school book fair will be held from 10-13 December 2024. The feedback in the most recent literacy survey of parents indicated that 88% of parents wanted their child to read more- this is your chance to support this! Details of how and when to purchase can be found here
scholastic-secondary-book-fair-order-form-autumn-2024-2272202
This reading passport scheme offers students the opportunity to read, comment and get rewards for reading. There are booklets with different levels of challenge- students can earn critter coins and rewards for recording their reading.
We reward reading at the end of each term in assembly- there are Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of completion and the scheme runs from Year 7 through to Year 11
Some useful links to websites
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/our-recommendations
https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/secondary-ks3-ks4-reading-lists
https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk
