The table below shows a set of results sent to us from a teacher who has used our catch-up range Magic Belt, Totem and Talisman books and workbooks this past year. All her pupils struggled with reading and have various profiles of learning difficulties. These include speech and language difficulties, specific learning difficulties, emotional difficulties […]
Read MoreLearning to Read
Why is Continuous Professional Development important and what makes it effective?
Quality Continuous Professional Development are one of the proven ways for raising standards in our schools. So many times one has been to inset days that have left no impact and have not changed the way we teach. Here is a great post by Joe Kirby why CPD is important and what is effective CPD. http://pragmaticreform.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/cpd/
Read MoreThe Great Phonics Check Debate
This week pupils in Y1 will undergo the phonics check. Here are the two sides to the debate. http://www.phonicsinternational.com/screener_debate.pdf
Read MoreMaladministration of phonics check- what not to do!
The DfE published this document in April about not cheating when administering the phonics check. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/assessment/keystage1/a00224454/phon-malad Interesting that teachers need reminding….
Read MoreLiteracy equals status, influence and power. What’s new since Pompeii?
This weekend I visited British Museum to see the Pompeii exhibition. It is wonderful. One of the most beautiful frescoes on display is that of a baker Terentius Neo and his wife. They must have had quite a successful bakery. To show their status and aspirations they are depicted with writing tablets, stylus and papyrus. The guide […]
Read MoreFantastic reading progress with Year 1 pupil in 5 months
A tutor wrote in to tell us about her pupil. She has been working with him since December (for five and a half months) using the Sounds-Write programme and the Dandelion Books that complement it. She wrote: “He is in Year 1 and when he came to me at the end of December he had […]
Read MoreStruggling readers – in praise of practice and consolidation
We know that any newly acquired knowledge or skill must to be practised for it to be committed to memory. In order to develop reading fluency, automaticity has to be established. This is brought about through practice and consolidation. Sometimes, teachers worry about boring their pupils by revisiting what they have taught. For many pupils, […]
Read MoreHow to use the Pupil Premuim to raise literacy achievement of pupils in KS2
In 2013-2014, children on free school meals will be eligible for £900.00 Pupil Premium funding. This initiative aims to bridge the academic attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. This is a great opportunity to purchase resources for SEN pupils! Ofsted will be looking for a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the use of the Pupil […]
Read MoreHow to use the Pupil premium funding for improving literacy attainment in KS1
In 2013-2014 every pupil on free school meals will be eligible for £900.00 of Pupil Premium funding. These funds are intended to help disadvantaged pupils catch-up in their academic achievement. Ofsted will be looking for a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the use of the Pupil Premium. They will be expecting to see progress in academic […]
Read MoreDfE evaluates Phonics Check
The Department of Education has published this interim report about evaluating the Y1 Phonics Check. Happy half-term reading! Tami Reis-Frankfort
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