Literacy
Literacy Links
Accelerated Reader: https://ukhosted29.renlearn.co.uk/2244430/
Lexia: http://www.lexialearning.com/
Find a new reading book: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/
Pupil News: http://www.firstnews.co.uk/
Parent’s guide to myON: https://epchs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Parent-Guide-to-myON-2.pdf
Overcoming Dyslexia: https://dyslexiagold.co.uk/Dyslexia/OvercomingDyslexia?dc=CLPHTH
Literacy
Literacy is a major focus for us here at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School. In this section, you will find resources which are provided each term to emphasise a particular literacy challenge. These resources are used across the school for literacy based starter activities to ensure that students’ basic skills are continually embedded. Improving Literacy in schools
In addition, you can find out about the Accelerated Reader programme, literacy skills lessons and advice for reading at home tips we use to make reading our priority: 7 Top Tips to Support Reading at Home
We firmly believe that literacy is life; communicating and understanding each other are the foundations of progress. We strive to equip all students with strong literacy skills to lead them to their full potential.
These are some of the grammar areas we cover:
Connectives; KS3 Apostrophes; KS3 Commas; KS4 Apostrophes; Paragraphs; Revisiting Apostrophes; Capital Letters; Semicolons; Full Stops; Sentence Structure; Spelling Strategies; There, Their, They’re; Homophones.
Accelerated Reader
At Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, we have been running the Accelerated Reader programme since 2012. The programme has been hugely successful and is now available to all pupils in years 7 and 8
How does it work?
Pupils take a test on the computer and from their results are given a ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development). This is a range of book levels from which the pupil should select books to read – their personalised reading range.
When they have read their book, they complete an on-line quiz to test their understanding of the book. Each quiz is worth a certain amount of points and students ‘bank’ the words from the book after a successful test. This is a highly motivational programme and encourages our pupils to read a variety of different authors and genres which enables them to learn and use different reading skills. These skills will enhance their ability to understand different levels of text in other subject areas.
Literacy skills classes
Students work on their individual areas of challenge and gain confidence in the processes of reading and understanding texts as well as creating their own. The extra support gives students time to consolidate and enhance their literacy skills to access the curriculum across all subject areas.
Lexia is a web-based reading program. It is phonics-based, beginning at initial letter level, and spans across all areas of reading to comprehension exercises. Pupils work through a program independently and at their own pace.
myOn is an online digital reading platform that gives access to thousands of books. Students can choose to read from a wide array of fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels. An audio option is available on most titles and a built-in dictionary helps deepen student’s engagement and understanding. Students in years 7 and 8 can quiz on their book once they have finished reading it by logging into their Accelerated Reader Account. Please encourage and support your child to read on myON. It is recommended that a minimum of 20 minutes reading per day is necessary for your child’s reading age to improve.
Literacy advice for parents: Reading at home
Research proves that children who enjoy reading do better at school in all subjects.
Reading together increases literacy skills and it’s never too early to start reading with your child.
Raising the profile of reading
Ensure that your children see you reading. It doesn’t matter if it’s the newspaper, a cookery book, romantic novel, detective mystery, short stories, computer manual, magazine – anything!
Encourage children to join in – ask a child to read out a recipe for you as you cook, the receipt from the big weekly shop or the TV listings when you are watching TV
Reading Together
Set aside some time
Find somewhere quiet without any distractions – turn off the TV/radio/computer.
Use illustrations/cover
If there are illustrations, relate them to something your child knows. Ask them to describe the characters or situation or what will happen next. Encourage them to tell you the story by looking at the pictures.
Encourage your child to talk about the book
Talking about the characters and their dilemmas helps children understand relationships and is an excellent way for you to get to know each other or discuss difficult issues. Give your child plenty of time to respond. Ask them what will happen next, how a character might be feeling, or how the book makes them feel.
Keep reading together
As well as your child’s library book, there are lots of books that both adults and young people can enjoy. Try The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the Harry Potter series, or The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Read books you can all talk about but make the talk light-hearted, not testing or over-questioning.
You can search for books that interest your child here:
And lastly, above all – make it fun! It doesn’t matter how you read with a child, as long as you both enjoy the time together. Don’t be afraid to use funny voices: children love this!
