Reading

English

Primary

Developing a phonics and reading strategy at a primary in Brixton

A primary school shows how it has responded to the Rose Report and developed its own Phonics and Reading Strategy to suit its pupils. Hill Mead Primary School, Brixton, has developed its own programme of phonics based on letters and sounds. Staff have devised daily activities for each year group, leaving creative space for role play, games and reading for pleasure. Year 1 teacher Ashley Malekmian demonstrates the approach with her class. Deputy headteacher Becky Lawrence, and headteacher Richard West explain their strategy of making phonics teaching less isolated from reading and comprehension, focusing on the needs of their children.

A Home-Grown Phonics Programme

A video record of a pupil's progression in reading

A rare opportunity to see one pupil's progress in reading over a 12-week period, captured on camera by the teachers of Heather Primary School in rural Leicestershire. The video starts with five-year-old Adam talking to his teacher, Becca Suluga, about the books he likes to read and share. We then follow him as his reading skills improve through a variety of strategies. Developing his "self talk" or awareness about these strategies is a key aspect to the learning, which Becca encourages. The accompanying video diary footage by headteacher Lou Harrison includes both reflection on Adam's progress and discussion on the project itself. What does the video evidence show? How can video help in assessment? What is the effect on Adam? Everyone is involved in recording and sharing the video footage via the web. Adam's mum reflects on his progress with Becca, Lou uses the footage to moderate teacher assessments, and Adam even starts taking over the shooting to tell his own story!

Adam's Reading Journey

An overview of changes to Chile's education system over 20 years

The first of six films about Chile's education system and the significant improvements the country has been making in its reading results, this video gives an overview of the changes made over the past two decades. Since 1990, when the country returned to democracy, Chile has prioritised education and invested in long-term, systemic changes such as school infrastructure and a new curriculum for the 21st century. Now, the emphasis is on improving the quality of initial teacher training. Leading academics, Dr Cristian Cox and Dr Gregory Elacqua, and the current Under Secretary of State for Education, Fernando Rojas, offer their views.

An Overview

An exclusive interview with The Snowman's creator Raymond Briggs

Children's Laureate Michael Rosen unwraps a selection of literary treats, including a rare and exclusive interview with Raymond Briggs, creator of The Snowman. Rosen also reports on the enduing appeal of the pantomime, with a behind the scenes look at a production of The Pied Piper of Hamlyn and tips on how to stage your very own school panto. Meanwhile, the Charles Dickens Christmas legacy is explored with a visit to a elegant town house in Bloomsbury, London, where Dickens and his family once lived. Also in this programme: <ul> <li>critic Julia Eccleshare shares her top children's books for Christmas</li> <li>an alternative Christmas message, prepared by students at a school in Birmingham, provides a great opportunity to encourage speaking, listening and writing skills</li> <li>Michael continues his Poetry in Motion crusade to make poetry fun in the classroom</li> </ul>

Christmas Special

Looking at how graphic novels and cartoons encourage reading

Jon Scieszka, the best selling American children's writer and US ambassador for children's literature, talks with experts about the importance of comics and graphic novels for primary English pupils. Jon talks about the need to get boys in particular, excited about reading and says that one way to encourage this is through cartoons and comic books. Art director of the New Yorker Magazine, Francoise Mouly, explains the importance of cartoons and how they offer a less intimidating approach to beginner readers. Graphic novelist, Dan Goldman, explains why he considers cartoons to be an important part of reading.

Comics are Good

A look at the latest early reading techniques

How two primary schools are using the latest techniques and strategies to encourage early reading. Theories on teaching children how to read are constantly evolving. Reporter Charlotte Hume visits primary schools in Birmingham and London, to find out about their approaches towards enhancing reading abilities. She follows two six-year olds at each school, who have learnt to read in different ways. Esther is a good reader and has learnt through a phonics programme. Haseeb, however, is finding it harder and has been placed on an intervention programme called Reading Recovery. Charlotte summarises current research in this area, and what approaches are working, in the continuing efforts to improve literacy standards in primary schools.

Early Reading

Expert advice on early reading and phonics, for trainee teachers

This PGCE lecture aims to tell trainee teachers more about key aspects of primary English and the two dimensions of the Simple View of Reading, in a talk given by Julie Bowtell from the School of Education, University of Hertfordshire. Julie explains how reading is an active process of getting meaning from print, and she explores different methods of achieving this. Using volunteers, Julie demonstrates activities that assist in the teaching of phonics, including Odd One Out, where pupils identify which pupil name sounds different from a small selection of the class; and Phonics Full Circle, where six pupils make a series of three-letter words from placards displaying a single letter. Finally, Julie demonstrates how to encourage primary pupils to engage with text by predicting and pronouncing the phonemes in a covered-up word from a popular story book. This lecture may also be of interest to newly qualified teachers (NQTs).

Early Reading - The Simple View of Reading

Assessing the value of phonics with early reading

Langley Primary School in Oldbury has been identified by Sir Jim Rose as having excellent practice in phonics. Teacher Helen Jones is teaching the reception and Year 1 class, using two techniques involving sound buttons and robot arms to help pronunciation. But is synthetic phonics just another fashion, and is there any evidence that it works? Helen believes that it does work, but it can be complicated and she shares some useful tips for other teachers starting a synthetics phonics programme.

Early Reading and Phonics

A school changes its approach to foundation stage literacy

At Erdington Hall School in Birmingham a newly-appointed headteacher believes that the key to taking her school out of the OFSTED underachieving category is effective foundation stage literacy. The school is fairly socially deprived, 50 per cent take free meals, 70 per cent have English as an additional language. But far from battening down the hatches, the school decides to change its foundation stage approach, making play the central focus. A foundation stage leader is appointed and we see her in her new nursery role. We also follow two new reception teachers with both literacy and PSHE activities. The school uses performance data to track the children's weaknesses and the impact of the changes they are making. We look at the school's phonics initiative and hear that the children are remembering sounds and letters more effectively with this approach. The programme concludes with a re-inspection; will the changes have an impact on the school's categorization?

Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders

A look at some useful strategies for motivating reluctant readers

In this episode of Action! Teacher Video, teacher Heather Ravenhall presents her inspiring film, How to Motivate Reluctant Readers. Featuring action research carried out at Greet Primary School in Birmingham, the video explores the different methods and strategies used to encourage young children to read and enjoy books. The video is part of a unique showcase of videos made by teachers about their work in schools. Presenter Xanthe Steen is joined in the studio by Heather, as well as education consultant Adrienne Jones and teacher Chris Horn, to discuss the project. They look at what the school's research has revealed to date and the discuss the strategies that have proved successful. They also consider the wider implications of using teachers'videos to record and assess children's learning and to aid teacher CPD.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Primary English

> Reading