Literacy at Pilgrim
Reading
The two main aims of our Reading strategy are as follows:
- To promote a love of reading for all
- To ensure pupils are able to access GCSE level content in line with their peers
Reading is a cross-curricular skill, and all subjects ensure opportunities to read subject specific texts are embedded within lessons.
Below are just some of the initiatives we adopt to work towards our aims:
- All pupils are assessed on entry and intervention provided as required
- Daily DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time
- KS3 visit to local primary settings to read their original stories
- Weekly reading lessons in KS3 with a focus on diversity. Pupils read texts written by Black British and Asian British writers, to introduce them to literary voices and characters they may not have encountered before
- Virtual library (click to log-on)
- Pupil visit to local bookshops to source a wide range of texts
- Pupil forum voice on texts and resources for DEAR
- A Book of the Term which is available in base and on the online library to read and discuss
- Get Caught Reading challenge where pupils, who are ‘caught’ reading in school, are entered into a termly draw to win a book of their choice
- Read Aloud challenge – Pupils who volunteer to read aloud in a lesson can collect a small prize from the school office
- Reading to School Dog Otto
- Hope stories – read in tutor time each week
- Holiday reading challenges
- Attendance at local reading festival
- Weekly vocabulary and recall Kahoot Quizzes
Writing
The two main aims of our Writing strategy are as follows:
- To promote a love of writing for all
- To ensure pupils are able to access GCSE level content in line with their peers
Writing is a cross-curricular skill, and all subjects ensure that the writing of subject specific texts are explicitly taught within lessons.
Below are just some of the initiatives we adopt to work towards our aims:
- All pupils are assessed on entry and spelling, handwriting or touch-typing intervention is provided as required
- The Literacy notice board features information about local and national writing competitions as well as in school writing challenges
- The school newspaper provides pupils with the opportunity to write about trips, interests and events happening in school
- Subject specific technical vocabulary is explicitly taught using various approaches to help pupils make connections and remember meanings and spellings more easily
- Teachers in all subjects help pupils to access and produce subject-specific writing by modelling subject specific language, breaking down writing tasks, and combining reading, writing, and structured talk.
For further information about our strategy and intervention offer, please contact Sarah Muligan: sarah.mulligan@pilgrim.lincs.sch.uk