Reading

The wider curriculum:

Tutor Time

All pupils will participate in literacy activities during tutor time once per week covering a termly focus on key literacy skills.

Teachers will use the framework within these sessions to deliver the tutor programme.  

1. Autumn Term: First Chapter Mondays/Tuesdays/Fridays 

1. Extracts or the first chapters of high interest books are selected and presented like an advertisement to students. Where possible, books are accompanied by trailers or read by authors available through YouTube. 
2. Tutors present the programme to students to promote the books available in the library thereby increasing the foot traffic in the library, promote a love for reading and develop WORD skills through a variety of activities.

2. Spring Term: Critical Literacy: Children as Changemakers in their world 

1. The programme for Spring is a highly student-centred approach based on group enquiry i.e., working together in a community of enquiry to understand difficult issues/concepts. Each year group will be assigned a key global theme/issue including the Conflict and Violence, Refugees and Movements, Climate Change, Gender and Covid-19. Each theme/issue will empower students to contribute to positive change by developing: 

• knowledge and understanding of the topic  
• the ability to think critically about global issues  
• the skills needed to initiate, plan and carry out positive action through organising year group expositions to raise awareness in their school / community 
• peer-education skills and the ability to apply their knowledge and skills  
• creativity and problem-solving skills 

Summer Term: Read to Achieve 

Students participate in reading a prescribed text for tutor time i.e. one text read over a term to improve reading fluency and to develop a love of reading for pleasure and scholarship. 

Teachers lead the sessions using the Reciprocal Reading approach which teaches the good habits of a successful reader. It is a ‘structured method of guided reading where children are gradually taught to take on group roles to explore and find meaning in texts. Roles include: 

• The Director 
• The Predictor 
• The Clarifier
• The Summariser 
• The Questioner 

The Reciprocal Reading Approach helps to promote teamwork, increase students’ vocabulary and comprehension, introduce students to unfamiliar genres, authors and books and fosters a love for reading.