Our English leads are Mrs Atkins and Mrs New.

Nurturing a love of language underpins our approach to English. In line with the National Curriculum, the children at St. Margaret’s are taught Spoken Language; Reading (both word recognition and comprehension); Writing (both transcription and composition); Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. These four aspects of the subject are accessed during discreet English lessons, including Reading lessons, as well as being part of a cross curricular approach which are therefore present in all other subject areas.

 

Writing

         

 

Reading

                              

At St. Margaret’s as well as integrating reading across the curriculum, we take a take a 3 pronged approach to the discreet teaching of reading, to ensure that children are fully catered for in all areas of the reading curriculum. The 3 approaches are:

 

Accelerated Reader - We have two 20-minute Accelerated Reader sessions a week (independent, quiet reading time) where the children read for pleasure, adults listen to children read and children may then quiz on the iPads ​within 24 hours of finishing a book. At home children can quiz using the link shown below during school hours.

 

Reading Comprehension - We have discreet reading lessons using the ‘Pawsome Gang’ of reading dogs - where we teach main comprehension skills. Each skill is linked to a different type of dog e.g. Inference Iggy; Prediction Pip etc. These ‘reading dogs’ also form the basis of the children's individual reading targets which are kept on their bookmarks. Please check what your child’s target is and work on these at home with your child.

 

PALS (Partner Assisted Learning) - This is a 30 reading sessions three times a week. During these sessions the children support and coach each other through the skills of both fluency in reading and understanding of the text. Supported by adults in the classroom this follows a regular routine and system.

 

       

Reading at Home

If you would like to supplement your child’s school reading book, there are a variety of excellent online libraries that have a good selection of books for you and your children to read.

 

Additionally, some of the local libraries are doing a 'click and collect' service. Please use this weblink to borrow or sign up for a library card if you don’t already have one.

We hope that you find some of these resources of use and enjoy time spent reading with your child.