From the English Department:  

Term Three already! This term we are returning to reading skills. I have collected 10 reading comprehension strategies from Sheena Cameron’s teacher guide which seemed the most useful to our secondary setting. The aim is to continue the work we have been doing by developing explicit use of literacy skills across all curriculum areas in the school. A school wide focus helps solidify skills for our learners and helps them see that what they learn in each lesson does not stand in isolation from the learning in other subjects.  

These reading comprehension skills aren’t as easy to relate to your home context each week as previous ones. So instead of giving you a ‘what you can do at home’ tip each week, I have decided to give you a screen-free activity to try with your children. Getting them off their devices, having a bit of fun with you and engaging them in thinking skills which they might leave at school, will help reinforce the learning they’re doing by keeping their brains active!

Week 1 Literacy Tip of the week: This week classes have been looking at ‘key word story strips’ where; after reading a text the teacher will give 10 key words and ask students to use them in a piece of writing to show their understanding. 

What we’re reading: I’ve just finished ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir. I enjoyed it immensely! The protagonist, Mark Watney, is an astronaut who is presumed dead and abandoned on Mars. He survives by employing a bit of the old number eight wire mentality to keep his equipment running and survive on a hostile planet. Despite being quite a grim scenario, the book is full of good humour and wit. It’s suitable for Year 11s up as there is a bit of rude humour! - Ms Hughes

Screen-Free activity of the week: Play a board game or card game! Maybe this is a regular part of your family routine, maybe not. Either way it’s a great way to spend quality time together without screens. 

Ms Beaumont - HOD English

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