Modelling reading and writing is a powerful tool for learning as well as fostering students’ attitude to learning.

Literacy Tip: Sharing how YOU read and write. 

Modelling reading and writing is a powerful tool for learning as well as fostering students’ attitude to learning. You may not read or write a lot, but I’m sure it’s more than you think if you tried to take notice of it over the course of a week. Maybe start by noting what and when you read and write and then start talking about it, casually, with your child. “Oh, I read something confusing today.” “Did you see X?” “I was writing an email to….” The simple act of conversation about it will heighten their awareness of the importance of reading and writing in daily life.

If you’re ready to take a step further you could consider the following:

Model five key reading strategies 

1. activating background knowledge (asking what do I already know about this)
2. questioning
3. analysing text structure (Why did they organise the ideas like this? etc)
4. creating mental images (I wonder what that looks like?)
5. Summarising. (What was that about? What was the main point there?)

It doesn’t actually matter if you don’t know the answers - the conversation is powerful in itself!

Ms Beaumont - HOD English

What we’re reading: Miss Calman read 'The Killing of the Flower Moon' by David Grann. Although it is a non fiction book it's written as if it was a detective novel. It's very well written and researched. But it is rather shocking and shows how the USA has not learnt from the past in terms of First Nation rights.

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