Literacy - The Key to the Curriculum

Subject: English Language
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 5026

Few people can lead a successful life without adequate literacy skills, yet it is only recently that the problem of large scale illiteracy has been addressed. Action has now been taken in a number of forms, including the slimming down of the National Curriculum, the Literacy Hour and Summer Schools. We can at last see a range of initiatives designed to deliver that most fundamental of all educational rights - the skills to communicate effectively in both the written and spoken media.

Literacy - The Key to the Curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between policy and practice in delivering literacy across the curriculum in any kind of school. It encourages teachers in all areas of the curriculum to think productively about the language demands they place upon the students and it suggests means by which students' language skills can be developed through the medium of the various subjects studied in school.

While every teacher may not be a teacher of English, every teacher is a teacher of language and of the literacy skills that enable students to become more effective learners and more confident people. Maximising literacy throughout the school with effective contributions from every department is one of the key areas looked for by OFSTED.

Literacy - The Key to the Curriculum is a comprehensive literacy programme applicable throughout the school. Key areas covered are:

• Language Across the Curriculum. A practical guide to implementing literacy work through each department in the school.
• Keys to the Curriculum. An action plan for literacy including reading, writing, speaking and listening work.
• Setting up Literacy Groups. A system to support pupils with special needs in literacy skills.
• Activities and Techniques to Improve Reading. A series of activities which need little or no preparation and which are suitable for use in any curriculum subject.
• Reading in Action. A story with 20 activities . The activities may then be easily adapted to be applied to other reading material.
• Language and Learning. A guide to discussion issues for departments.
• Differentiation and Literacy. Providing differentiation in literacy skills for the whole curriculum.
• Spelling. A series of student exercises to improve spelling, suitable for class, group or homework.