Writing
This year, we have started a new approach to writing with the help of Jane Considine’s Writing Rainbow. With this approach children will focus on the three zones of writing:
- Ideas
- Techniques
- Tools
In the ideas of writing, there are 9 areas that the children will consider:
- F – Feeling
- A – Asking
- N – Noticing
- T – Testing
- A – Action
- S – Smell
- T – Touching
- I – Imagining
- C – Checking
In the tools of writing, there are 9 grammatical tools that the children will consider:
- A – Adverbs
- B – Basics
- C – Complex sentences
- D – Dialogue
- P – Purpose
- P – Paragraphs
- P – Active or passive voice
- P – Past or present tense
- P – Punctuation
In the techniques of writing, there are 9 techniques that the children will consider. These are known as the Boomtastics.
reading
This year, we have started a new approach to reading with the help of Jane Considine’s Reading Rainbow and ‘Hooked on books’ approach.
Within the ‘Hooked on books’ approach children will take part in sessions which include the following activities:
- Book Talk – a whole class comprehension and a targeted group approach.
- The Reading Rainbow – a fully comprehensive approach that targets reading competencies, covers the National curriculum and develops understanding.
- Demonstration Reading – the art of the teacher modelling the internal thinking of a reader. This is to demonstrate how a read thinks during the process of ‘reading for meaning.’
- Demonstration comprehension – clear, out loud thinking by the teacher whilst modelling answers to questions and showcasing ‘thesaurus thinking’ to ensure the most precise words are used.
The Three zones of reading
As part of the book talk the children will look at three zones of reading:
- FANTASTIC – ideas, thoughts and vocabulary.
- STYLISTIC – understanding, meaning and comprehension.
- ANALYTICS – competencies, interpretation and analysis.
Additional reading
At Peninsula East Primary Academy, we believe that it is important for the children to be exposed to a range of high quality texts and for adults to model reading to them. Each class therefore has a class text which is read each day for at least 10 minutes.
Children have school reading books which they take home each week. In addition to this, children have access to a wide range of texts on myON. All children have a login for this site and staff signpost useful texts to them.