Teacher Reading: Enriching Student's Vocabulary.

An important element in our daily programme is reading aloud to kids. This is a special, quiet time (although the above photo suggests otherwise) and one which also leads to rich conversation. It's an opportunity for us to extend our students through their experiences of literature. For this reason we choose books to read to students which they would otherwise not choose, so no Diaries of any Whimpy whatevers. We have dippped into work by esteemed authors; Philip Reeve (No Such Thing as Dragons, Mortal Engines), Michael Morpurgo (Kensuke's Kingdom), David Almond (Skellig) and many others. These great writers model fantastic use of English for students. Currently we are reading a beautiful book by Kate De Camillo, Ferris. The main protaganists are often stopping in their tracks to review new words which their teacher has introduced to them. We are taking the lead and doing the same with each of these. Ignoble, ludicrous, thrummed, brereft, baffled, pragmatist are just some of the wrods on our emerging list. Unpacking the meaning of words, how they are made up (morphology) and where they come from (entymology) are factors which help to build word power and lead to our kids being more convincing, more nuanced writers, readers and speakers. Having conversations about characters in books, how they feel and what motivates them also leads to greater understanding of real human relationships and builds empathy. You will see in this week's newsletter an invitation to an afternoon presentation expaining all of the pieces of our literacy programme. We wouold like to illustrate that we can all be invloved in the process of encouraging students to particiapte and build a rich literary culture at home and in the classroom; one which they can take on with them when they head off to their next learning challenges and one which will enrich their lives as adults. Keep an eye out for futher details inupcoming weeks.