Literacy for Life with FLS Key Teachers
Terri Thompson and Nicky Johnson
Literacy at FLS is meaningful, relevant to modern day living and focusses on preparing children for the future. This means that the focus is on developing their confidence in reading and writing in a pressure-free environment. For every level and age of child, texts are all high quality and skilfully selected to draw out creativity and as many learning opportunities as possible. Children develop their own style of handwriting and learn cursive if they are motivated to do so, but the emphasis is on expression and enjoyment in communicating - in handwriting, text or verbally. Listening skills are developed throughout sessions, everyone’s opinions are valued, debates are encouraged, and everyone is supported in listening to the thoughts and ideas of others respectfully and considerately.
Older children learn to appreciate the differences in genres of texts, from creating suspense in fictional writing, to understanding humour in a poem; from writing newspaper articles, to writing Twitter and Facebook posts and understanding the use of emojis in text messages!
Literacy sessions at FLS aim to instil a life-long love of language and communication, as well as ensuring progress in functional English language skills.
Literacy Workshop at FLS Wednesdays 09:45 – 12:15
Next term our talented teachers will be using The Journey as a springboard for some creative writing. Aaron Becker’s beautiful book is a picture book for all ages. It has no words… yet. The group will write their own words guided by the pictures. This wordless story is an amazing source for inspiring oral storytelling and creative writing, and it opens discussions exploring the themes of loneliness, determination, and friendship. The main character enters a door, and the journey begins. Who doesn’t love a magic door story? Children will discuss journeys that they have taken and think of words to describe their experiences and their feelings. They will imagine entering a door themselves and be inspired to write a story about what happens next… Who knows where their own magic doors will lead?
