English at St Christopher

September 2016

PlanningWe use these documents to plan our whole class teaching.• Curriculum maps• PoS for Reading and Writing (rainbow

document)• Information from Big Writing assessments,

reading assessments, Spy Time, sample/past papers and exemplification materials.

Big Writing• Extended writing (Big Writes) should happen as

frequently as is appropriate with a minimum of two per half term.

• Extended writing should be evident across the curriculum.

• VCOP activities should begin each session.• Writing is modelled before independent tasks.• Big Writes are marked using the marking policy.• Teachers remind children in all sessions to use

their RWI/Fresh Start/Literacy and Language strategies whenever they are reading and writing.

Assessing Writing• Writing is assessed using the Big Writing

criterion scale sheets. • By each assessment point, there should be

a good mixture of fiction, non-fiction and theme linked writing.

• Short term writing targets are used from Year 1 to 6. Targets should be skills that have already been taught. They should be written on a post-it with the date and taken to every lesson where they will be writing.

Spelling• RWI spelling in all Language and

Literacy groups• Spellings for RWI groups will be given

out during the extended session on Wednesdays

• Word lists• Years 1 to 4 Spellings will go home on

Wednesday after the extended session. Years 5 and 6 on a Friday.

Handwriting• P system - related to individual

children• Gross to fine motor skills• Choice of books• Handwriting of teachers• P• Awarding of pens• Handwriting needs to be taught.

Big Reading and Spy Time• Organise Spy Time within your class.• Use four characters to differentiate

between comprehension skills.• Use Mini Missions to teach and

assess.

Home Reading, Library and Literature Spine

• Home Reading – • New timetable and folders for library• Use Literature Spine books in story

time or for English lessons

Assessing Reading• Reading is assessed using the Big Reading

criterion scale sheets. • Ensure that evidence is gathered from reading

records/RWI groups and guided reading sessions not just the comprehension conversation