Literacy is probably the most fundamental and crucial part of education and life – long learning. Without it all other learning is impossible.
It is defined as the ‘capacity to read, understand and critically appreciate various forms of communication including spoken language ,prints text, broad text media, and digital media.’ (DES,2011)
Literacy is the key to success in life and Firies school are passionate about giving children a flying start to becoming independent, confident, life-long readers who can engage with the written word for functional and personal purposes. Below are some suggestions on how you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.
There are many useful websites that provide resources to help promote Literacy.
www.Scoilnet.ie/primary/theme-pages/english provide hundreds of engaging English Literacy Resources at all levels in primary school. Use the search function to find one that suits your needs or select one of the resources featured in the spotlight section.
www.ncca.ie/en/primary/resources-for-parents has resources for parents on the Language Curriculum at all levels in the primary school.
Here are additional links that you might find useful depending on your child’s age or stage in school.
World book day in Firies School is a huge opportunity to develop the children’s confidence in reading for enjoyment, oral language and writing skills.
It gives the children an opportunity to dress as their favourite characters in their costumes. They share their favourite books, authors, characters and illustrators with their peers and other classes. It encourages children to work in groups and create their own stories and books. There is no doubt that Firies have a school of book lovers.
Buddy reading in Firies School has proven to be a hugely popular and worthwhile activity. It helps children improve academically as literacy development is a core value of Buddy reading. It provides an opportunity for children to read books of their choice for enjoyment during school.
The younger children gain confidence and improve on their reading as they are supported by their older peer/ buddy and teachers. It encourages the child to be active in learning and it encourages academic and personal development for both children.
Teaching Literacy through Station Teaching / Team Teaching has proven to be a flexible teaching and learning strategy that allows the teacher to differentiate and personalize Literacy to meet the needs of all children in both Junior and Senior classes. It helps pupils develop at their own pace in smaller groups aided by the guidance of teachers. There are different teachers at different stations / teams and children enjoy the variety and flexibility of these strategies where their Literacy skills of reading, comprehension, oral language, and writing are fully developed.
As part of our literacy program in Firies school ‘Pyjama night’ is a big celebration of literacy for our junior classes. The children look forward to dressing up in their Pyjamas at night, arriving with their favourite toy and enjoying an evening of stories being read to them by the teachers.
Hot chocolate is also part of the celebration.