ST. PATRICK'S DE LA SALLE B.N.S.

Literacy Liftoff

“Literacy Lift-Off”, also known as “Power-Hour” or “Guided Reading”, is an intensive programme of Reading and Writing, which gives the pupils lots of opportunities to read books at their own level of competency. It gradually lifts the complexity of what they can do in both reading and writing by equipping them with the necessary problem-solving skills. Pupils on the programme would typically be expected to progress at the rate of one level per week.

The aim of Literacy Lift-Off is to make pupils constructive learners. It teaches them ‘how’ to problem-solve independently.

Above: Part of the huge store of books for the Literacy Lift-Off Programme

It is implemented in blocks of 6/8weeks in the Junior and Middle classes in Primary School. Diverse activities are essential for extending literacy processing power. Hence, the pupils work in ‘stations’ to carry out a number of activities in reading and writing, under the guidance of teachers and Special Needs Assistants. The programme uses specially graded “PM+” readers. Pupils are assessed and grouped according to their reading ability prior to the commencement of the programme

 

After months of fundraising, the Literacy Liftoff  programme has finally become ‘airborne’ in St. Patrick’s. The funding helped pay for the PM+ Readers  which are specifically graded, highly intensive readers but also expensive! We are delighted to offer the pupils of St Patricks, the opportunity to participate in the “Literacy Lift-Off” programme. We could not have done this without the support of our Parents’ Committee, teachers and parents. Our school is grateful to all who contributed their time and ‘hard-earned’ money to our worthy cause.

 

Our Stations/Activities work as follows:

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Station 1: Familiar Reading

Pupils read previously seen PM+ Readers. 

Purpose: Development of enjoyment, fluency, comprehension and speed.
 

Station 2: Word Work

They use magnetic letters on the whiteboard to make and break words.
Purpose: To show children how words work, so that they can make a fast visual analysis of their reading.

 

Station 3: Writing Station
Pupils write sentences based on their own experiences, using words that they encounter in their readers.
Purpose: That they will learn how they can write their own messages by hearing and recording sounds in words, using analogy and learning unusual words.
 

 

Station 1: New Reading
Encountering new texts each day challenges the pupils to discover new ways to go beyond their current operating ability and lift their literacy processing.
Purpose: Pupils learn to use strategic activities to read new texts.

 

Station 1: Listening

At this station, the pupils listen to a variety of audio stories.
Purpose: To develop their listening abilities and imaginative use of words.

We have found this programme to be very successful, and beneficial to pupils of all reading abilities in the Junior and Middle Classes. We believe that Early Intervention is the key to successful reading and writing.