A combined approach to the teaching of reading
Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Reading is a major focus in schools at the moment, being high on the agenda of the draft National Curriculum, new Teachers’ Standards and new Ofsted Framework. This theme looked at the range of elements that feed into the development of reading, and how they all link with each other.
Read a blog introducing our theme, from Network Adviser Judy Clark
Download an overview of the areas our theme will cover
Review key research reports that support our theme
Bringing it all together
Blog: "It's a Wonderful Life"
Our Network Adviser, Judy Clark, wrote about the results of the five-yearly IEA Progress in Reading and Literacy Study and brought our theme, A Combined Approach to the Teaching of Reading, to a close. View
Thinking skills
Resource: How to actively engage students through creative approaches to reading in lessons
Top creative strategies for engaging pupils in reading from network adviser Francine McMahon and Maria Hession, an Engish teacher from Northumberland Park Community School. View
Reading into writing, writing into reading
Blog: Reading into writing using "This Morning I Met a Whale"
Judy Clark takes a gem of a story by Michael Morpurgo and shows how the reading of a story can act as a starting point to whole units of work. View
Resource: Holistic approaches to the teaching of English
Our secondary network adviser, Francine McMahon interviews Alys Morrell, senior lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University, about a using a holistic approach to the teaching of English, drawing on research and theories of learning. View
Comprehension and reading skills
Resource: Reciprocal reading explained
An interview with Donna Thompson and Bea Gill from Think2Read in which they introduce Reciprocal Reading and provide practical advice for teachers who want to give it a go. View
Resource: Strategies for teaching reading - a professional development toolkit
An introduction to the different types of reading, strategies for teaching reading and activities to support these strategies. View
Blog: Active reading - strategies for improving reading comprehension
Business Academy Bexley (BAB) explain their top three active reading strategies and illustrate them with example resources. View
Talking about books
Resource: Talk for Reading bookmarks
A resource to scaffold meaningful response and comprehension around books. Handy for parents or in the classroom to develop purposeful talk for reading. View
Phonics and secondary interventions
Resource: The secondary quick guide to phonics
An introduction to the teaching of phonics for secondary teachers. View
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Resource: Secondary phonics programmes - success stories
Interviews with two network member schools who are changing their students’ life chances through using a peer phonics approach and a highly tailored phonics approach. View
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Blog: Tried and tested phonics games
Some of our members tell us about their favourite phonics games. View
Blog: Transforming reading attitudes and attainment through targeted intervention
Laura Percival (now Director of Learning Support and English teacher at Bethnal Green Academy) shares how she turned around reading at her previous school, The Basildon Academies. View
Reading for enjoyment
Blog: Reading for enjoyment: a catalogue of ideas and resources
We highlight some of the National Literacy Trust's best resources and ideas to help schools develop a culture of reading for enjoyment. View
A whole school approach
Blog: Reading at The Folkestone Academy
Simon Newman, Assistant Principal for Literacy at The Folkestone Academy, on the academy's whole-school approach to reading. View
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Resource: Reading strategies at The Folkestone Academy
Practical strategies for raising reading standards across the school, contributed by network member Simon Newman. View
