A 3 Term programme for raising all literacy skills to NC Level 5
Pupils with reading ages of 7.5 or lower.
Term One (RA 7.5-)
Using the Jumpstart Programme, pupils complete one exercise every day on their own at the computer. There should be no adult intervention during the computer part of the exercise which is complete when the child has collected the printout and placed it in his/her reading folder. At some point thereafter, the pupils reads the prepared passage to an adult FROM THE PRINTOUT - NEVER FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN. These exercises may be used alongside any conventional remedial programmes of work.
Term Two - (RA 7.5-)
Pupils use the Electronic Library, completing two exercises every day. Start them with a Level 3 title and thereafter allow them to use the library as they would use any conventional library, selecting their own titles. There should be no adult intervention during the computer preparation component. Children should read their prepared exercises to an adult every day. During this regime, pupils will complete a minimum of 20 titles.
Term Three - (RA 7.5-)
Pupils should complete any three Reading Comprehension exercises each week say Mon, Wed and Fri. They should also complete any two Dictation exercises each week say Tues and Thurs. Towards the end of the teaching session, each pupil should read his/her prepared exercise, comprehension or dictation, to the pupils table or teaching group. This is preferable to reading to an adult at this stage. This will mean completing about 36 comprehension and 24 dictation exercises over the course of the term. Those who complete this three term regime satisfactorily will have reached the NC Level 5 in English providing that their learning difficulties are non-specific and not due to some specific and debilitating physical or psychological impairment.
Pupils with reading ages of 7.5 or higher.
Term One (RA 7.5+)
Pupils should start with the Electronic Library, completing two 'chapters' at each daily session. They should be permitted to use the library as they would use any conventional library, choosing their own titles according to their individual interests. At the end of each session, they should read their titles to an adult. It is important that there should be no adult intervention while children are working at the computer. The time for 'teaching' to take place is when the child is reading the prepared chapters to an adult. Over the course of the term, pupils will complete a minimum of twenty titles covering a wide range of topics.
Term Two (RA 7.5+)
Pupils complete any three Reading Comprehension exercises each week say Mon, Wed and Fri. They should also complete any two Dictation exercises each week say Tues and Thurs. Towards the end of the teaching session, each pupil should read his/her prepared exercise, comprehension or dictation, to the pupils table or teaching group. This is preferable to reading to an adult at this stage. This will mean completing about 36 comprehension and 24 dictation exercises over the course of the term.
Term Three (RA 7.5+)
This approach has the effect of restoring the children's self-confidence in their ability to master all of the literacy skills. The cumulative effect of the extensive reading practice which the course makes possible is to massively increase sight vocabulary which is the basis of reading fluency. The programme can continue as per the previous term but should additionally introduce creative writing exercises on a weekly basis.
Homework Assignments.
Children with access to a computer and printer at home should be assigned weekly homework exercises of either one title from the library or a Reading Comprehension or Dictation exercise using the online resource which will always be available to licence holders. Children with access to a computer but not to a printer can be assigned dictation or sentence building exercises as homework.
