Literacy Coach

Reading and writing skills are deeply interconnected, each enhancing the other in a reciprocal relationship that is fundamental to literacy development.

While we have focussed heavily on developing our writing skills at the vocabulary, sentence, paragraph and extended response level, we must continue to encourage children to develop their reading prowess. Below are some strategies that students can undertake independently in order to build skills, improve comprehension and fluency and further their love for reading.

• Engage with reading material that is just above my current reading / comprehension skill level so that I can access the content, yet it still challenges me.
• Activate my prior knowledge - What do I know about this topic?
• Read ‘out-loud’ in my head so that I can hear myself read the words, yet no one can hear my voice.
• Ask questions of the text, before, during and after reading.
• Re-read to improve fluency - this helps me know what it feels like to read with effective accuracy, fluidity and pace.
• Make note of exciting new vocabulary.

Fostering both reading and writing skills simultaneously creates a dynamic learning environment where each skill enhances the other, leading to a more comprehensive understanding and mastery of language.