At Colman Junior School the development of children’s reading, writing and spoken language is at the heart of everything we do.
Reading:
We work hard to ensure our children develop a life-long love of reading. All classes visit our fantastic, well-stocked library every week and are able to choose two books to take home and read. In addition children who need a more structured book scheme can change their colour-coded book band books daily in their year group areas.
Each year we have a programme of exciting events with author visits, whole-school story times, visits to Earlham Library, sponsored reads and much more.
Our curriculum is carefully planned to link to a key shared text for each term and these texts have been chosen to ensure children encounter a range of good-quality literature over their time in school.
Writing:
The teaching of grammar, punctuation and spelling is embedded within our teaching of writing as well as being taught discretely. Children take part in Big Write fortnightly, in which they apply what they have been learning about writing to complete a piece of independent writing, linked to their learning in Topic and/or their class text.
Around the school you will find the ‘VCOP’ superheroes which help our children develop their writing voice. Vocabulary, Conjunctions, Openers and Punctuation are all taught using these characters and children develop these four elements of their writing.
Spelling and Handwriting:
We use the Read Write Inc. phonics-based approach to teaching spelling which develops children’s prior-learning at Colman Infant School. Spelling patterns are taught each week, based on National Curriculum expectations and children are given ten words to practise at home before the lesson each week. Similarly, the handwriting style taught is that taught at Colman Infant School.
Spoken Language:
Opportunities for partner talk, role play, drama, formal presentations and debates are planned into our curriculum on a regular basis. Children in Year 3 perform in a Christmas production, Year 5 take part in a poetry recital and Year 6 proudly perform their end of term production.
