Literacy – ECE & Primary Staff Blog

Category: Literacy (page 1 of 3)

Primary Boot Camp: Get Reading Right

September 27, 2022 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Morning all,

Many thanks to staff who came to the Get Reading Right Boot Camp yesterday. Below is an outline of what was shared:

Introduction to Get Reading Right (GRR) and the features of this synthetic phonics programme
The 3 toolkits
Games and resources available
Tips to get started

GRR is an excellent resource and tool for students of all year levels and supports teachers in differentiating their spelling programme for the various levels we have in our classes. It is not just a programme we implement in lower primary. This resource supports the development of phonics, fluency and vocabulary building to support both decoding and encoding as well as developing reading comprehension in a systematic format. We have a number of resources available that can support students across Years 1-6.

GRR resources are available in hardcopy but also on the server (see pathway below). We also have many resources in the ERC.

smb://10.4.1.11/Teachers/@Teachers Pub/@PRIMARY/Curriculum/Literacy/Reading/Get Reading Right – All

Here you will find:

All toolkits (synthetic toolkits)
Take aways (worksheets)
Powerpoint lessons a great way to get started as you become familiar with using the resources
Game templates

For those teachers that are not familiar with the toolkits and would like to know more information, please let me know. I am happy to come and speak with year level teams during planning meetings as well if you would like a refresher of what resources are available.

Book Week 2018-19: DINOTOPIA!

October 23, 2018 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Book Week 2018-19: DINOTOPIA!

Thank you all teachers for checking the schedules and procedures attached for Book Week next week. I have met with all International co-teaching teams, but much of this information may be new to Chinese co-teachers. Everyone should refer to the attached documents as they are the most updated. Please contact me if there are any questions about the running of the week, Week 10 Monday October 29-Friday November 2nd.

I wanted to reiterate that Pyjama Day is optional. Due to popular request, some teams have chosen to make one day next week DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) in Pyjamas. Please go ahead and decide on this with your team and let your students and their parents know accordingly.

Co-teachers, please make sure you supervise your students during their class’ Book Swap time in the RP Red Courtyard on the Wednesday of Book Week. There will be some parent volunteers helping to keep the Book Swap tables orderly, but it will really help if you can remind your students to leave the books tidily for the students who will come after them.

Lastly, please get in touch if you would like to socialise or play host to our visiting author Nicky Dee. I’ll be picking her up from the airport this Sunday morning but she may be ready for a dinner date that evening. Through the week she may also be up for a drink and bite to eat. She will be staying at the Dorsett on Huamu Lu. I’m afraid that my idea of getting out is going to the playground downstairs and she may like to see a little more of Shanghai than that. Again, let me know!

Thank you everyone for your positive and enthusiastic support of Book Week so far. You set a great example for the kids and it is a major factor in the week running smoothly. Thank you!

Schedule Book Week – 2018-19 BW Schedule

Book Fair sign-up times – Book Fair Sign-up

Book Fair Diary Note for Year 1-6 (Suggested to go home Thursday 25^th October) Book Fair Student Diary Note

Book Swap sign-up times – Book Swap Sign-up

About Year 4-6 Visiting Chinese Author – Y4-6 Visiting Chinese Author

Year 1-2 Dinosaur stories on Tumblebooks – Tumblebook Dinosaur stories

Optional Dinosaur activities – Dinosaur activities

Search for Dinosaurs using Encyclopedia Britannica Online (Year 3 and up):

Encyclopedia Britannica Online(username:yewchungsh password:britannica11)

Raz Kids

September 7, 2018 / John MCENHILL / Comments Off

RAZ Kids should become a part of your weekly homework schedule from week 5.

Below are instructions for setting up Raz Kids as and when you are ready.

Please note that all teachers should have a Raz Kids log in. New teachers should have received an email from Learning A-Z with instructions for setting up their log in.

Please build your class roster in RAZ Kids by finding the students who are in your class this year. You can do this by using the “Transfer Students” option in your classroom roster.

The following tips are useful for finding students quickly.

In the transfer students section, make sure you set school to “all schools in district”-this searches all the various names for our school which have been entered over the years.
Suggest searching each of last years’ teachers of the year before in turn, plus the EAL advanced teacher-in this way you will find all your students except the new ones. Don’t search for individual students.
New students should be added using the “add students” option.

Here is a list of last year’s teachers for the above process:SH PD ECE & PRI Staff List 2017-18
Once the student is added to your roster, please confirm their PM Level from your assessment data and assign each student to the RAZ Kids Level (A-Z) using the correlation chart. For example a student who has achieved PM Level 21, should be assigned to RAZ Kids Level L/M. Any student who is working at PM Level 30 or below should be assigned to RAZ Kids. Once they complete PM Level 30, RAZ Kids Level Z, they will no longer use RAZ Kids. Reading Correlation Chart
Use the function in Raz Kids to print the students’ user name and password, and paste this in the front of the students’ diary
Please ask me if you or your team want a full refresher or introduction on how to use Raz Kids-I am happy to do this.
Please ask me if you need your user name and password from last year

Should you have any questions, please contact your Year Leader, Melissa or I.

Thanks,

John

Handwriting – Nelson Books for Years 3-6

October 16, 2017 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Nelson Handwriting books are to be used to support the teaching of Handwriting in Years 4-6. If you are unclear as to what is required see the table below, and for complete details, please check the new Handwriting Policy (English Blog Page).

The Nelson books have been digitised and placed on the server at: smb://10.3.1.1/Teachers/@Teachers Pub/@PRIMARY/Curriculum/Literacy/Writing/Nelson Handwriting

These can be displayed on the whiteboard, or you can print individual pages for students who may find this beneficial.

For Year 3, Semester 2, there is a workbook for red level which the students can write in. This is in 109 and can be picked up from John or Melissa.

Raz Kids

September 11, 2017 / John MCENHILL / Comments Off

Dear Teachers,

As you are finishing your assessments and recording these in PowerSchool, it is time to make use of this data to set up RAZ Kids for your students (if you have not already).

Please build your class roster in RAZ Kids by finding the students who are in your class this year. You can do this by using the “Transfer Students” option in your classroom roster.

The following tips are useful for finding students quickly.

In the transfer students section, make sure you set school to “all schools in district”-this searches all the various names for our school which have been entered over the years.
Suggest searching each of last years’ teachers of the year before in turn, plus the EAL advanced teacher-in this way you will find all your students except the new ones. Don’t search for individual students.

Here is a list of last year’s teachers for the above process: Staff List 2016-17
Once the student is added to your roster, please confirm their PM Level from your assessment data and assign each student to the RAZ Kids Level (A-Z) using the correlation chart. For example a student who has achieved PM Level 21, should be assigned to RAZ Kids Level L/M. Any student who is working at PM Level 30 or below should be assigned to RAZ Kids. Once they complete PM Level 30, RAZ Kids Level Z, they will no longer use RAZ Kids. Reading Correlation Chart
Use the function in Raz Kids to print the students’ user name and password, and paste this in the front of the students’ diary.
Please ask me if you or your team want a full refresher or introduction on how to use Raz Kids-I am happy to do this.
Please ask me if you need your user name and password.

RAZ Kids should become a part of your weekly homework schedule from next week.

Should you have any questions, please contact your Year Leader, Melissa or I.

Thanks,

John

Book Week Updates

January 17, 2017 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Book Week 2017, February 20-24^th, Week 23

This year our theme is ‘Hats Off to Reading’ with a grand finale in the RP gym on Friday 24th with book-themed hats! Please take the time to look at the following before tomorrow’s staff meeting:

Take a look:

Book Week 2017 Schedule BW 2017 Schedule

Pre-Book Week Reading Log Pre-Book Week Reading Log

Tuesday News Day Graphic Organisers Y1 Y2-3 Y4-6

Details:

Visiting Author: Neil Griffiths http://cornertolearn.co.uk/books/ A larger than life storyteller and a prolific picture book author, Neil will be visiting us from the U.K. for the week. His books will be available for pre-order as well as for sale during the week itself. Order forms will be sent home and then should be returned to the ECE, RP or CP library. Visiting Author’s Books on both servers, Primary> Library> Book Week 2017> Neil Griffiths’ books

The Pre-Book Week Reading Log can be used by International and EAL teachers in Week 21 & 22 in the lead-up to Book Week. Year 1-4, read a variety of books with your class, or Year 5 & 6, each student can write the name of a novel they completed during this time. Send or give Tania a completed copy on Monday of Book Week to receive a ‘We Are Readers!’ sign for your class door.

Book Fair in the Regency Park Courtyard

Monday 20^th February 8am to 4:30pm

Tuesday 21^st February 8am to 4:30pm

Wednesday 22^nd February 8am to 12:30pm

Chinese and English books available, including books in English for adults. 10% discount for teachers (just show I.D.). Refreshments provided for parents in the morning, Monday 20^th February.

Co-teachers, please sign-up for a time to take your class to visit the fair. It is up to parents to decide if their child should bring money to school on the day of their book fair visit (a reminder should be in their their diaries the day before). Teachers of younger students may choose to collect money on the day and hand back to students during their class visit. Parents are encouraged to visit during the day or after school with their child. If students bring money to school, it is their responsibility to look after it and any books bought.

Wednesday: ECE & Primary Students (and teachers) wear pyjamas! International and EAL teachers enjoy DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read) on the Wednesday in snuggly pyjamas. Cozy slippers, blankets and teddy bears can come too!

Wednesday 3:50-4:40pm: ECE & Primary staff Professional Development with visiting author, RP Auditorium. The Session is called ‘Caught or Taught’ and about instilling a life-long love of reading. For details, go to the Training tab on Neil’s website: http://cornertolearn.co.uk/books/

Thursday: ECE & Primary Parent session with our visiting author Neil Griffiths will have an informal Q&A with parents in the ECE Parent Room, 2:30-3:05pm Thursday 23^rd February. They should sign-up at rpcp.parentrelations@sh.ycef.com

Primary Closing Assembly, 1:30-2:45pm in the Regency Park Gym Students (and teachers) wear a book-related hat costume- time to get creative! Parents welcome.

Other events include:

Parents reading – Ask co-teachers about reading to your child’s class during the week. Stories may be in Chinese, in English or another language with an English translation.
K4 to Year 6 sessions with our visiting author.
EAL and extension students also meet the author.
Primary library ‘Pick-A-Winner’ activity – encouraging students to read award winning books and hand-in a reading response to the library.
K3 to Year 6 Buddy Reading on the Thursday.

Regular library borrowing times can still go ahead if their is no clash with a Book Week activity. Co-teachers please supervise borrowing & reading as Tania won’t be in the library that week. Email Vicky at RP or Laura at CP if you would like to organise a time for your class to borrow if there is a clash with a Book Week activity lauray@sh.ycef.com vicky.ji@sh.ycef.com

Please let Tania know if you are interested in taking Neil out for coffee, a meal or sightseeing during his visit. He arrives early evening Friday 17^th February.

Staff Meeting, Wednesday 4th January – Moderation Writing Activities

January 3, 2017 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Welcome back Everyone!

During our staff meeting tomorrow afternoon, all year levels will be participating in moderating some sample pieces of writing using the Criterion Scale.

This is to ensure that together, we are making a fair assessment of each writing level across the year groups. It is also another opportunity for us to practise and continue familiarising ourselves with this scale.

Our staff meeting will commence at 3:45pm in the Auditorium with a brief introduction. Please be on time to ensure we have enough time for discussion. Year levels will then be split into groups. See arrangements below.

Y1-2 & Lynn, Andrea & Anne

Y3-4 & Kathleen, Lydia, John & Jamie

Y5-6 & Neil, Elynnor & Christine

(Year 6, please head straight to Room 301)

Materials:

Please bring a copy of the Criterion Scale

YCIS Adapted Criterion Scale

Chinese & Specialist staff do not need to attend this meeting. Please use this time for planning or as needed.

Have a great afternoon,

English PLC

BOOK WEEK 2016 PREPARATIONS

April 25, 2016 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Thank you everyone for making the necessary preparations for Book Week to be a success next week. The Week’s Programme is attached along with important information about parent involvement, the author’s Book Order Form, Class Buddy Reading and the Book Fair.

Book Week Programme 2016

PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents can contact me if they would like Picture Book reading suggestions in English or Chinese. To make your life easier, you may like to edit, cut and paste the information below and send it out to your parents. It is the message sent out by Year 3 teachers (way to go, Year 3 team!).

Dear Parents,

The primary students will be celebrating Book Week in Week 33, May 3-6 and we need your help!

On Tuesday, May 3, the event for the day is ‘Bilingual Reading’. We would love to have 2 parents come in to read to our class in their native language. We have books of various languages in the library that you can choose from, or you can bring a family favourite from home. Please email ____ and I if you would like to come in to read to the students that day. We will be flexible with your schedule.

On Wednesday, May 4, students will wear their pyjamas and get to ‘Drop Everything And Read’ for a session during the school day. To make the event special we would like to have a snack during this time. We are asking for 2 parent volunteers to bring in something for the students to share. You could send it in with your child in the morning, or bring it in and join in the fun during the day.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm! Please let us know if you are able to volunteer for any of these activity. We know that with your help this will be a great week to celebrate literacy.

BOOK ORDER FORMS

I will be giving co-teachers the visiting author’s Book Order Form during Library sessions this week. Please come and see me if you would like to send the form home earlier than your Library time.

CLASS BUDDY READING
Co-teachers, please contact your peers in your buddy class and organise a time and venue for the shared reading to take place. The Year 5 team has worked out a structure for Class Buddy Reading that I think is valuable to share:

Prior to the lesson: Students choose a picture book either from our library or at home to practice reading with expression. Students should practice so that they feel confident reading the story of their choice.

During the Buddy Reading session:
Open with one of the International Teachers reading a picture book to the class
(5 minutes)
Students will be paired up. Take turns reading to each other. Students might prepare questions for their buddies to answer.
When they finish reading to their buddy, they can stand up and find a new buddy who is also standing (15 minutes)

BOOK FAIR
Co-teachers should sign-up this week at the CP/RP Library desk for a time to take their class to the Book Fair. The Book Fair locations are:
ECE library – Tuesday May 3- Wednesday May 4
CP library – Thursday May 5- Friday May 6.

Please give students a diary reminder the day before their Book Fair visit (in many cases, this will be this Friday, April 29). Parents can choose to send money with their child or not, but the school cannot take responsibility for any lost money or books. The vendor will provide paper for students to write a wish list that can be taken home. Remember, RP students’ last chance to buy will be on the Wednesday May 4.

Next week’s DAILY NEWS will include reminders for teachers, as well as diary reminders for students.

Examples of writing by visiting author, David Greenberg, http://www.authorsillustrators.com/greenberg/greenberg.htm, examples of Picture books in Chinese & English and Graphic Organisers for reading and writing, are all in the Library folder on the CP and RP SERVERS.

Thank you everyone!
Tania

Celebrating Environment Week – Writing Activity

April 12, 2016 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

As part of our celebration of Environment Week, the English and Environment PLCs have joined forces and would like to present the following prompts as homework activities for Weeks 32. The year level can choose one of the prompts as their weekly homework assignment or create your own prompt. For the upper year levels, this activity can be done as paper-less homework in Week 31 if preferred and emailed to the class teacher. When completed, Melissa will collect 1 piece from all Year 1-4 classes and Sarah will collect 2 pieces from Year 5-6 classes.

Please see the prompts that you can choose from below. The template is provided if you choose to use.

Environment Week- Writing Template

Invent a sorting machine that sorts rubbish. Draw a picture and explain how it works.
Write 5 important facts about an endangered animal.
Write a paragraph about the effects of deforestation.
Write a letter to a family member who lives far away and tell them how you recycle at school.
The world needs an environment super hero! What will this super hero look like? What super powers do they use to look after the planet?
Write a short story about a day in the life of an environment super hero.
Write a cinquain or a haiku about the environment. (Template provided) Poetry Templates
Is it better to use paper or plastic? Present both sides of the argument, but make it clear which one you support.
Is it better to reuse or recycle? Pick a side and write your argument.
What would you tell a friend if you saw them littering.
What was your favourite part of Environment Week?
Write a diary entry explaining how Environment Week has impacted you?
Write a book review about the story you collected at the Book Swap during Environment Week.

Your friend has just thrown their empty juice box on the floor and walked away. You have decided that this is not the right thing to do and have gone over to talk to your friend. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about them littering.

What happens to a plastic bottle when you throw it away? Research it and write a report about the process of recycling plastic. How does recycling plastic help our environment?

Leaders, please add this to your next meeting’s agenda. If you have any questions please contact Melissa. The due date for the display pieces is Friday Week 32.

Happy Writing,

English and Environment PLC

Year Of The Monkey – English PLC Writing Activity

January 18, 2016 / Melissa Shaw / Comments Off

Good Afternoon,

This coming Chinese New Year is the Year of the Monkey and in honour of this we thought that the theme for the next celebration of writing would have a monkey theme.

We would like to share with you some writing prompts, however feel free to change them or create your own that is appropriate to your year level. Please discuss whether you will have this as a class journal writing activity or as your homework writing assignment during Week 21. Year Leaders, please add this to year level meeting this week. Attached is a writing template that you can use, but feel free to use whatever is appropriate for your children. monkey_writing_paper_lined copy

Some writing prompts that can be used are:

• Monkey for the Day – Imagine you wake up, you look in the mirror and you’re a monkey. What sort of mischief would you get up to? Where would you go? Who would you meet? What would you do? What would you eat?

•Instructional Writing – You’ve just got a new pet and it’s a baby monkey! Write down a set of instructions on how to care and look after the monkey.

•Information Text – Research any type of monkey you wish. Write an information report describing its habitat, diet, appearance (description), fun facts, and behaviour.

•Poetry – Use the word M O N K E Y to write an acrostic poem

•Story prompt – It was a hot and and sunny day and Zoe and her dad decided to visit the zoo. Zoe loved looking at all the animals, especially the monkeys. “Can we please take a monkey home?” Zoe begged her dad. “No.” he replied. At the end of their visit, Zoe was exhausted from a fun-filled day and her dad went over to the ice-cream van to get them an ice-cream each. Just at that moment, Zoe spotted something brown in the bushes. She looked closely, and saw a tiny, fluffy monkey and quickly decided to… What does Zoe do next? Write a short story describing the adventures she and the monkey have together.

Please ensure that 1 piece of writing is selected and passed to Elly Granato (RP) and Sarah Zarzo (CP) by Tuesday Feb.2 of Week 22.

Once again we are excited to have the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the writing skills of our students and hope that this proves to be a motivation for them to enjoy both the process of writing and to gain a greater sense of accomplishment and achievement. Thank you for supporting our budding authors!