Literacy & Languages

During their educational journey, children should be immersed in a language-rich environment that establishes ambitious standards for literacy and language usage. Exposure to stories, literature, and various texts is essential for enriching their learning, enhancing language proficiency, and fostering enjoyment. Particularly in the early years, emphasis is placed on spoken language. Our teachers will strike a balance between play-based learning and structured instruction to develop reading skills, including phonics, in a systematic manner.

EMERGENT LITERACY

Emerging Literacy involves tailoring literacy, language, and communication instruction to the unique needs of each child. Informed by insights from Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech and Language Therapists, Emerging Literacy categorises foundational reading and writing skills into four key areas: concepts of print, oral language, phonological awareness, and pre-handwriting.

Decades of global research have pinpointed these foundational skill areas as crucial predictors of literacy achievement, not only in the early years of schooling but also throughout primary education and beyond. It's essential to recognise that children enter school with varying levels of proficiency in these skills, influenced by both prior learning experiences and normal developmental variations.

A developmental approach to Emerging Literacy enables us to assess each learner's strengths and weaknesses in these key skill areas and provides guidance for planning instruction to address identified skill gaps effectively.

READING

At Kemnay Primary School, our reading program encompasses a diverse range of books, including wordless books, Oxford Reading Tree (ORT) stories, Phonic books (Floppy's phonics), Rigby Star, non-fiction texts, and chapter books. Students progress through these materials as they develop their reading skills. In small group sessions, children engage in reading activities focused on word decoding, intonation, punctuation, and oral comprehension.

WORLD BOOK DAY

At Kemnay Primary School, we firmly believe in the boundless joys of reading, and we actively encourage our young learners to engage in reading activities daily. While we enthusiastically celebrate World Book Day once a year, our commitment to fostering a love for reading extends throughout the year.

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Masked Reader #1

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Masked Reader #2

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Masked Reader #3

PHONICS AND SPELLING

At Kemnay Primary School, we've crafted an extensive and progressive phonics and spelling curriculum. Our approach integrates a comprehensive phonics program and incorporates the engaging actions, music, and rhymes of Jolly Phonics, offering a multi-sensory learning experience. In addition to phonics instruction, we focus on teaching tricky words—words that can't be phonetically decoded—encountered in reading materials and essential for writing proficiency.

These learning progressions are organised into year groups or stages, yet students have the flexibility to advance at their own pace, whether that means working at a higher or lower level. This tailored approach ensures that each student can progress at a pace that aligns with their individual developmental needs.

P1-P3 Phonics Progression.pdf

GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION AND HANDWRITING

At Kemnay PS, we've crafted structured progressions for grammar, punctuation, and handwriting, aiming for a uniform approach to literacy education across all students. These progressions are organised into year groups or stages, yet students have the flexibility to engage with material at a level that suits their individual learning pace. This approach enables each student to advance according to their developmental readiness, ensuring a personalized learning experience.

Kemnay PS Grammar Progression.docx

Kemnay PS Punctuation Progression.docx

Kemnay PS Handwriting Progression.docx

WRITING

At Kemnay Primary School, we prioritise the development of writing skills alongside subject content knowledge and understanding. To foster successful skill development, our students engage in frequent writing exercises across various contexts and purposes. Our teaching approach emphasises the writing process, providing learners with opportunities to reflect on their skill progression and identify areas for improvement. We maintain high, yet realistic, expectations for our students' ability to enhance their writing proficiency.

On the right, you'll find our writing genre progression. This tool ensures that our learners encounter a diverse array of writing types tailored to their developmental stages, ensuring a comprehensive writing experience.

Kemnay PS Writing Progression.docx

TALKING AND LISTENING

Effective communication skills play a crucial role in the development of learners. Beyond contributing to the enhancement of self-esteem, the ability to confidently present ideas and engage in debates is a valuable asset that serves individuals well throughout their academic and adult journeys.

At Kemnay Primary School, the progress and achievements in listening and speaking skills are evident as students excel in key areas. This includes engaging with a diverse range of progressively complex texts, encompassing both Scottish and Scots literature. Additionally, students focus on developing and applying their knowledge of language, acquiring and organising information, and honing critical literacy skills. They also employ listening strategies to comprehend, analyse, and evaluate texts, while creating increasingly intricate texts using more sophisticated language.

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SCOTS POETRY

Scots poetry holds a vital place in Scotland's culture and heritage. It is a familiar and cherished component of our songs, poetry, and literature, deeply ingrained in how we articulate ourselves within our communities. At Kemnay Primary School, our affection for Scots is evident through our Burns Supper, an annual event held in January. Primary 6 students immerse themselves in learning Scots poems.

MODERN LANGUAGES

In the contemporary world, children are navigating a multilingual environment, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in social, academic, and commercial spheres for them to fully engage as global citizens.

At Kemnay Primary School, we align with The Scottish Government's 1+2 approach to language learning, aspiring to impart proficiency in two additional languages alongside English. Students embark on a French language progression from Primary 1 to Primary 7. Moreover, in Primary 5 through Primary 7, they are introduced to another language, specifically Spanish. To better understand the progression for each language, please refer to the details below.

Kemnay PS French Progression Grid.docx

French Progression Grid

Kemnay PS Spanish Progression Grid.docx

Spanish Progression GRID

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