Outstanding primary teacher Libby Pryce, reveals top tips on how to give reception classes the best start in reading and writing.
John Bayley visits Pitt Street Infants School on the first day of term as the children learn rules and routines to prepare them for learning. Nine months later he returns to find highly independent learners making remarkable progress in literacy.
Libby places a great emphasis on reading by immersing the class in all forms of the written word. The children use high level language to identify phonics inspired by the National Strategies Letters and Sounds programme.
Differentiation is by task and staff support whilst encouraging every child to rise to a challenge without fear of failure.
Remembering Libby?s key rule for behaviour; ?We are always kind and help each other? the children peer assess each other?s work giving robust criticism and praise.
Libby points out her alliance with parents has helped accelerate pupil?s learning.
Useful websites
Supporting pedagogy: The repertoire of skills and techniques used by teachers to encourage active involvement
Behaviour, rewards and motivational resources
Department for Education: Literacy
Best practice in early literacy and phonics
Parents: Partners in Learning - An information pack can be downloaded from this site
Helping parents help their children: A guide for primary teachers
The Teaching Awards: Libby Pryce
Mrs Libby Pryce- The 2008 BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a primary school in the North of England. (Pitt St Infant school, Mexborough, Yorkshire)
Our behaviour guru's official website
