TR&W Issue 20

A complete book-based platform for primary schools AT A GLANCE L I TERACY A complete book-based approach to teaching the English curriculum High quality and authentic children’s literature resources A practical approach to teaching a text-based curriculum, full of strategies and ideas for immediate classroom use Teach Primary and Bett winners Literacy Tree The complete thematic book-based approach to improving literacy standards A platform full of responsibility, rigour and relevance Celebrates reading and writing giving both a high profile Superb planning notes and gilt-edged guidance Puts quality children’s literature at the very heart of literacy learning Fosters a whole school love of oracy, reading and writing Enables children to become competent, confident and critical readers, writers and viewers of texts Encourages children to become life-long readers and writers App included to save teachers time VERD I CT You are looking to teach the whole English curriculum creatively through quality children’s literature and raise engagement and attainment in language, vocabulary, reading and writing. UPGRADE I F . . . REVIEWED BY: JOHN DABELL A complete book-based approach to teaching English makes perfect sense as developing a love of reading is one of the most effective ways a school can raise attainment. If you are looking to oxygenate children’s learning through great literature then Literacy Tree have the air supply you need to improve attainment, health and wellbeing, and creativity across the curriculum. Their ‘Teach Through a Text’ approach is about creating a thriving reading and writing culture by putting great novels, poetry collections, and high-quality non-fiction books at the very heart of English teaching, transforming children’s attitudes to literacy and having a positive impact on learning. They provide everything you need, with techniques and activities to teach grammar, punctuation, spelling, comprehension and writing. They also offer plenty of support and guidance on planning lessons and units for meaningful layered learning including mixed aged planning. Resources can be used as a complete scheme of work or adopted and adapted to suit accordingly. Access superb classroom toolkits, book lists, literature reviews, curriculum tips and home learning guidance. Literacy Tree’s approach is incredibly well-planned and thought through, with detailed guidance written by experts. They provide book-based planning sequences called Writing Roots that engage children to discover and take on the mantel of the expert helping them to write with clear audience and purpose. Everything sits under a literary theme and children journey through whole books and so upgrade their comprehension skills progressively as part of their critical readers training. What I like the most is the way Literacy Tree have embedded a real sense of community through their site with an authentic purpose of communicating information and shared experiences in relation to texts, activities and displays with others. The thinking behind the resources places the learner centre stage and builds their self-efficacy by ensuring success in reading and writing. Supporting all this, Literacy Tree have carefully selected an impressive range and breadth of authors, illustrators and genres to help teachers ensure progression within and across year groups. Here you will find a richness, diversity, flexibility and choice combined with an unremitting focus upon, and immersion in, reading for pleasure. Their free CurriculumMaps are impressive and showcase all the books on offer, books that are right, relevant and full of representation. In addition to their sumptuous suite of books, Literacy Tree have also designed and built a completely free and easy-to-access downloadable app for annotating, capturing and assessing work. Training and support are readily available with regular online training sessions and planning surgeries for subject leaders, senior leaders and classroom teachers implementing resources. This is teaching English by the book. It lays the foundations for you to build and embed a reading and writing culture and community in the fabric of your school. RE V I EW AWARDS 2024 64 | www.teachwire.net See literacytree.com for pricing information.