Reading across the curriculum

If we are intent on closing the gap in our schools, particularly for those pupils who do not reach the expected standard in reading by the end of Yr 6, then it’s worth underpinning topics and units in other subjects with high quality texts.

Underperformance in the reading SATs paper is generally due to a lack of vocabulary. So how do we develop pupils’ vocabulary? It’s through the wider curriculum underpinned by vocabulary rich texts.

A high-quality text used to underpin the unit will help with the following:

• It will provide background knowledge which we know is helpful when learning new material

• A well-chosen text will contain the concepts and big ideas underpinning the unit.

The KS3 Ambitious Years planning units are based on extracts from high quality texts from experts who know what they’re talking about.

Academics who are experts in their fields are often able to take the big ideas of the subjects and make them accessible to everyone.

How do they pull this off? Well, they know how to tell a good story!

The first unit for Yr 7 history on the Norman Conquest, based on extracts from Marc Morris’ book, is now available with teacher resources and pupil booklets ready to download from Myatt & Co.

I’ve just published the Yr 7 unit for religious education. It’s called ‘Is Anybody There?’ and it’s based on chapters from Richard Holloway’s ‘Little History of Religion.’

The teacher resources and pupil booklets are available on Myatt & Co, access with an annual or group subscription.