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TFL - Third & Fourth Class Literacy

Actions & activities so support effective practice.

About the Course

Is there a more important task for a teacher, than to teach literacy well? 

A teacher of literacy has to:

  • Foster oral language, as the foundation and wellspring for reading and writing skills
  • Teach children to read fluently and well, off which they will take flight into whole new worlds as effortlessly as young birds take to the sky
  • Let them start writing, no matter what, as the water does not flow until the faucet is turned on

These are the three pillars of literacy, the focus for every teacher of literacy, and the means through which every child can realise his or her full potential.

This course will inspire, assist and support you to:

  • Conceive and compile an effective oral language programme for your class
  • Devise and arrange the elements of a comprehensive reading skills programme 
  • Create and assemble an effective and comprehensive writing skills programme  

Across the course we present the pedagogy, principles and practices that drive effective literacy teaching; the actions and activities that make it interesting; and the assessments that help you decide how well they are doing, and how well you are doing.

If you are looking to lift your literacy practice, then this course is for you.

If you are looking for fresh new ideas, or even some twists on old ones, then this course is for you.

If you are looking to realise a promise to yourself to simply do a little better, then this course is for you.

Enrol today, and action all those aspirations!

NOTE:

The online format of this course enables you to study at a time and place that best suits your own needs. 

You can access your course anytime until March 31st 2024.

Within this highly interactive web-based course, a dynamic learning experience awaits, where you can interact with your fellow course participants through the in-course chat forums and communication tools provided by the CPD College learning system. 

Our friendly and knowledgeable tutors actively support each course, providing expert interaction, guidance and feedback for all participants on chat questions and assignments which call for critical reflection, self-analysis and a reasoned response. 

On successful completion of your course, you can download and print off your CPD record and certificate of completion.

We look forward to welcoming you to your course.

Learning outcomes

Teachers will be better able to:

  • Compile an effective oral language programme, focusing on learner outcomes, quality learner experiences and incorporating high-quality teacher practice
  • Develop the elements of a comprehensive reading skills programme, focusing on learner outcomes, quality learner experiences and high-quality teacher practice
  • Create an effective and comprehensive writing skills programme focusing on learner outcomes, quality learner experiences and high-quality teacher practice
  • Incorporate digital technology and tools into language learning experiences
  • Implement the range of assessments across the strands
  • Reflect on their individual preparation and practice across learner outcomes, learner experiences and use of digital tools
Modules

Module 1: Oral Language 

  • Engage pupils enjoyably in a variety of spoken texts and oral language skills-building activities and experiences centred on the functions of oral language
  • Purposefully develop children’s speaking and listening skills through a systematic oral language lesson approach, delivering PLC learning outcomes
  • Teach and extend children’s vocabulary by taking a systematic rich story approach
  • Develop and implement PLC learning outcomes through implementing a public speaking skills-building programme to explicitly teach a range of speaking and listening skills
  • Create a rich, effective language learning environment that incorporates socio-dramatic play and playfulness into language learning
  • Assess their pupil's oral language skills and decide the next steps in learning

Module 2: Reading

  • Implement the six-step approach to a reading lesson and follow the gradual release of responsibility model
  • Implement the guided reading approach
  • Explicitly teach a range of comprehension strategies to support children’s response to text read
  • Teach word identification strategies
  • Implement strategies to build reading fluency as a comprehension approach
  • Extend and build out the richness of children’s vocabulary through reading
  • Incorporate inclusive/differentiated approaches and effective teaching methodologies
  • Assess their student's reading skills and decide the next steps in learning

Module 3: Writing

  • Implement a writing process and writing workshop approach to developing and progressing children’s writing skills
  • Have children create a variety of texts for a variety of audiences both independently and collaboratively, across a range of genres using the 7-step approach
  • Teach and develop the typical text structure and language features associated with a variety of genres across the curriculum
  • Incorporate a variety of digital tools for children to create, revise and showcase writing
  • Foster a culture of writing in their classroom
  • Assess their pupil's writing skills and decide the next steps in learning

 Module 4: Poetry

  • Implement a systematic approach to engaging, unpacking and responding to a poem
  • Teach and extend children’s vocabulary by taking a systematic rich story and poetry lesson approach
  • Engage children in the creative process of creating their own poems
  • Implement playful and engaging approaches to language learning in classrooms
  • Foster a poetry-active culture in their classroom and school

Module 5: Additional strategies

  • Implement an internet research and inquiry cycle approach to oral language, reading and writing skills development
  • Commit to taking a content and integrated language learning approach to the wider curriculum
  • Support the development of language awareness among students
  • Implement the talk time approach to building the explicit vocabulary inherent in the strands of the wider curriculum
  • Teach a range of spelling strategies and rules that will support children in writing and writing across the curriculum
  • Consider the opportunities pupils have to reflect on their progress as learners and to develop a sense of ownership of and responsibility for their language learning.