Literacy AT KTS
What is English?
Learning English encompasses learning the language, learning about the language and learning through the language. The English language is the medium for most learning in the New Zealand Curriculum, helping us to make sense of our world and express our understanding.
English is the study, use, and enjoyment of the English language and its literature, communicated orally, visually, and in writing, for a range of purposes and audiences and in a variety of text forms. The aim is for our students to become increasingly skilled and sophisticated speakers and listeners, writers and readers, presenters and viewers.
Why study English?
The study of New Zealand and world literature helps us to understand our identity, heritage and connect with the world around us. It enables us to conceptualise our thinking and present ourselves to the world in an articulate and intelligent manner.
By understanding how language works, students are equipped to make appropriate language choices and apply them in a range of contexts. Students learn to deconstruct and critically interrogate texts in order to understand the power of language to enrich and shape their own and others’ lives.
As teachers at KTS, we aim to foster a love of language and literature, which brings our students pleasure and helps them to communicate and express themselves.
http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/National-Standards/Supporting-parents-and-whanau/Resources resource for parents / National Standards / all year groups
Research suggests that parent involvement is the number one predictor of early literacy success and future academic achievement. This section of our website aims to help you access ideas that you can use at home as you support your child in their literacy learning.
Here are some strategies for beginning and seasoned readers' literacy success:
http://reading.ecb.org Into the Book – this is an excellent website that focuses on the different aspects of reading comprehension. There are stories to read and activities to complete that tap into the concept “reading to understand”.
https://www.englishclub.com/esl-games/ ESL Games – this website is full of games that promote literacy learning for people whose first language is not English.
Struggling to find books to engage your sons in reading? Here is a list of fantastic titles that might provide some inspiration:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/ This site has fun ideas for getting started on writing a creative story at home.
This is a great website with lots of interactive games to practise reading and writing skills.