The Really Useful Literacy Book

Highly qualified literacy specialists show you how to plan units of work with flexibility and creativity, whilst retaining the objectives of the National Literacy Strategy. A lively, stimulating companion for foundation and Key Stage 1 & 2 teachers.

Now in its third edition, The Really Useful Literacy Book is the definitive guide to the high quality teaching of literacy in your primary classroom. Written specifically for primary school teachers and student trainee teachers, this book offers inventive ideas for the classroom together with an accessible and informative summary of the theories that underpin them. It explores creative approaches to literacy teaching as well as offering a range of units on all areas – speaking, listening, reading and writing. While this book provides creative ideas that can be taken by teachers and developed for their own classrooms, it clearly explains the theoretical rationale for these ideas. It can also be used by school literacy leaders to develop whole school approaches and high quality teaching throughout the school. This accessible and engaging text will be an essential companion for all primary teachers, at any stage in their career, looking to motivate, engage and challenge their children in their literacy lessons.

The Really Useful Physical Education Book offers support, guidance and practical ideas for effective, innovative and imaginative physical education lessons. Underpinned by easy-to-understand theory, this second edition is fully updated in line with the National Curriculum for Physical Education at Key Stages 3 and 4 and provides a wide range of high-quality lessons alongside engaging teaching examples and methodologies. With an emphasis on inclusive physical education, it highlights the ways in which schools can re-design the curriculum to ensure maximum enjoyment for all pupils. Key topics covered include: • Planning, progression and assessment • Health and safety issues • Inclusive track and field athletics • Adapting activities to support SEND • Swimming and water-based activities • Alternative activities including street-surfing and combat sports • Introducing dance into the curriculum • Enjoyable gymnastics for physical literacy • On-site adventurous activities • Values-based teaching • Teaching accredited awards • Using new and emerging technologies The Really Useful Physical Education Book offers essential advice and inspiration for both trainee and practising teachers responsible for the 11–16 age range. It is a must-read for all those who want to make their lesson inclusive and fun whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle and enthusiasm for lifelong activity.

This book has been designed to support and extend both teachers' and students' own knowledge and understanding of science using accessible language to explain ideas and concepts. It will be of particular interest to those who are non-specialists.

Parallel Learning of Reading and Writing in Early Childhood explores why it’s important to provide a balanced language learning environment for young children and offers approaches for children to practice and explore language. Writing – a different but parallel process – can open the door to reading, and an effective writing approach in the home and early childhood classrooms leads to the development of phonemic awareness, understanding of phonetic principles, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Effective early childhood teachers are those that extend the knowledge children have amassed at home and use the knowledge of how children learn naturally in the world to inform their practice. This book offers the purpose, context, and outcomes of including writing right from the start in young children’s literacy learning. Through analysis of writing samples, research, and principles of best practices, Shea outlines the essential ingredients for early language learning and provides a developmentally appropriate approach to language learning. Throughout the chapters, Shea integrates discussion of assessment, classroom environment, instructional/teacher scaffolding, and differentiating instruction across developmental levels along with the supporting theory. Special features: vignettes and descriptions of Pre-K, K, and Grade 1 classrooms that incorporate writing across the day artifacts of children’s writing that demonstrate an evolution of knowledge related to both message and word construction concept labeling words and topic specific terms defined throughout the book to support the reader’s understanding of professional terminology discussion of seminal and current research as well as best practices Companion Website with lesson ideas and abundant writing samples from a wide range of demographic, cultural, and language contexts for readers to view, analyze, and discuss. This text offers pre- and in-service early childhood education teachers the content and resources to develop a deeper understanding of language learning, to prompt an examination of current practice, and to stimulate curricular re-designs that foster meaningful, joyful, and motivated learning.

The Really Useful Primary Languages Book is an easily accessible guide, full of handy resources and activities which are perfect to dip into for enjoyable, engaging and ultimately effective language lessons. Providing principles, approaches and ideas to help bring the teaching of languages to life in your classroom, this highly practical book will be essential reading for the development of children’s language skills across Key Stage 2. With examples of practice included throughout, the book covers key topics such as: principles of good planning mixed age classes developing skills such as literacy and oracy phonics grammar storytelling, poems and songs using language games and activities activities for developing reading skills supporting children’s writing integrating learning a language with daily routines cross-curricular language learning peer and self-assessment involving parents in language work at school. The experienced author team draws upon their own personal teaching experience, coupled with knowledge of primary best practice and government guidance, to ensure that The Really Useful Primary Languages Book is a stimulating resource to help busy teachers, trainee teachers and teaching assistants to develop their own effective teaching style.