Inspired by: The Whisperer - Curriculum Objectives
The curriculum objectives for pupils encompass a comprehensive approach to developing reading and writing skills. Pupils are encouraged to cultivate a positive attitude towards reading by engaging with a diverse array of literature, including fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction, and textbooks. They are taught to appreciate the structure of different texts and to read with various purposes in mind. Utilising dictionaries to understand new vocabulary, they increase their familiarity with a broad spectrum of books, including traditional tales and orally retelling stories. They also prepare to perform poems and play scripts, enhancing their understanding through expressive means. Critical thinking is fostered by discussing intriguing language and identifying themes, while learning to recognise different forms of poetry. Independent reading comprehension is developed through a variety of strategies such as verifying textual coherence, asking clarifying questions, drawing inferences, predicting outcomes, summarising main ideas, and assessing the impact of language, structure, and presentation on meaning.
In writing, pupils are taught to apply their knowledge of etymology and morphology to read aloud and comprehend new words, including those with unusual spelling-sound correspondences. They learn to use prefixes and suffixes, spell homophones and commonly misspelt words, and employ dictionaries for spelling checks. Pupils plan their writing by studying similar texts and brainstorming ideas. They draft and write by composing sentences, organising paragraphs, and creating narratives or non-narrative materials with appropriate structure. Editing involves evaluating writing, proposing grammatical and vocabulary improvements, and proofreading. Pupils are also taught to read their work aloud effectively and to understand grammatical concepts, such as using a range of conjunctions, verb forms, and pronouns for clarity and cohesion. They learn to use punctuation correctly, including commas and apostrophes, and to use grammatical terminology accurately. Additionally, pupils are instructed in improving their handwriting through proper letter joining and spacing for legibility.
