Incorporating Children's
Literature Strategically into English Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom
L. Ha & A. Cheung
20 April,2013
Literacy development begins very early in a child’s life and forms a foundation for the acquisition of conventional literacy.
“ Research consistently demonstrates that the more children know about language and literacy before they begin formal schooling, the better equipped they are to succeed in reading.”
note Burns, Griffin, and Snow (1999,p.8)
Early Literacy
Parents, caregivers, and teachers need to ensure that young children are exposed to literacy-rich environments and receive
developmentally appropriate literacy instruction.
Such environments are experiences that have a profound effect on children’s literacy
development by providing opportunities and encouragement for children to become
successful readers.
(Excerpted from the North Central Regional Laboratory, http:
www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading)
Early Literacy
Effective Reading Instruction
Goals of Reading Instruction
Knowledge and Skills for Reading Instruction
Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting
Teaching Practices
Early Literacy
Early Literacy
Knowledge and Skills for Reading
Prior Knowledge and Experience
Concepts About Print
Phonemic Awareness
Letter‐Sound Relationships
Vocabulary for Reading
Early Literacy
Knowledge and Skills for Reading
Semantics, Syntax, and Pragmatics
Metacognition and Comprehension Strategies
Higher‐Order Thinking Skills
Oral Language
Early Literacy Instruction
Phonics and Word Study
Read‐Aloud
Shared Reading
Guided Reading
Comprehension
Independent Reading
Teaching Practices
Effective and Strategical Reading
Practices support reading achievement of young children.
They create the conditions for teachers to provide focused, explicit instruction that addresses the specific needs of
individual children.
Teaching Practices
These practices are woven in our daily teaching:
large group, small group, and individual instruction, discussion, and collaboration
a variety of assessment and evaluation
techniques to inform program planning and instruction
the integration of phonics and word study in reading, writing, and oral language
instruction
Teaching Practices
an uninterrupted literacy block each day
parental and community involvement
high‐quality literature and leveled texts
a variety of genres, narratives,
informational texts, and electronic media
Teaching Practices
authentic and motivating literacy experiences and learning activities
a balance of direct instruction, guided instruction, independent learning, and practice
interventions for children who are at risk of not learning to read
a supportive classroom culture and
environment that promotes higher‐order thinking skills
guidance, coaching, and feedback for children
effective classroom organization and management
Teaching Practices
The Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario, 2003
Allocation of English lessons
General English (Ph/Dict/
Pen/Comp)
Literature
Key Stage 1 5 3
Key Stage 2 5 3
Formal Curriculum - Literature
P.1-3
P.4-6
Inside the classroom – Phonics & Dictation For all levels
Word Perfect P.1-4
MPS Phonics
P.5-6
Phonics
Fun
Features of KS1 Readers Chosen
Lexical items recycled in the series to help students’ consolidation
Good illustrations
Simple English
Colourful pictures
Provides a cultural dimension in English learning (stories from Europe, especially England e.g. Gingerbread Boy, Three Little Pigs, Little Half Chick)
Value education embedded
Vocabulary recycled in the series to help students’ consolidation
Value education embedded in language learning and true stories that inspire
(Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Anna Palova, Eileen Joyce, Muhammad Ali)
Provides a cultural dimension in English
learning (stories from all over the world: Rome, Australia, Germany , France, , …)
Features of literature/Beautiful sentences
Features of KS2 Readers Chosen
Blue Bk 6 p.56 The Boy who set the birds free
“The Sun danced in and out among the grape vines of Italy,
making patterns of light and shade upon the path where Leonardo walked long ago. Two butterflies chased each other above the
clusters of green grapes , and small, brown lizard darted swiftly out from under a stone.”
Blue Bk 6 p.123 Helen in the Dark
“ Helen Keller was surely one of the most wonderful women in the world. Though she had been dumb, she learnt to speak, and
though she was blind and deaf, she found the way to knowledge and understanding. “ Every thing has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”
KS2 Readers
Progression in different aspects:
Length
Vocabulary
Topics
Text types
KS1 KS2
Development of reading Skills
Word Perfect-Reading Skill
Dictation & Phonics
Dictation for all levels
Application - phonics skills & spelling rules
Bonus Dictation
(a) building the habit of self-learning
(b) vocabulary building
Reading
Foci:
Strengthen Word Power
Exposure to different Text Types
Introduce the structures of different genre
Learn about different culture
Design of follow-up activities:
From reading to writing (KS1)
Roll a dice. Tick
on each line of A,
B, C, D and E.
Complete the sentences with the words from the pictures you ticked
(A) One day, Little Red Riding Hood goes to ___________________‘s.
(B) She’s got ___________________ in her basket. YUMMY!
(C) ___________________ stops her. ARRGGGHHHH!
(D) What a big ___________________ it’s got!
(E) Little Red Riding Hood shouts “HELP!” and __________________
saves her!
Now write the story for your friends!
Story Structure
Respond and interact with the texts
Creating Poems (Language arts)
The Tree House (Creativity)
Braille
Diary
Learning in CONTEXTS !
Admirable People
Great Historical Events
Different Cultures
English learning
Our ultimate goal…
Learning in other
subject areas Life
experiences
Values development / Character building
English Enhancement Activities
Listening
Booklovers sharing 1st
Booklovers sharing 2nd
Booklovers sharing 3rd
Speaking
Storytelling Session Hong Kong Speech
Festival (English) RTHK Broadcasting
Theatre Olympics
HKMA Inter-Primary Schools English Speech Competition
Reading
Charles Dicken’s Week Extensive Reading &
Storytelling English Alliance
Story Mosaic English Alliance Have Fun with English
Stories
English Alliance Around the World Through Puppet Theatre
English Alliance Find the Lost Teddy Bear
in Noah’s Ark Recommended Booklist
Upload Book Fair
Writing
Young Writers Awards Writing Competition
Hong Kong Budding Poets Royal Commonwealth Essay
Writing Competition Australian Link Writing
RTHK Broadcasting &
Script Writing
Outside the
Classroom
Outside the Classroom –
Recess Arrangements
English Activities in
Language and Music Activity Room(2/F)
Stories and non-fiction books
Board games
Online games
Movie & Karaoke time
Student Award Scheme
Role of our
NET Teacher
Learning with FUN! – miming
Storytelling Session
(Every Fri, 1st Recess)
Outside the Classroom: Encouraging reading
library and reading stations
magazine subscriptions
online reading platform
role of the librarian
Board Display: Charles Dickens’ Week
Book Fair
Book Display
Reading Station
Battle of the Books 2012
Battle of the Books 2012
World Book Day
World Book Day
Bloom Time
Arranged for 2012 - 2013
Speech Training
Literacy Hours
Book lovers Sharing
Booklovers’ Sharing
Beyond School Campus:
Learning Activity Days
Arranged for 2011 - 2012
Visit to Ocean Park
Talk on Pet care
Drama performances
P.1-3 Peter and the Wolf
P.4-6 Splat!
RTHK Broadcasting :
The Sunday Smile
The Sunday Smile
English Alliance: Story Mosaic
Role play the story
What do we use in doing role play?
- Critical thinking
- Communication skills
- Collaboration skills
- Creativity
- Five senses
- Facial expression
- Gesture
- Body language
- Onomatopoeia
Encourage writing (newsletter quarterly)
Display books in eye-catching areas
Encourage regular reading
Books/ magazine/ newspaper/ regular sharing/
Instill values
“Books here, Books there, Books everywhere.”
“ Think here, Think there, Think everywhere.”
“Learn here, Learn there, Learn everywhere.”
“Read here, Read there, Read everywhere.”
Thank You!
Marymount Primary School
