Literacy Resource Hub
Welcome to 7 Steps to Literacy Success
In today’s rapidly evolving, technology-driven world, strong reading, writing and language skills are not just beneficial; they are essential for success.
It's time to act. Our 7 Steps to Literacy Success hub unlocks the power of the Education Endowment Foundation’s literacy recommendations.
Let’s work together to make a lasting impact in our schools.
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1. Prioritise Disciplinary Literacy across the curriculum
Literacy is fundamental to academic success and future achievements, influencing all areas of secondary education. Disciplinary Literacy enhances literacy by focusing on the unique demands of each subject. Creating a language-rich culture is also critical, fostering an environment where literacy skills are valued across the curriculum.
What is Disciplinary Literacy?
Our blog The impact of disciplinary literacy: More than just building knowledge offers an introduction to Disciplinary Literacy. Disciplinary Literacy recognises the importance of improving literacy across the curriculum and emphasises the importance of subject-specific support.
Creating a language-rich culture
Join Olivia Sumpter, Director of Education at Bedrock, in this on-demand webinar that explores how to create a language-rich culture in your school. Olivia discusses the importance of language development in all aspects of learning and the need for intentional strategies to enhance vocabulary and grammar.
7 Steps to Literacy Success
Relying on incidental vocabulary acquisition is not enough. The evidence is clear: explicit vocabulary teaching at all Key Stages and across all subjects is essential.
Based on recommendations from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), this paper provides critical advice and resources to transform literacy in your school.
2. Provide targeted vocabulary instruction in every subject
Teachers in every subject should provide explicit vocabulary instruction to help students access and use academic language. Effective approaches, including those related to etymology and morphology, will help students remember new words and make connections between them. Prioritising Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary, which students are unlikely to encounter in everyday speech, is essential.
A guide to Tier 1, 2 & 3 vocabulary
Not all vocabulary is made the same or has the same purpose. In order for teachers to best tackle the broad subject of 'vocabulary', there has to be a way to break it down into smaller chunks so that each can be taught more efficiently. This is where the three tiers of vocabulary become important.
Improving disciplinary literacy and subject-specific vocabulary
Disciplinary literacy is not merely about reading strategies or vocabulary. It emphasises the importance of subject-specific support, including reading, writing, and communication strategies tailored to each discipline.
3. Develop learners' ability to read complex academic texts
Students should be reading in every subject; this ranges from academic articles in Science to archaic texts in History to complex exam questions in Maths. This means that for effective teaching and learning, every teacher must feel confident being a literacy teacher, and you should focus teacher training on teaching reading.
Developing students' ability to read complex academic texts
Effective reading comprehension of complex academic texts requires a combination of strategies, support, and active engagement. By addressing the foundational skills and providing structured support, educators can help students become proficient readers and confident communicators.
4. Breakdown complex writing tasks
Writing is challenging, it places significant demands on working memory, requiring a delicate balance of transcription, composition, and executive function skills. Students can be supported by the deconstruction of these tasks and from targeted, explicit instruction in every lesson.
Knowledge organiser template
Knowledge organisers help teachers and students categorise, clarify, and condense key information within a topic. Knowledge is visible at a glance, easy to digest, and convenient for revision. The best knowledge organisers condense all necessary information onto a single piece of A4 paper.