Pre course reading for Initial Teacher Education Undergraduates
Learning to read is a vital foundation to becoming a
literate, educated person. Reading offers opportunities
for enjoyment, for increasing our knowledge of the
world and for enhancing our imagination and creativity.
It also gives people access to improved life chances –
success or failure in becoming a reader is a strong
indicator of future progress in school and beyond’
Lewis and Ellis, 2006:1
In your first year of study we will be focussing on the language of learning and the
teaching of reading and as an essential part of this we will be continuing to develop
your knowledge of children’s literature. In the first few weeks we will be discussing
the role of children’s literature in the teaching of reading and in preparation for this
please ensure you have read the following children’s books:
ITE (Early Years) students, please read:
Julia Donaldson – Stickman
Helen Cooper – Pumpkin Soup
Dick King-Smith – George Speaks
ITE (Primary) students, please read:
Anthony Browne – Into the Forest
Robert Swindells – Ice Palace
Once – Morris Gleitzman
Please also select three further books suitable for the age range you hope to teach.
Please read and bring these with you at the start of the course and be prepared
to talk about why you think these books are good children’s literature to read
aloud to children and/or for children to read themselves (consider the
illustrations, the use of language, plot, setting etc). Consider also why these books
develop children’s pleasure in reading.
In the first few weeks we will be considering your personal reading journey and you
might like to think about this before you begin the course. What are your first
memories of reading or being read to; your memories of learning to read; significant
children’s books that you remember from your childhood; significant people in your
reading journey; significant positive or negative experiences that influenced your
reading habits, preferences and attitudes; your secondary school experiences of
reading; how you have developed as a reader as an adult and how new technologies
may have changed your reading habits.
As well as reading for pleasure and purpose, we will be focusing on teaching early
reading including the teaching of phonics.
Both Early Years and Primary students are advised to purchase the following
text:
Jolliffe, W., and Waugh, J., with Carss, A. (2012) Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics in
Primary Schools. London: Sage
Subject knowledge
We will be developing your English subject knowledge over the course of your
training. A good place to start developing your knowledge over the summer is the new
National Curriculum as this outlines the key subject knowledge you will need to know for
teaching. The Appendix is particularly useful in terms of the terminology you will need to be
familiar with. It is helpful to learn the terms and to have a go at applying the terminology when
analysing a text or when writing. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationalcurriculum-in-england-english-programmes-of-study
There are a number of useful books that can support you in developing your subject
knowledge and it is recommended that you purchase one to support you as you develop
your subject knowledge over the three years of the course.
Waugh, D; Warner, C., and Waugh, R. (2013) Teaching Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
in Primary Schools Learning Matters
Melia, S. (2012) The Primary Teacher’s Guide to Grammar and Punctuation. Scholastic
Wilson, A and Scanlon, J. (2011) Language Knowledge for Primary Teachers (4th Edition)
Oxon: David Fulton
Medwell, J., Moore, G., Wray, D. and Griffiths, V. (2011), Primary English Knowledge and
Understanding(5th Edition). Exeter: Learning Matters.
It is also useful to look at the Key Stage 2 English, grammar, punctuation and spelling
assessments so that you are aware of current expectations – remembering that these
expectations will be raised in line with the new curriculum from 2015 when the new tests are
in place (including a spelling, punctuation and grammar test for children in KS1).
http://www.education.gov.uk/sta/keystage2/b00208296/ks2-2014/grammar-punctuationspelling-test
The English team are looking forward to meeting and working with you all in
September. Enjoy the summer and read, read, read!
Jane Carter (English Subject Leader)