Promoting Reading to Learn through the English Language Education KLA Curriculum 25 October 2007 English Language Education Section Curriculum Development Institute Education Bureau Foundation of Curriculum Leadership and Management Series (3) Role of the Primary School Curriculum Leader in Promoting Reading Culture across the Curriculum

Objectives of Reading to Learn Improve students’ language proficiency Develop students’ thinking skills Achieve a quality life through reading for diverse interests, pleasure and needs Cultivate an open mind towards different opinions, ideas, values and cultures Enrich students’ knowledge and broaden their understanding of life Basic Education Curriculum Guide: Building on Strengths (Primary 1 – Secondary 3) (CDC, 2002)

Promoting Reading to Learn through the English Language Education KLA  Implementing the Reading Workshops to develop students’ reading skills  Adopting a cross-curricular approach to curriculum planning  Creating a conducive environment in the school to facilitate learning to read and reading to learn

School-based English Language Curriculum GE Programme About 60% of the lesson time Reading Workshops About 40% of the lesson time Closely linked to the learning and teaching in the GE Programme

Reading Workshops Laying a good foundation for lifelong learning Helping learners develop and practise reading skills through reading ‘real books’reading skills Reading as a springboard for the development of higher order thinking skills, creativity and other language skills Developing in learners positive attitudes towards learning English Providing coherent and connected learning experiences for the children Providing opportunities for learners to take an active role in learning Using real books of a variety of text typesa variety of text types Adopting effective teaching strategieseffective teaching strategies

Variety of Text Types Information texts Narrative texts Exchanges Procedural texts Explanatory texts Persuasive texts English Language Curriculum Guide (Primary 1-6), p.17

Reading Workshops Storytelling Reading Aloud Shared Reading Supported Reading Independent Reading Teaching Strategies for Reading English Language Curriculum Guide (Primary 1-6), p. A29

Five Teaching Strategies for Reading Storytelling SharedReading Aloud SupportedReading IndependentReading KS1 KS2

Developing Students’ Reading Skills Do you expose your students to a variety of text types? What do you usually do to help your students understand the meaning of difficult words - ask them to look up the dictionary, explain the meaning to them or guide them to use the clues in the text? Apart from locating specific information, what other reading skills should we help students to develop? Expose students to a variety of text types Guide students to use the pictorial clues and contextual clues to work out the meaning of difficult words Guide students to identify the main ideas, understand the connection between ideas by identifying the cohesive devices, etc. Ask open-ended questions to help students develop critical thinking skills and creativity

Planning the Reading Workshops Theme: Wonderful Seasons and Weather GE Programme One unit from the coursebook  The Seasons Reading Workshops Three books:  Watching the Weather  Hot Sunny Days  Bird Hotel One poem  Daisy Chain English Language Curriculum Guide (Primary 1-6), pp. E12-16

Planning the Reading Workshops Theme: Wonderful Seasons and Weather Focus questions: What is the weather like in different seasons? What is fun to do in different seasons? What is safe / dangerous to do? Is it fun to be by ourselves? Why? How can we enjoy the change of the seasons?

Wonderful Seasons and Weather Information Text Information Text “Watching the Weather” Supported & Independent Reading “Hot Sunny Days” Supported Reading “Daisy Chain” Shared Reading “Bird Hotel” Supported Reading “Hot Sunny Days” Supported Reading Narrative Text Narrative Text

Cross-curricular Linkage in Curriculum Planning Decide on the themes or topics to establish meaningful cross-curricular links Draw up an overall plan of Learning Targets and Objectives, relevant learning activities and schedule of work Develop and evaluate the learning, teaching and assessment materials and activities Organising modules of learning to establish meaningful links among concepts and ideas acquired in different KLAs and to help students construct and apply knowledge in the process English Language Curriculum Guide (Primary 1-6), p.107

Cross-curricular Learning

Creating a Conducive Environment to Facilitate Learning to Read and Reading to Learn Set up a well-equipped library Provide easy access to reading materials in different parts of the school, e.g. in classrooms, special rooms, reading corners and student activity rooms Encourage students to read a wide range of materials with different subject content and text types Display English reading materials (e.g. posters, signs, notices) all around the school Arrange book exhibitions

Creating a Conducive Environment to Facilitate Learning to Read and Reading to Learn Help students develop the habit of reading by encouraging them to read outside class time, e.g. during morning assembly, recess and after school Set up Reading Award Schemes Organise Buddy Reading Programmes Nurture school reading culture through the role- modelling of teachers and the school head Enlist parents’ support in reading programmes, e.g. Story Mums/Dads, Parent-child Reading Scheme

Resources and Support English Extensive Reading Grant and the suggested booklistssuggested booklists Resource packages produced by EDBResource packages Professional development programmes Community resources

Thank you

Link to ELE website on suggested booklists

Resource Packages Let’s Experience and Appreciate Poetry (LEAP) KS1 & KS2 Let’s Experience and Appreciate Drama (LEAD) Songs, Rhymes and Tales for KS1 & KS2 Phonics Multimedia Resource Pack Strategies and Activities to Maximize Pleasurable Learning Experiences (SAMPLE) Phonics in Action

Literacy Instruction For Teachers The Splendour of Writing Poems: Inspiring Students’ Imaginations Resource Packages Promoting Critical Thinking, Creativity and Cultural Awareness through Language Arts in Primary Schools Enhancing English Language Curriculum Planning, Learning and Teaching through Cross-curricular Modules at Primary Level ETV Programmes Presentation Skills Quality Feedback Storytelling Web resources

Professional Development Courses Learning and Teaching in Primary English Education Series:  Storytelling and Reading Aloud: a Dramatic Approach (Oct 07)  Shared Reading (Nov 07)  Literacy Instruction for Teachers (Jan 08)  From Independent Reading to Extensive Reading (Jan 08)  Choosing Readers for Hong Kong Primary Schools (Mar 08)  Setting up a School-based Reading Programme (Apr 08)

Developing Students’ Reading Skills Expose students to a variety of text types Guide students to use the pictorial clues and contextual clues to work out the meaning of difficult words Guide students to understand the main ideas, predict the likely development of a topic by making use of the context and knowledge of the world, etc. Ask open-ended questions to help students develop critical thinking skills and creativity