Teacher of Reading&Transition Coordinator. Former Primary English Lead. NPQLL. NPQLBC. Secondary Literacy Specialist with JCEH. πβ¨π³οΈβππ
π York / Leeds
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Reading fluency can be described as the bridge between decoding and comprehension (EEF, 2022). Itβs a vital part of students reading AND understanding well.
But what could that look like in the classroom? Hereβs what we do at TAL for fluency interventions:
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Some simple changes you can make in your lessons to aid struggling readers, from a person whose job is literally Teacher of Reading.
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Just a reminder: Imane Khelif probably wonβt see your tweets. But the young girl whoβs been bullied for βbeing a tomboyβ might. Or the girl who is called a βfreakβ because sheβs faster and stronger than her classmates might. Think before you tweet, especially as an educator.
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For those asking: this is the overview.
Specific modelling by an expert reader, regular opportunities for fluency practise and oral rehearsal and specific, powerful feedback embedded throughout.
A repeating structure over the weeks, with just the text changing.
Picked up these beautiful booklets from the printer today. A bespoke programme for some of our students across KS3 to specifically target fluency, automaticity, accuracy and vocabulary development.
VERY excited to start teaching from these!! #ReadersAreLeaders β¨π
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As thousands of year 7s begin their journeys tomorrow, hereβs some thoughts from someone who is a former year 6 teacher, current secondary school teacher and transition coordinator π§΅πͺ‘
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First day back today (for some training!!) and reflecting on just how far the little, shy boy on the left has come!!
6th year of teaching, letβs go!!
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At @TrinityAcademyL, we didnβt just celebrate World Book Day. We had a glorious World Book Week. The buzz was palpable, the conversations beautiful and books were at the forefront.
Hereβs what we did.
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2024/25: Ask meaningful questions. Read that research. Buy the nice coat. Meet up with friends. Perfect routines. Go to the sea. Breathe. Wear something happy. Mark live in the lesson. Be open to learn. Share expertise. Seek advice. Prioritise. Be brave. Enjoy.
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Spending the weekend celebrating in my favourite place after securing my dream role as KS2-3 Transition Coordinator in my current school β¨π₯
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Picked up these beautiful booklets from the printer today. A bespoke programme for some of our students across KS3 to specifically target fluency, automaticity, accuracy and vocabulary development.
VERY excited to start teaching from these!! #ReadersAreLeaders β¨π
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Highlight of the week:
On Thursday, a phonics group I work with successfully decoded and read the first chapter of Holes. On Friday, one of those students came to find me to proudly show me their copy of Holes and ask if I could listen to them read the next part.
Heartwarming π₯Ή
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Sometimes the day job gets that little bit more exciting.
Today I got to present to a room of delegates about what we do as a school for struggling readers, including phonics and reading fluency interventions.
What a joy and privilege πβ¨
A brilliant research informed approach to reading intervention @TrinityAcademyL @_MrLevick @EducEndowFoundn
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Iβm excited for her tenure as Ed Sec. A genuinely decent human being, who understands struggle and actually listens.
Bridget Phillipson MP @bphillipsonMP has been appointed Secretary of State for Education @educationgovuk.
ALT Bridget Phillipson MP appointed Secretary of State for Education.
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Please can we stop teaching that verbs are just actions or βdoingβ words. Verbs are SO much more!!!!
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Officially finished my first academic year up in secondary. Itβs been the best sort of challenge. Spending the last few days working with the Y6s coming up to us has been magical. Forever grateful to work with colleagues whoβve embraced my knowledge of phonics and primary school.
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The least deserving (and WORST) winners of #RaceAcrossTheWorld ever. I am FUMING.
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Get you a school that funds a coffee van for the day. The choc orange iced latte was dreaaaaamy βοΈ #TALBucks
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Hosted a βbeat the bluesβ dinner party last night and Iβm making hosting my entire personality going forward β¨
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God I miss reading Holes to a Y6 class π truly, no better reactions out there.
However, a Y7 student I taught phonics too brought me their copy of Holes and told me βI can read the best story Iβve ever heardβ before reading me the first chapter flawlessly. This is why we do it.
I have read it many, many, many times to classes but I have never had a class so obsessed with Holes. Today I read the bit where Zero leathers Mr Pendanski in the head with a shovel and then legs it, and I genuinely thought a kid might lash his book at me for stopping.
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First results are in for the reading fluency interventions:
- EVERY student improved their reading accuracy
- An average of SIXTEEN extra words per minute being read
- EVERY student told me they felt more confident
Reading fluency can be described as the bridge between decoding and comprehension (EEF, 2022). Itβs a vital part of students reading AND understanding well.
But what could that look like in the classroom? Hereβs what we do at TAL for fluency interventions:
A thread π§΅
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my fave thing about living in York is that it took me 3 minutes to walk from my house to this lil riverside spot, lay down my blanket and enjoy watching the world go by β¨
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Something quite emotional about being the inspiration behind a character in a book. Even more so when your literal clothing is featured (peep THE red flares!!)
Congrats on the release @MrEagletonIan, loving this so far β€οΈβ¨
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With SATs results dropping tomorrow, itβs important to remember:
- they assess ALL of KS2, not just Y6
- they only assess part of the curriculum
- the students (and teachers) will have all done their best
- SATs donβt assess the other amazing things students will have achieved
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The Amal Project have posted this about Middlesbrough.
If it is safe, please do go along if you can.
We are better than this.
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This is what happens when βcelebritiesβ are churning out low quality childrenβs books and authors whose books are of a better quality are actively more difficult to buy in shops.
Report finds βshocking and dispiritingβ fall in children reading for pleasure theguardian.com/books/2024/nβ¦
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2. βCan I go onto the next page please?β is something theyβve NEVER said at primary. Theyβre asking because thereβs so many new things to them, that theyβre worried this is new too. Be gentle and supportive when this comes up and address it to the whole class
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Today I ran our bilingual book buddies session.
Once a week, Y7&9 students who share a language get the chance to share a book with each other.
Itβs genuinely a highlight of my week.
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2025/26:
Ask lots of questions. Engage with research. Buy that coat. Make plans on an evening. See friends. Focus on routines and perfect them. Go to the sea. Breathe. Wear something that makes you happy. Live mark in the lesson. Be open to learn. Share expertise. Enjoy the ride.
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Me: *visits any European city with sunny weather and an outdoor eating/drinking culture*
Me: I could live here
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Just booked a last min weekend to Alnwick. Any recommendations for Alnwick / Northumberland? Food, drinks, sites, history, beaches etc.
Weβll be taking a dog AND defos going to Lindisfarne for part of the weekend β¨
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Something weβve done recently for holidays is to stay in country pubs. The warm welcome and hospitality you receive is unmatched. The sheer joy of just heading upstairs to bed after a hearty meal is incredible. Would recommend booking a countryside pub for your next jaunt away!!
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My job is very special. Iβm a teacher of reading, specifically teaching students HOW to improve their reading.
Moments like this show how important it is π₯Ή
HUGE shoutout to my amazing colleagues for their magic in achieving this too π
@_MrLevick is literally changing lives @TrinityAcademyL with his expertise and support to upskill staff in our mission to ensure literacy is never a barrier to achievement - or the arts!
#BeaChampion
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The underrepresentation of primary school, particularly EYFS, is concerning.
The primary school curriculum, in its current state, is unsustainable and overfilled.
Breaking: The 12-member panel appointed to review the curriculum and assessment for the new Labour government has been named
Here's the full list...
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-1β¦
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If thereβs anything Iβve learnt from guiding new year 7s this week, itβs that they want to get it right. Yes they need boundaries, reminders and, where needed, warnings. But they want to succeed. Warm-strict. Remind them and allow them to correct it, but donβt lower expectations.
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1. New year 7s want to get it right. Theyβre a whole mix of emotions, but ultimately they just want to do the right thing. Theyβll need reminders, praise and the line holding, but deep down they are trying
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Get you a workplace that funds free sweet treats and iced caramel oat lattes for you β¨π
@TrinityAcademyL #TALBucks
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Supervised our year 10βs βprivate prepβ after school session, and Iβm obsessed with these lamps!!
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My year 8 team finished off their final writing of the year, an article that would persuade parents/carers to send their child to our school.
One of my students summed up perfectly why this school is just so great π
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Gorg lil social with the best team in the world, decorating glasses, mugs and candles πβ¨
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Fun lil day presenting all about supporting struggling readers and the importance of phonics and fluency β¨π
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9. Warmth. Show them you care and that you want to succeed. Greet them with a smile and a βgood morningβ. Help them feel at ease with praise and supportive reminders
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4. Primary and secondary are both caring, nurturing environments but in different ways. Spell out from the onset that you care for these students and tell them how youβre keeping them safe
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Truly become a different person when the footie is going Englandβs way.
Adam is out, LADam is in!!!
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Seeing the scenes from my hometown of Middlesbrough are terrifying. This is downright vandalism, destruction and violence. This isnβt the Middlesbrough I grew up in and doesnβt represent the people I grew up with. Going off socials for the day to check in with friends and family.
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Launched our phonics deliberate practice group, improving our delivery of @LexonikSTβs leap.
In the sessions, we practise delivering an activity and receive powerful feedback.
Weβve developed βwalkthrusβ as a quick guide for staff, summarising our approach in a succinct way. β¨
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visiting a foreign supermarket on holiday is an unrivalled experience because yes I want all of this bizarre crisp flavours and all of a sudden I want to drink all of the canned iced tea despite never touching a drop in the uk
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Emails like this mean the world.
When I first started teaching this student, he could proudly identify 3 phonics sounds. With meticulous planning, a bespoke programme and sheer hard work on his part, heβs making huge progress.
One very proud teacher today π₯Ή
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A Sunday well spent, brings a week of content β¨
Northumberland, you have my whole heart π
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An important part of my presentation today: how we support staff in the delivery of phonics at secondary school.
Youβre only as strong as the team around you, and oh my what a team I am a part of. πβ¨
So interesting to hear how @_MrLevick leads staff at @TrinityAcademyL support reading by teaching phonics through the secondary phase
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What a great email to receive to start the half term!!
HUGE thanks to @TrinityAcademyL for giving me the opportunity to pursue this CPD, and eternally grateful to the @CharteredColl for providing such high quality CPD β¨
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Had the privilege to deliver Year 8βs Inspire assembly today, all about the legend herself, BeyoncΓ© ππ
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Exciting day in front of the cameras today! Great day with the lovely folk at @LexonikST, discussing the transformative power of phonics at @TrinityAcademyL.
So proud of the students who articulated themselves with passion and gratitude.
Very excited to see the results! ππ₯β¨
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5. The jump to secondary can be an anxious time for parents/carers too. Open, honest communication channels need to be established to ease this transition
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I am BUZZING that the trifecta of Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge is back!!
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Get you a workplace that funds free sweet treats and caramel iced oat lattes #TALbucks πβ¨π
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7. Achieving EXS in writing in Year 6 is actually a lot more complex than you may expect. Look at writing samples and checklists for this. Use this as a springboard when modelling grammar and sentence structures. Have high expectations around writing
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3. Theyβre all coming from different environments where, although also high, theyβve had different experiences of expectations. Set your expectations out early and guide them to achieve success
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Finishing off the academic year with an incredible summer school to welcome our new Year 7s was a huge highlight. Miraculous young people benefitting from world class lessons and ensuring a strong transition. So excited to be part of Team Year 7 πβ¨
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Today was special π
Having been both primary and secondary, transition is something incredibly important.
Guiding a group of Year 5s through some brilliant secondary lessons was a real privilege.
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My highlight of the day was witnessing this lecture.
Year 8s & 9s voluntarily attending a lecture on Shakespeare in their lunchtime.
All engaged, actively taking notes.
A formidable teacher expertly guiding these students through.
Iβm digging out my old Shakespeare anthology.
Our Shakespeare lecture series continuesβ¦this time for Year 8 and 9.
A formidable expert at the helm!
ππ #lunchtimelectures
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Canβt wait to present tomorrow to a room of fellow teachers all about our literacy strategy and how we support struggling readers #ReadersAreLeaders πβ¨
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10. Keep expectations high from day one - set out your stall, explain the rationale behind why things are they way they are, and hold them to it in a supportive manner
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6. If youβre teaching Year 7 - look over the primary school curriculum, especially when something was last taught or revisited. They will have been taught it, but it maybe something they covered in Year 3 and not beyond. Activate prior knowledge and fill any gaps
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My favourite book that Iβve EVER taught. Iβve never seen classes as engaged. Amongst other things, Iβve used it to teach symbolism and language analysis. And the CLIFFHANGERS.
If you donβt use this in Year 4 or 5, I encourage you to do so!!
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How time flies - 10 years since I found out Iβd bagged the a level results to head off to uni (for the first time)
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Absolutely distraught to learn that some of the year 7s I work with had never heard of the continents song???
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A gorgeous (albeit slightly rainy!) weekend in the Lake District.
Heading back home, ready to see Girls Aloud this evening.
What a weekend.
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8. Theyβll be used to the routines of one, maybe two teachers from their Y6 experience. Ensure routines are both shared and streamlined. Practise these, over and over to embed them. All staff need to have these same expectations and routines to help students succeed
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Iβve just seen 2004 X Factor runners up G4 dress up in a giant tinsel star and sing an operatic rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in York Minster.
I feel my life has reached new highs.
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Lovely little surprise from work today, seeing my school-based tips for struggling readers be shared as one of the featured SPARKE articles of the term β¨
@trinity_mat
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