Carl Pattison
A space to share experience, knowledge and potential discussion points for the teaching of literacy.
Empowering children with SEND to read well
This post discusses common challenges educators face when teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to read, particularly when phonics instruction seems ineffective. It emphasises the importance of reflecting on teaching practices and avoiding the urge to label children or seek alternative methods without fully understanding the root of the problem.
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The 90% fluency myth and decodable reading books
In my role of a literacy advisor, I still across this idea that a child must only be given a decodable reading book if they can read it with '90% fluency.' In this article I unpick the myth and explain why it is wrong and where it possibly originates from.
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Are Dr Fry's word lists still useful or could there be a better way to support automaticity?
Dr Fry created lists of words that are commonly found in the material we read. By practising reading these words, children would get to a point where they can read them at a glance. Thus, reducing the load on working memory when reading.
Take a look at this article to learn more about how I would use the words and access 450 phrases you could use with your children for free!
Read the post (a PDF) by clicking this link
Supporting Reading at Home
This useful guide is great to share with parents. It offers lots of tips on how to support reading at home and how to show chidlrne that reading is a purposeful activity. Feel free to download the PDF and share it on your websites.
Read the post (a PDF) by clicking this link
The Ofsted Early Reading Deepdive
I've supported lots of schools to prepare for an Ofsted deepdive into Early Reading. With this experience, I've created a series of questions to help you prepare for an inspection.
Read the post (a PDF) by clicking this link
