The prolonged disruption to education in recent years has led to a concerning literacy gap among students. Last year, 73% of pupils entering secondary education met the expected standard in reading, down from 75% in the previous year. Both primary and secondary schools continue to face the critical challenge of addressing this widening gap effectively.
In this article, we will explore five essential strategies for schools, and how Lexia programs can help schools tackle the literacy gap.
Ensure Understanding of Students’ Needs
To accurately address literacy needs in school, we must begin by gaining a full understanding of current literacy levels of our students. In Ofsted’s English subject report earlier this year, it was found that formative assessment is not always well used to help teachers understand what pupils have learned and whether they are ready to move on. Data-driven, formative assessments are needed to provide valuable insights into where each student stands in their reading abilities. Tools like myLexia, Lexia’s reporting and administration platform, can assist schools in obtaining real-time formative data, detailing how pupils reading skills are progressing and, more crucially, where they have gaps in their knowledge. Identifying specific areas of improvement allows teachers to tailor support to meet individual needs effectively. myLexia goes a step further and not only identifies gaps, but provides bespoke lesson plans for teachers, individually tailored to each pupil’s needs, in order to address them.
Implement Personalised Learning Plans
Personalised learning plans are a powerful tool in addressing literacy gaps. Once assessments are complete, we can develop individualised plans for each student, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses. Leveraging adaptive technology, such as Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia PowerUp Literacy, can facilitate this process. These programs help students progress at their own pace and build confidence as they see their reading skills improve.
Expand Access to Reading Materials
Access to broad and varied reading materials is crucial for improving literacy. Schools play a vital role in expanding this access. Consider creating digital libraries that students can access from home. Organise book drives within the community to provide physical books to students who may not have them. It may also be possible to form partnerships with local libraries to broaden students’ reading options, ensuring they have engaging and age-appropriate materials readily available. In addition to physical books, online tools like Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia PowerUp Literacy provide access to range of texts, spanning multiple subjects and ability and age levels. By providing extracts of texts, tailored with a clear focus on building specific reading skills, Lexia enables pupils to gain confidence in accessing increasingly more challenging texts.
Empower your Teachers to Develop their Skills
Highly trained teachers are essential for effective literacy instruction. Consider investing in ongoing professional development for staff members. Workshops, online courses, and collaboration among teachers can help them stay updated with the latest research and teaching methodologies. Equipping them with the right tools and knowledge empowers educators to address the unique literacy challenges we face in schools today. At LexiaUK, we take pride in our library of resources, such as Lexia Lesson Plans, which are designed to support teachers in delivering high-quality, targeted literacy intervention. Furthermore, LexiaUK’s training aims, not only to provide essential product training, but to arm educators with pedagogical knowledge regarding how students learn to read. This ensures that all educators can adopt a ‘Science of Reading’ approach to literacy intervention, even if they do not yet possess the confidence or experience of teaching in this area.
Promote Family and Community Engagement
Literacy improvement is not the sole responsibility of schools. Engaging families and communities in the process is equally important. Consider organising family literacy programs that encourage parents to read with their children at home. Community reading events can foster a love for reading among students and create a supportive environment for literacy development. Lexia PowerUp and Lexia Core5 can also be accessed from home and downloadable parent reports can be delivered home to create a seamless school to home learning environment. When schools and parents collaborate, the impact on closing the literacy gap is profound!
Conclusion
As we grapple to ensure the best for our students, the literacy gap is a challenge that schools must tackle head-on. By harnessing the power of adaptive teaching and creatively applying technology in the classroom, schools can make significant strides in addressing this critical issue. Together, we can ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop strong literacy skills and a love for reading.
