LITERACY
FOCUSES
LITERACY FOCUS – Writing - Using
Capital Letters and Full stops.
Capital Letters should be used at the start
of a sentence, for nouns (names) and I
should always be a capital letter.
Full stops should be used at the end of a
sentence.
LITERACY FOCUS – Writing - Paragraphs
Remember to use paragraphs. To help
use the TipTop Rule.
Ti P To P
Person
Time
Place
Topic
Literacy Focus – Writing - Connectives.
Remember to try and avoid using repetitive
connectives like and- here are some others you
could use.
however
during
consequently
despite
although
because
in addition
meanwhile
as a result
also
after
particularly
before
for example
while
likewise
•  Literacy Focus – Writing - Using a
dictionary
Remember to check spellings carefully- use a
dictionary. Dictionaries are in alphabetical
order.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP
Literacy Focus - Active reading –
Skimming and Scanning.
Remember to use active reading strategies to
help you read a text.
Skimming – Reading for the key ideas of a text.
Scanning – Reading for key words or phrases.
LITERACY FOCUS – Reading - Ambitious vocabulary - synonyms
(words with the same meanings)
When reading texts see if you can make a list of any new or ambitious
vocabulary, which you could use in your writing.
Try to avoid repeating words in your written work- use synonyms (words
which mean the same thing)
Try to use a thesaurus to find out new and ambitious vocabulary.
Avoid using these words to often in your writing.
And
Said
But
Because
Literacy Focus - Active reading –Questioning a text.
Remember when reading a text think about the
questions you should ask. Find out the 5W’s and 1H.
WHO
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
WHY
HOW
These can normally be found in the topic sentence- the
first sentence of a piece of writing.
Literacy Focus – Reading – Ambitious
Vocabulary - Antonyms (words with
opposite meanings)
Antonyms words with opposite meanings.
Love and Hate
Hot and Cold
Can you spot any of these when reading a
text.
LITERACY FOCUS - Group work
–  Chairperson—The person who explains and distributes the task
to the group. This person will control the discussion and make
sure the group works as a team.
–  Scribe—This person will write down all the ideas, create and
monitor the to do list. This role requires logic and skill at note
taking.
–  Researcher— The Person who will investigate the topic, check
on the ideas of others, and share findings with the group.
–  Encourager—The person who should praise the ideas of others,
be positive about the task, and have a cheerful outlook.
–  Ideas Creator—This person will listen to others, suggest new
ideas and be energetic, positive and creative.
LITERACY FOCUS - Role of the Listener
–  I show sensitivity to others respecting their
opinions.
–  I use body language to demonstrate active
listening skills.
–  I can explain to another the key ideas of my
groups discussion.
–  I do not interrupt or blurt when others are
speaking.
Key Words
I agree, because. . .
That’s a good point, but I think . .
Wow, that’s an excellent point.
LITERACY FOCUS - Role of the Speaker
•  I match my talk to the demands of the situation- I am
able to use formal word choices when necessary.
•  I can make extended contributions, which explore the
subject being discussed.
•  I can also evaluate others’ ideas by giving examples
and reasons to support my opinion.—I will say things
like: I think you have made a good point, because you
have used a quotation from the text to support your
opinion, but …I use confident and fluent use of Standard
English for example: We were not We was or I wrote not
I writ
Key words
Therefore, On the other Hand, As a result,
Consequently, However
Literacy Focus – Writing - Commas and
Hyphens
Commas and hyphens can be used to
signify a short pause in writing.
They can be used to separate parts/
clauses of a sentence.
They can be used in a list.
,
-
Literacy Focus – Writing - Punctuation - Colons
and Semi Colons
These are more complex forms of punctuation.
Semi Colon ; - This should be used to replace a
full stop or a comma and connective to join two
sentences which are closely linked.
The door swung open; a masked figure strode in.
Colon : - This should be used to introduce or
lead into a list or a following statement.
Remember the saying: “Look before you leap”
LITERACY FOCUS – Writing Punctuation - Question marks and
Exclamation marks.
Question Marks ? – These should be used
when asking a question.
Exclamation Marks ! – These should be
used when making an emphatic
statement- remember you only need to
use one.
Literacy Focus – Writing – Spelling
Homophones
Remember to check spellings carefullylooking out for homophones (words which
sound the same but are spelt differently
i.e.:)
to/too/two
their/there/they’re
our/are
no/know
we’re/were/where
Literacy Focus – Reading – Using
Blooms.
When reading a text have a go at some of
these activities.
The higher up you go the more you are
stretching your brain power.
Can you reach the top?
Literacy Focus – Reading – Using
PALL
Always identify the PALL of a piece of writing.
P—Purpose (What is the text written for?)
A—Audience (Who is the text for?)
L– Layout (What shape does the writing
take?)
Language (What words/phrases style of
writing does the text use.)
Literacy Focus – Reading – Question
Words.
Questions. Key Words
What do these words actually mean?
Describe – Usually linked to story telling, use your 5 senses to describe a scene.
Explain – Pick out key examples to illustrate how a writer uses language, image, text, character to create certain
moods, atmosphere and effects.
Discuss – Talk about an issue- balance both sides of an argument.
Consider – Think about
Compare- Analyse two texts linking similarities and differences.
Inform – Give information to people
Advise – Give advice to people about certain issues.
Persuade – Create a balanced argument aiming to persuade/convince someone of your point of view.
Argue – Give both sides of the argument, building up a case for an argument- similar to persuasion, but a more
forceful opinion will be created.
Debate – Analyse two sides of an issue- more formal than an argument.
Analyse – Explore a text, explaining its key themes, ideas and characters, and examining how language is used.
Pertinent– using related arguments and to the point examples
Literacy Focus – Reading – Using
Quotations
Using Quotations.
When writing about a text remember to :
P—Point (Make a point about the text)
E—Evidence (Use supporting evidence from the txt– either quotation or
reference.)
E—Explain (show how particular words, phrases or images may have
effected the audience)
L—Link (link to the next point)
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO USE QUOTATION MARKS, AND TO PUT
YOUR QUOTATION ON A NEW LINE. “ “
LITERACY FOCUS – Writing - Spellings Common mistakes.
Check your work carefully looking for the
common mistakes.
Homophones (words which are spelt differently
but sound the same)
Double letters (doubling up letters, forgetting to
include double letter)
Plurals remember words ending in y need to
have the Y knocked of and IES added.
Silent letters some words have silent letters like
know and gnome.