Welcome to Bedford High School Literacy Learning Page
This site has been designed to offer support, guidance and resources to students, staff, parents, and carers. You will find lots of information to engage, enthuse and to improve literacy skills.
What is Literacy?
Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. At Bedford High School, our goal is to develop world class learners. We recognise that literacy is the essential foundation of education. We are committed to ensuring that every student at Bedford is equipped with the skills needed to take control of their destinies, fulfil their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world.
Developing a love for reading is one of the most effective ways to raise attainment. It is the master skill that unlocks the academic curriculum. Confident readers achieve more highly in all subjects and this improves GCSE results.
More importantly, reading helps you to build a sense of your own identity and introduces you to new and alternative experiences. You can learn about history and other cultures and different places, real and imagined.
Research tells us that reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor in success in later life. Study after study has shown that those children who read for pleasure are the ones who are most likely to fulfil their ambitions.
If you read, you succeed -it’s that simple!
When we are experiencing unusual or unsettling times, as we are with the current Covid situation, one of the best sources of comfort or distraction is a good story we can lose ourselves in. When you’ve finished the books you have at home, you can find some brilliant free reading resources in the Lockdown Literacy Newsletters. Like what you have read? Send a review to e.rooney@clairetaylor
WORD MILLIONAIRES! Congratulations to all of our Word Millionaires! Who will be the next to join them in the Millionaire Club? The competition is on. The top ten millionaires will be invited to a celebration lunch – so who will take the final spot?
WORLD BOOK DAY COMPETITION FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
What can you do at Home as Parents/Carers?
At Bedford High School our key literacy priorities are to:
What can we do at home?
Reading
Word Millionaires
Congratulations to Bedford’s Word Millionaires. These students have read over 3,000,000 words between them! This is a fantastic achievement. Well done.
What are your teachers reading?
Writing
Speaking
Further Resources (click on the links below)
Literacy for Learning Virtual Conference 21-29 January includes free events for Students, Parents & Guardians, you simply register for the event.
Tips for reading with your child
Spelling. Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) placemat
Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader
Online Literacy Resources (click on the links below)
http://www.juppfamily.net/learning/literacy/index.htm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
100 Best Books from the Last 100 Years
Follow the link below to the BookTrust website to see 100 fantastic books from the last 100 years. This list was created in 2015, but they are currently working on a revised and more up-to-date list which more adequately reflects the brilliant diversity of children’s literature over the last 100 years. However, this list is still a great resource. So, if you are looking for inspiration for what to read next – check this out!
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/1/100-best-12-14/
Are you looking for free audiobooks? Check out Spotify. There are many titles to choose from such as The Hunger Games, The Great Gatsby, and Captain Underpants amongst others. You can register and listen for FREE!
Recommended Reading Lists (click on the links below)
Like a Challenge? (click on the link below)
Books that will…
Click on the link: Books that will….
Stuck for something to read…
Try these:
Year 7 playlist (The House with Chicken Legs, Sophie Anderson)
Year 8 playlist (The Fastest Boy in the World, Elizabeth Laird)
Year 9 playlist (The Middle of Nowhere, Geraldine McCaughrean)
Year 10 playlist (Orange Boy, Patrice Lawrence)
More books added every month.
Recommended Reads for all Age Groups
Listen to the Classics on Audible
Lose yourself in classic literature – Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and many, many more!
Audible Stories: Free Audiobooks for Kids | Audible.com
Or, have a listen to a wide range of teen fictionAudible Stories: Free Audiobooks for Kids | Audible.com