Getting started
Improving literacy raises achievement in Science
The Literacy Ladder is planning tool designed as a visualisation of the progression of teaching and learning activities which are needed to support the development of literacy skills which in turn to support learning in science.
Click the image to download the Literacy Ladder PowerPoint slides.
Teachers have found the Literacy Ladder helpful When planning a sequence of activities within a scheme of work so as to ensure that the children get enough time and support to develop the speaking and listening skills (yellow on the diagram). Giving children these opportunities is a vital part of the Thinking Frame Approach and is key to the success of the first two sections of the Thinking Frames Approach (Brainwave and See).
Practical methods of how to support speaking and listening skills and promote language acquisition in class are explained in more detail in the Brainwave and See sections of this site.
In our experience we have found that teachers in Primary schools have been well trained and have access to a wealth of literacy resources. Science teachers from secondary schools may not feel that this is the case and often are less enthusiastic about (a) how to and (b) the benefits of focussing upon developing literacy within Science lessons.