The learning sequence

Before learning begins:

Prior to the start of the sequence of learning, the teacher will ask for any current levels or recent reports from the child’s school so that strengths and/or areas for improvement are clear from the outset. 

The tutor will then email a short list of recommended high-quality, age-specific texts. Of course, suggestions from the child/family are always welcome! Once one book has been chosen, the tutee and tutor will order copies for themselves. The tutor will then put together the overall aims of the teaching series and tailor a sequence of lessons to meet the child’s needs.

Once the sequence of lessons begins:

Prior to every lesson

Teacher receives completed homework via email. Typically, this involves evidence of practising spellings and a written Literacy activity linked to the text.

Expectations of each session:

Outline of lesson objectives, outcomes and activities

Why? It is important to share what is going to be taught and how, so that children feel more in control of their own learning. It is also an explicit feature of teaching in the Ofsted framework.

10 word spelling test of tricky spellings from last week (the child would have been practising for homework over the previous week) as well as key words taken from the New National Curriculum word lists. The child will then mark these independently and complete any corrections. The child may be given some incorrect spellings to practice for their next session.

Why? Spellings are placed high on the agenda in the New National Curriculum, many of which are far more advanced than those in the Old Curriculum. 

Proof-read, evaluate and edit their own written work which has been completed for homework. This may focus on Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar to clarify meaning, check consistency of tense or check that subject/verb agreements are correct.

Why? The new Curriculum places great emphasis on proof-reading, evaluating and editing work, especially in Key Stage 2, which children often find extremely challenging.

Book talk involves word reading and comprehension linked to the core text. The child will listen to, read and discuss the text.  Word reading strategies will be used to help with tricky words or words with unusual relationships. Children will also be encouraged to use dictionaries to check the meaning of words, some of these may be used as spelling words for the next lesson. Book discussion will be based around a specific learning intention. This could be identifying themes, discussing words and phrases, checking that text makes sense or asking questions to improve understanding, drawing inferences from the text or predicting what might happen next. 

It is here that being part of a group is particularly beneficial as children can participate in discussion about what is read to them, taking turns and listening to what their peers’ say (see picture 1 below).  
 

Picture 1. Reading aloud and book talk while tutor follows online copy of book.

After reading and discussing the text the child may then begin to plan for their writing task; this will then be finished for homework. This may include starting a story-map (see picture 2 below), completing a spider diagram of key ideas ready for a character description or selecting words or phrases from a passage.

Picture 2. Creating a story-map while tutor is reading a section of the text.

Recapping of learning.  At the end of every session, the child will be given some time to answer, ‘What have you learned today?’ The child will be referred back to the objectives at key points during the lesson. Then the child will also have an opportunity to share anything challenging that they may wish to work on in the next lesson. 

Overview of homework for the next session will involve a brief evaluation of homework task/s and expectations for the next session.

The tutor will then put together a tailored package of homework including: spelling lists, a reading/writing exercise linked to the lesson’s learning and post an online blog to enable children to continue their learning as the week progresses.