T-shaped literacy - for teachers of Yr1-3

In this weeks staff meeting we were able to listen to a presentation by Dr Rebecca Jenson about T-Shaped literacy.

T-shaped literacy is a way of describing a literacy program which provides 

Wide (top of the T) learning opportunities to the learner.  This is mileage, and gives the learner an opportunity to build "reading muscle".  

and Deep learning opportunities.  This is where we are able to delve into the purpose of a text and allow our children to connect their prior experiences and extract meaning from text.  This allows us to build an inferential and comprehension lens in our learners.

Why is T-shaped literacy important?

Because we want our learners to read beyond school, to grow their vocabulary and to find the joy in reading. 

T-shaped literacy is designed around a Text Set.

Text Sets are planned with layers of text connected through carefully planning and text selection (connected by themes) introductions (highlighting character growth/change) and provocations (a question with no one correct answer?0.

Background - prior knowledge connectors (in my classroom this could be images)

A Simple introductory text.

A Complimentary Text which expands or reiterates the message

Competing Text gives another viewpoint.

What reasonated with me?

I was interested to think about the careful design of the introductions to texts which Rebecca described. It was helpful for me to think about clearly linking the Big idea of a text, then the events of the text, and then delve into the decoding aspects and support.

How will T-shaped literacy look like in my classroom?

As a Team we have decided to build T-shaped literacy into our planning and timetables as Shared reading.  This is when we share big books with the whole class and can include the detail discussions which delve into themes and morals of stories.  It also gives children a chance to share their thinking with others and allows opportunity for peer share learning.

I will compile the Big books within Team 1 into units using Rebecca's planning template to allow teachers to select text which fit their specific class needs and interests.