Programme of Learning

 Day 5 - Planning for the wider learning programme

The beauty of working collaboratively is that when you're away, the rest of the team is there to bring you up to speed. I’m grateful to have colleagues joining me on this RPI learning journey. When we met to discuss this session, what stood out most for me was the reassurance that we’re not expected to use every single strategy or tool we encounter. It’s about selecting what fits, what works within our time, teaching style, and, most importantly, what supports the unique learners in our classrooms in a manageable and meaningful way.

A key takeaway  was rethinking how I use reading apps in my classroom. I explored three tools; two of which I’ve used before, but enjoyed discovering new features and how other teachers apply them, as well as learning more about Literacy Planet.

Epic has always been part of my toolkit, often as a “fast finisher” option. However, I now recognize its potential for more intentional use. With features like curated collections and quizzes, I plan to assign specific texts that directly connect to our current reading focus. These will become essential elements in my multimodal reading slides, ensuring digital tasks actively support our core learning goals.

ReadTheory is a valuable tool for supporting literacy, offering personalised reading comprehension practice that adapts to each student's level. Its instant feedback helps learners understand their strengths and areas for growth, while also promoting independence and a growth mindset. For teachers, the progress data is useful for identifying trends, targeting instruction, and tracking improvement over time. ReadTheory is an effective way to reinforce comprehension skills and differentiate learning in a meaningful and manageable way.

Literacy Planet is an engaging and versatile and supports a wide range of literacy skills, including spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Its gamified approach motivates students while providing meaningful practice aligned with curriculum goals. I appreciate how tasks can be assigned based on specific learning needs, allowing for targeted support and differentiation. The detailed progress tracking also helps identify areas where students are excelling or need further reinforcement. I am looking forward to exploring Literacy Planet more with my students as it is new to me. 

Today reinforced the idea that technology can be a powerful tool in reading programmes when used with clear intention and purpose. Everything I’ve learned, from teacher timetabling ‘rules of thumb’ to strategies like tracking to empower learners, fits into a bigger picture. By slowly integrating digital reading apps, routine assessment through multi-choice questions, and practices like Read-Like-Writers, Write-Like-Readers, I can make reading more engaging and purposeful for students. Incorporating RA Core Routines such as Annotated Think Aloud and Talking to the Text will further deepen comprehension. These approaches not only support student progress but also help create a more streamlined and effective teaching workflow.