The Curriculum Blog

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Teaching cursive handwriting is given time and attention in the primary curriculum in UK schools. Teaching how to type effectively shares less space currently within the national curriculum. And yet, as we know, we are all typists and increasingly so...

Ever thought about learning to touch type? How many words to you punch into a screen every day? In today's fast moving world of technology and quick messaging, developing this skill could really help you to let your ideas and inner voice flow. During lockdown, it can be a great thing to have a go at learning something new, and it's never too late to learn.

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

We know the importance of developing empathy in our young people and society, and we're seeing it in action in these current times as communities look to support each other. So what is empathy? And how can we develop it? Reading and discussing stories and characters is a great way!

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

Studying English Literature takes us on journeys to other worlds and cultures as well as to that of our own. Through literature, we learn and experience great human truths and dilemmas played out. Through insights into the minds, lives, thoughts and characters of others, we can develop empathy and ask searching questions, as well as learn about history and our place in it. As such, we believe Literature holds a very important space within our curriculum at WAVE and seek every opportunity to explore books with our classes- and for older students, study for the GCSE in English Literature.

Here are some useful links to study resources for the AQA GCSE depending on which books you may be studying in class.

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

Reading or listening to audiobooks are both great ways of accessing stories and enjoying the world of books. One is not 'less' or 'more' than the other, and both activities involve engaging parts of the creative brain. In praise of audiobooks, and the value of this way of accessing a world of books is discussed by academics from the University of Texas here in a podcast:

There are lots of free audiobooks available via the BBC sounds app. A few suggestions are below:

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

Some great ideas to inspire creativity and ideas are available here, in a downloadable booklet form; a daily live interactive lesson with Pie Corbett; or within a daily blog with creative ideas for literacy.

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Head to summerreadingchallenge.org.uk (see link below) to stay up to date with all the info ahead of the launch on 5 June.

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

Last week was World Book Day. If you haven't seen the WBD website, it's certainly worth a look as a great source of inspiration.

Lots of podcasts from successful authors talking about creating character; empathy; the writing experience as well as sometimes their own struggles at school and as writers. WAVE APs celebrated in many ways, and encouraging reading and creativity is of course something we aim to do each and everyday, not just on ONE day a year. To celebrate and give opportunity to our great student writers within Medical AP, and join collectively our new centres across the county including Torlands and Sowenna, we ran our first ever 'CHAIN STORY'. Teachers and classes each took a section of the story as follows, writing their section together before sending on to the next group:

Details: Category: The Curriculum Blog

We have developed our curriculum statement for English collectively at WAVE across all our academies, shaping our offer so that it meets the needs of our learners and is ambitious in aim and outcomes...