Literacy Lift Off! is an early intervention initiative for junior classes (based on the principles of Reading Recovery). It runs throughout the school year for six week blocks starting in 2nd class, moving to first class, then senior infants and finally junior infants.
It takes place each morning from 10 am to 11am (Monday to Thursday) and the children benefit from having three teachers and an SNA in their classroom providing lots of opportunities for reading, writing and word work.
There are four stations run in a class that last for ten minutes each, after which the children moves on to the next station with another teacher.
The first station is familiar reading. Children read easier level books (two levels below their instructional level of reading) that they have previously read to fine tune their fluency skills and to consolidate skills known in reading. It is very important to reread books many times and for children to develop a sense of success and enjoyment when reading.
The second station is the New book station. At this station children with their class teacher read a new and unseen book. Children learn to use strategic activities. The teacher prepares the children for a successful reading and introduces any new words, concepts or strategies needed. Children are encouraged to read with fluency and to monitor their own reading.
The third station is Word work. Children using magnetic letters are shown how words are composed of letters, patterns that occur in words, onset and rimes, and how to segment words and blends. Words are taken apart and reconstructed.
The fourth and final station is the Writing station. Children learn how to write self composed messages using slow articulation, practice pages and Elkonin boxes. They learn to hear and record sounds on words and learn particular spelling patterns that occur. Children write on blank copy pages, are encouraged to 'have a go' when spelling new words and are guided by the teacher modelling slow articulation and the use of Elkonin boxes.
Children are assessed at the beginning and end of the block of stations in each class. Running records assess reading levels, the British Ability Scale reading test is administered to gain a reading age, a hearing and recording sounds in words test is given and a how many words can you write in ten minutes assessment is also carried out. Results both pre and post stations are monitored and show positive outcomes for all children.
