Literacy

Reading competencies are a key factor in unlocking pupils’ full potential across the curriculum. As Caroline Daly (1998) suggests ‘ pupils’ experience of reading impacts upon their participation in wider learning; it has implications for: personal enrichment; economic viability and employment prospects; social relationships; leisure activities and cultural identity.’

The two pupils that I have chosen to look at in this essay with regard to reading, are both from Year 8. Child A (male) is from a bottom set class, consisting of seven boys and three girls. Child B (female) is from a top set with twenty-two pupils, thirteen girls and nine boys. They are opposite ends of ability and were both happy and open to talk with me about their own reading experiences.

I would like to start by looking at some of the key differences of how and what child A and B read with regard to the evidence collated from my survey. I carried out this survey with each child individually in a quiet r...