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2. The importance of literacy

Learning to read and write in primary school is an essential foundation for a successful education. A good education can make a huge difference to a person’s whole life. Learning to read and write well, however, takes a lot of practice. It is important to give your learners regular reading and writing practice so they can build their skills and confidence and improve their learning in all subjects and grades.

In order to access the subject curriculum, learners need to be able to read. The TGM resources that you are using this term are based on the assumption that it is all teachers’ responsibility to support literacy. There are many strategies, based on the nine teaching approaches, that you can use in your subject teaching which will help students both learn your subject and develop their skills in literacy.

Classroom Example 5.1: Supporting literacy as a whole school

Listen to the audio or read the transcript for Classroom Example 5.1. In your Teacher Notebook, make a note of the different initiatives Egerton Primary School took to support literacy.


Audio transcript:

In 2008, Egerton Primary School teachers in Kenya were introduced to the TESSA resources. Working together, they decided to make some changes in their school. They organised the desks into groups rather than rows, so learners could work together in pairs and groups.

As they started to use more active approaches to learning and teaching, they noticed that some of the children in Grade 4 were struggling with their work in social studies and science because they could not read very well.

Working together, they put a big emphasis on literacy. They created a space in the school for a library. A group of parents came in and helped to build some shelves. The Head Teacher turned to the local Church, national and international charities, and with their help managed to build a collection of reading books. They used the African Storybook website to find and print stories in the local languages. Younger children had timetabled sessions in the new library and teachers from all subjects worked together to support literacy. Social studies and science teachers looked at the TESSA literacy resources and adapted some of the activities to teach their subject.

There was much excitement around the new library and over time teachers found that children became more confident and enthusiastic readers. One of the teachers set up a scheme where the stronger readers were encouraged to read with those who were less confident during breaks and lunchtimes.

Activity 5.1: Supporting literacy

After listening to/reading the classroom example, in the TGM identify the steps Egerton Primary School took to support literacy.

As a group, discuss literacy in your own school.

  • Are you satisfied with the levels of reading?
  • How do you know?
  • Do you have initiatives in place to support literacy?
  • Are they working?

Is there anything that you can take from this example?

In your Teacher Notebook, write:

  • three actions you will take this term to support literacy in the school
  • two actions to support literacy in your own lessons.

You can make a poster of the three school actions to put in the staff room as a reminder for all teachers that literacy is everyone’s responsibility and to ensure you fulfil the actions by the end of term.


A Primary School in Kenya