Reading
We use the New Ginn Reading Scheme as the basis of both class activities and reading at home, for Primary 1 to Primary 6. The texts are fully supported with a wealth of material aimed at developing confidence, fluency and real understanding. In Primary 4, 5 & 6 carefully graded Heinemann Literacy World materials, for shared and guided reading.
At every stage the children are encouraged to read for pleasure and we have two well stocked libraries to support this endeavour. We also supplement the reading schemes with quality novels that teachers use for guided reading experience across the year groups. |
Writing
In accordance with the breadth of the 5-14 programme, we arrange opportunities for a wide range of writing tasks. In the early years children will try writing short stories, poems and factual reports. As their skills develop they will gain an awareness of specialised genres such as ‘the persuasive letter’ or ‘the fantasy story’.
Structured teaching will ensure that the particular vocabulary and style of such genres are made plain. Resources such as Reasons for Writing and Literacy World ensure delivery of a comprehensive literacy strategy. |
Phonics and spelling
One of the exciting recent developments has been the use of Jolly Phonics materials in Primary 1 & 2. This resource, used in an interactive way, has greatly increased the rate at which children have been able to learn letter sounds and blends. It has had a beneficial effect on both reading and spelling.
From Primary 2 onwards the children undertake structured spelling work using the Nelson Spelling Programme. This includes class activities and provision for regular homework practice. |
Grammar & Punctuation
Those of you who follow trends in education will realise that there is an upsurge of interest in the teaching of grammar in primary schools. We at the Academy have never shared the feeling, fashionable at one time, that it was unimportant.
However, to make our provision up to date and thorough we have purchased the Nelson Grammar books, a completely new resource. For Primary 4, 5 & 6, the Literacy World materials cover the same ground in an interactive and stimulating way. |
This is a scary story. It is about the devil, who lives beneath the Earth in his kingdom called Hades. God rules above and keeps the Devil locked in Hades below. In Hades the Devil is king and can do whatever he wants. He rules over the people who have been bad and been sent there by God. This is not enough for the Devil as he wants to have the whole world.
God is always keeping his eye on the Devil because he is everywhere. One day the Devil clones himself into ten Devils and they all run out of Hades and on to the Earth to cause trouble.
God catches the first one as he is trying to destroy the Beano artists in Dundee. God turns him into the statute of Desperate Dan at the bottom of Reform Street in Dundee.
God stops another two trying to pollute the Greenland Sea to kill off the cod supplies so that there will be no fish and chips in England. God turns them into Giant Icebergs to try and stop the Global warming that they were causing.
Devil number four is trying to make a civil war in China by the army killing civilians. He has done this trick before. God catches him just in time and turns him into a clumsy bad guy who is no good at kung fu and gets beaten up all the time.
Devil number five is planning to capsize a boat full of Portuguese and Spanish people, who are on a cruise to Florida, so that they can be eaten by Great White sharks. God sends a rescue boat just in time and catches this Devil and feeds him to a shark. God wouldn't have done this if he had known that this shark would become known as "Jaws"!
Devil number six plans to erupt an extinct volcano. Not any volcano but Arthur's Seat so that there will be no more Edinburgh! Just as he is heating up the coals God brings down the cold and mist and puts them out. He captures this devil and imprisons him in the Pentland Hills.
Meanwhile, on Mount Everest Devil number seven is planning to make an avalanche on Mount Everest so that he can kill all of the mountain climbers. God manages to stop the avalanche hitting the mountain climbers and turns it to the Devil who is turned into an abominable snowman.
Devils eight and nine plan to destroy the country known as Ireland by using their power to make a giant fireball to burn it all. God uses his power to make a giant water ball to soak it out. He keeps the two devils in a tank of water at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Now Devil number ten is the real Devil and sees what God has done and runs back to Hades but not before letting loose some lion fish into the Atlantic Ocean just to cause a little bit of badness with the eco system.
God puts a spell onto Hades to stop the Devil from cloning himself ever again.
Book week 2009 (below)
|
On an island where nothing bad ever happened and where creatures and humans lived in harmony, lived a dark Pegasus.
One stormy day after a catastrophic war in Greece the dark Pegasus started to change the island (the war triggered his anger).
The grass died under his feet, the trees went white at his presence and animals and humans alike kept away from him. At night he galloped to his cave and purple crystals sprouted out of the walls.
All hope of the creatures and humans getting pure water to drink were lost, for when the dark Pegasus swam in the lake the waters became tainted. The first day of the dark Pegasus’s rule was so horrible that a Cyclops attacked it. The battle was fierce with attacks rocketing back and forth at breakneck speed until the Cyclops fell. The only brave monster on the island was slain in less than a minute.
The very next day a white Pegasus spotted something, the dark Pegasus had a red aura. This meant that only a creature of light could stop it, so the white Pegasus charged at it but fell to the dirty ground just before impact.
It was not strong enough to get past the dark aura even a squad of peacekeeping centaurs couldn’t harm it.
Just before all hope was lost a salmon of knowledge asked the dark Pegasus “Why are you doing this?” “Doing what?” replied the dark Pegasus. “You know what!” shouted the salmon of knowledge. “You’re right I do!”
“Then stop it” bellowed the salmon of knowledge, these were the last angry words the salmon of knowledge ever uttered.
Later a man from the village (who had no idea what was happening) saw a baby drink from the tainted lake, the baby then started to cough and splutter, eventually his muscles gave in, he collapsed and the villager tried to help but it was already too late. The people at the village had a burial ceremony for the poor baby which had already died.
The villagers were so angry that they decided to kill the dark Pegasus. They devised a cunning plan to slay the dark Pegasus.
The very next day they dug a pit outside the cave and stretched a net, weaved by the finest weaver in town over the pit, then they tied rocks around the edge of it and covered it in leaves and grass so it could not be seen.
When the dark Pegasus stepped on to the grass he would plunge into the pit, then the rocks would tumble in like a scallop closing its shell.
The plan failed because the dark Pegasus watched them all night, concealed behind the trees.
A hero called Nebula came flying in on the back of the griffin. He was tall, brave and had jet black hair. He wore long leather trousers and a silk cloak. They challenged the dark Pegasus with the power of light by their side. He slayed it with the help of the griffin (but the griffin did most of the work).
The god Jupiter was so happy with the hero that he gave the hero a gold sword, but Jupiter did not know about the griffin being the real hero. When Jupiter found out he flew into a terrible rage and chased after Nebula but the griffin was too fast, so Jupiter launched a thunderbolt at the hero and knocked him off the griffins back, then using a magic net he caught Nebula and sent him to the stars.
No one knows what happened to the griffin.
Moral: to be brave, honest and true. |
World Book Week
 The junior school celebrated the end of world book week 2009 with a fancy dress parade. Each child donated £1 for the privilege of ditching their uniform for the day and transforming into a book character. The teachers joined in too.
This year’s theme was each year group’s topic:
P1 – Fairy Tales
P2 – Knights and Castles
P3 – Vikings
P4 – Egyptians
P5 – DC Thomson publications
P6 – Rainforests
My favourite thing that happened in Book Week was all
the great stories the storyteller told us. I also liked the
dressing-up day, where we had to dress up as a character
from a Roald Dahl book. At the book sale there were lots
of great books to buy. I loved the tingling feeling when you
were at the front of the class doing your talk. For me, Book
Week rules!
Elisabeth Nielsen P4C
I enjoyed Book Week because we learnt a lot about
books and we had a chance to buy a book that someone else
had. We also got more fun homework, which was great! I
have realised that you can have fun and also learn at the
same time. My best moment of Book Week was when the
storyteller came and told us some very enjoyable stories.
He told us a story about a green dog.
Matthew Black P4C
|
The Fonz meets the Fanz
 On Wednesday 20th there was a real buzz amongst staff and pupils (especially staff!) as we waited for the arrival of Henry Winkler (The Fonz - click photo to enlarge) and Nicky Cox, Editor of First News children’s newspaper who were sponsoring Henry’s trip round the UK and Ireland to promote Henry’s books about a 10year old dyslexic boy Hank Zipzer based on his own childhood experiences. Henry didn’t find out he was dyslexic till he was 31 and his son was being tested and he realized that everything said about his son also applied to him. So he wasn’t the stupid, lazy underachiever that all his teachers and his parents thought him to be. He talked about how he had to learn things differently and how as a child he dreamed of being an actor, which we all know he succeeded in doing. Apart from “The Fonz” he has acted in films and produced and directed films also. Throughout his talk he mentioned a plaque he was given on the set of Happy Days which read “If you will it – it is not a dream”. If asked what his proudest achievement is – apart from his children it would be his books which he said he loved like his kids – equally! It was an inspirational talk and with his wit, charm and sincerity he motivated all the children to realize that if they really want to achieve something-they can! There was a question answer session for the pupils and everyone had the opportunity to buy one of his books and Henry patiently signed every one – nearly 250!
The Primary 6 children were given a talk about newspapers and writing from Nicky which hopefully will inspire them to write some articles for First News and perhaps get them published.
A truly “Happy Day” was had by all.
Burns Competition 2009
By Tom Dean P5T
The 31st January 2009 was Robert Burns' 250th anniversary and Edinburgh Academy celebrated in style. This was a combined effort with Junior School and Senior School coming together. There was poetry and singing from the youngest to the oldest. The chamber choir sang 'Caledonia' and the whole crowd joined in - there was quite an atmosphere. It is good to celebrate our past and the Edinburgh Academy did this brilliantly.
Poetry winner: Tom Dean;
Song winner: Shiona Hill;
Art winner: Harry Crawley.
|
