English and Literacy in Education Flashcards
6 cards from real PGCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 English and Literacy in Education flashcards as text
What does 'reading for pleasure' mean as a pedagogical priority in UK schools?
Answer: Fostering intrinsic motivation to read widely and frequently, linked to broader academic and personal outcomes
Reading for pleasure means developing pupils' intrinsic desire to read across a range of genres and purposes, which research links to vocabulary, empathy, wellbeing and academic achievement.
What is 'synthetic phonics' and why is it the mandated approach for early reading in England?
Answer: An approach that teaches pupils to blend individual letter sounds (phonemes) to decode words
Synthetic phonics teaches pupils to decode words by blending the individual sounds (phonemes) that letters or letter combinations represent, and is mandated in England following the Rose Review (2006).
What does the term 'oracy' refer to in education?
Answer: The skills of listening and speaking for a range of purposes and audiences
Oracy encompasses the full range of speaking and listening skills - discussion, debate, presentation, questioning, and active listening - which are increasingly recognised as essential for learning and life.
What is a 'tier 2 vocabulary word' in Beck, McKeown and Kucan's vocabulary framework?
Answer: A high-utility academic word that appears across many subjects and contexts (e.g. 'analyse', 'significant', 'contrast')
Tier 2 words are high-frequency academic words that cross subject boundaries and are essential for academic reading and writing but are rarely taught explicitly - making them a priority for vocabulary instruction.
What is a 'reading aloud' strategy used by teachers to support comprehension?
Answer: The teacher reading a text aloud expressively, modelling fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies
Teacher read-alouds model fluent, expressive reading and provide a shared text for comprehension discussion, benefiting vocabulary, listening comprehension and love of literature.
What does 'writing across the curriculum' mean for subject teachers in secondary schools?
Answer: Every subject teacher has a role in developing subject-specific writing skills and literacy in their discipline
All subject teachers share responsibility for teaching the genres, conventions and vocabulary of writing in their discipline - science reports, history essays, design evaluations - not just English teachers.