DEAR Drop Everything and Read
One of our most successful literacy initiatives is DEAR Time (‘Drop Everything and Read’). During these sessions, students take turns reading a carefully selected text aloud before engaging in discussion to explore key vocabulary, deepen their understanding and share their perspectives on the themes and issues raised.
The impact of DEAR Time has been so significant that it is now firmly embedded within the curriculum for students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. These sessions take place three times each year and focus on disciplinary reading, meaning that students engage with texts relevant to the subject they are studying during the scheduled session.
As a result, every teacher plays an active role in developing students’ reading skills and fostering a culture that values reading across the curriculum. Texts are carefully chosen to reflect the nature of each subject and often mirror the types of materials encountered within that discipline, such as scientific journals, historical sources or contemporary reports.
The content and themes vary throughout the academic year and may include historical perspectives, current affairs, career-related topics, or works of fiction. Whatever the focus, the aim is always to provide students with engaging, enriching and thought-provoking reading experiences that broaden their knowledge and strengthen their literacy skills.
