Disciplinary Literacy in Primary Schools – Reading, writing and speaking across the curriculum
– Shareen Wilkinson-
Hachette
Published 22 August 2025
If I asked you what literacy in primary school looked like, you might answer with learning to read and write. While they are the foundational stones of literacy, there is much more to it. In “Disciplinary literacy in primary schools” Shareen Wilkinson captures and explores the nuances of literacy across the whole curriculum, noting the importance of learning to speak and listen, alongside reading and writing, and how these skills can and should be developed across the curriculum and how they vary in each subject.
This disciplinary literacy is key to understanding the many layers of literacy and recognising the subject-specific skills and knowledge required across history, science, English, geography, maths, technology and other subjects.
This book is an important read for all involved in primary school education. It is entirely approachable, with short chapters, case studies and tables of practical examples of the skills in a classroom setting.
Founded in research and science, this book is both practical and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to look more deeply at literacy. While ideal for primary school teachers, it would assist secondary school teachers in understanding the importance of literacy in their subjects and is particularly relevant to literacy leaders and teacher librarians.
The distributors provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
More information
Category: Non-fiction
Subjects: Literacy, Primary Education, Subject Literacy, Reading, Writing, Science, English, Maths, Speaking, Teaching, Education.
Published: 22 August 2025 by Hachette
Format: Paperback. 200 pages.
ISBN: 9781036006303
Learn more: Hachette