35. Breaking literacy barriers with Kaley Macis-Riley and Laura May Rowlands

Bedrock Talks from Bedrock Learning

Host Andy Sammons welcomes two extraordinary educators who are transforming how schools approach literacy: Kaley Macis-Riley, Senior Lead for Quality of Education, and Laura May Rowlands, Head of English. Both working in schools with high levels of disadvantage, they share candidly about their journey to establish thriving reading cultures in an age dominated by smartphones and digital distractions.
Kaley reveals how her school moved away from ineffective silent reading sessions to implementing the FAST reading approach—a structured method where adults model expressive reading of challenging, contextually relevant texts. She explains how they've created the "Samworth Canon," carefully selecting books students wouldn't typically choose themselves but that open new worlds and perspectives. This approach acknowledges that many students aren't naturally reading for pleasure, and instead creates purposeful reading experiences with explicit vocabulary instruction.
Laura describes her school's multi-faceted literacy strategy, including their remarkable success with Bedrock Vocabulary, their vibrant library space, and even a book vending machine that serves as a visible celebration of reading achievement. She emphasises how they've made reading "a joyful thing" through careful text selection and explicit connections between vocabulary across different subjects.
Both educators passionately advocate for disciplinary literacy—teaching students the specific language patterns of different subjects. From science teachers exploring etymology to history teachers explicitly teaching adverbial phrases, they describe how this approach empowers students to articulate complex ideas with confidence. As Laura notes, "When you are given the knowledge of how to articulate yourself...you're more likely to have an opinion and communicate your perspective."
Most powerfully, they speak to the moral imperative behind their work. Kaley emphasises explaining the "why" to students: "The biggest factor for your success outside of socio-economic background is literacy." Their ultimate goal transcends academic outcomes—they're ensuring students can confidently take their place in society, participate in discourse, and avoid manipulation due to limited literacy skills.
For anyone concerned about student literacy or seeking to build a more effective reading culture, this conversation offers both practical strategies and profound inspiration. These educators demonstrate that with the right approaches, schools can nurture confident, curious readers ready to engage with complex texts and ideas across all subjects.

Chapters

1. 35. Breaking literacy barriers with Kaley Macis-Riley and Laura May Rowlands (00:00:00)

2. Meet the Literacy Powerhouses (00:00:19)

3. Building a Modern Reading Culture (00:04:49)

4. FAST Reading Approach Explained (00:08:20)

5. Disciplinary Literacy Across Subjects (00:12:30)

6. Modeling Reading and Explaining Why (00:19:33)

7. The Moral Imperative of Literacy (00:29:00)