EVERYBODY was kung fu writing as primary school children took part in a literacy day at a North-East academy.
Year 5 students combined martial arts with punctuation in a day-long initiative at Darlington School of Mathematics and Science designed to boost literacy and help them adapt to life in secondary school.
Learning mentor Michael Owens taught them a series of moves associating each with a punctuation mark.
“It is incredibly effective as it is something visual which helps them remember,” he said.
Scores of students attended the transition literacy day from Reid Street, Mount Pleasant, Mowden and Corporation Road schools.
Other workshops included a rap session with poet Donovan Christopher, a junior apprentice competition in which students designed an alien, tales around the campfire, around the world in 60 minutes and a spelling quiz.
DSMS organiser Sarah Teesdale said: “The session is a great way to boost communications and vocabulary but equally important because it allows the primary children to see what a welcoming place our school is.
“They all had a great time and when they do come here to learn it will be much more familiar which will help them settle in more quickly.”
