Primary Learning’s online courses have been approved until 31 July 2021 under NESA’s interim arrangements.
A great opportunity to work on proven PD and ensure both learning and hours are consolidated. The next five months are secure with these courses.
The literacy courses provide a research-based framework for examining aspects of English literacy – speaking and listening, vocabulary, writing and grammar. They fulfil Primary Learning’s stated goal of providing practical resources for teachers and parents to support student learning in mathematics and English literacy. Embedded in each two-hour course is a range of practical, classroom-tested strategies and activities to develop student skills and understandings.
NESA accredited courses
There are two literacy courses available online now for completion and NESA accreditation: Talking about learning, and Exploring literacy: Vocabulary.
Talking about learning: The content is focused on the importance of classroom interaction, research findings about the balance of classroom talk, and what we can do about it. The National Literacy Progression is referenced, in its sub-element of Interacting, described as one of the five critical sub-elements that informs all elements in the progression:
active listening, strategic and respectful questioning, and using language to share information and negotiate meaning and outcomes
National Literacy Learning Progression (2020) p.10
Content includes:
- understanding the research that underpins the role of interaction in the classroom
- connecting speaking & listening, reading and writing with purposeful interactions
- effective teaching strategies that are interesting, and which focus on negotiating meaning
- addressing both English syllabus outcomes and literacy progression indicators
Exploring literacy: Vocabulary: This course is focused on vocabulary understanding and acquisition.
An excellent reading* provides the basis for developing active and imaginative vocabulary instruction.
Content includes:
- a broad view of vocabulary acquisition
- strategies for working with vocabulary in the classroom
- links to the literacy progression.
Due to its importance in literacy development, vocabulary is included within and across sub-elements [in the Literacy Learning Progression]
National Literacy Learning Progression (2020) p.4
Teacher identified/elective professional development
Two courses are available for elective professional development: Exploring literacy: Grammar, and Exploring literacy: Writing
Exploring literacy: Grammar: This is an introduction to the basic, essential grammar of English to meet the needs of students K-6. It also provides a foundation for further exploration for teachers’ own professional and personal skills with English grammar. Strategies for incorporating the teaching of grammar knowledge with the use of authentic text are introduced and developed for broad applicability.
Skills are referenced through the National Literacy Learning progression.
Exploring literacy: Writing:
This course addresses the delineation between the authorial and secretarial elements of writing, drawing on the work of Daffern and Mackenzie (2015) **. Strategies to support the teaching of some of these elements in creating texts are included. Indicators from the ACARA National Literacy Learning Progression are referenced.
Other courses
Kath’s most recent post included her blog from May 2020, which provided some background on the numeracy courses that are available.
All courses are at primarylearning.com.au in ‘All courses’
* Scott, J., Nagy, B. & Flinspach, S. More than merely words: Redefining vocabulary learning in a culturally and linguistically diverse society (2008), in What Research has to say about Vocabulary Instruction (pp.182-210) A. Farstrup & J. Samuels (Eds.). Newark, Delaware: International Reading Association, available at https://vineconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/More-than-words.PDF
** Daffern, T. & Mackenzie, N. 2015, Building strong writers: Creating a balance between authorial and secretarial elements of writing, in Literacy Learning: the Middle Years Volume 23 Number 1 February 2015 pp.23-32 Australian Literacy Educators’ Association
Available for purchase ($8.00 + GST) at https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=917087395526292;res=IELHSS
