And some of the 2023 resources available now.
With ‘that’ test coming up for Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 in mid-March, there could be a bit of a panic about trying to get our students ‘test ready’.
This is misguided and not helpful for student learning.
I would like to refer you to Joanne Rossbridge’s blog from February 14 2023, titled Test preparation or curriculum implementation: Persuasive writing to value student voice
The impact of this testing on student learning and classroom activity has been questioned since its inception. How the type of writing students are required to produce contributes to curriculum implementation, student learning and achievement of learning outcomes is becoming increasingly questionable.
Joanne quotes Carter (2017), how ‘attention is effectively diverted from curriculum implementation’ through the emphasis on systemic testing.
This blog is extremely informative, practical and useful for all teachers K-6. I recommend it.
Reference: Carter, D. (2017). The dark side of NAPLAN: it’s not just a benign ‘snapshot’. EduResearch Matters: Australian Association for Research in Education https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=2325
Meanwhile, in the land of authentic teaching and learning, here are some resources to explore.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
- PETAA have just announced the online professional learning opportunities available over the next few months.Courses are extensive, and delivered by highly-skilled educators, including Dr Noella Mackenzie (handwriting and keyboarding) and Dr Gill Pennington (multilingual storyboxes).Topics include diverse high need areas such as augmented reality, English grammar, working with phonics, play in Kindergarten, and reading comprehension inn Years 3 & 4, and 5 & 6, spelling, and supporting EAL/D students.You can find the list at this link: PETAA Professional learning
Have you joined PETAA yet?
Find out ALL the benefits at https://petaa.edu.au/w/w/Membership/join_today.aspx
- ALEA offer courses through local branches.There are terrific in-person professional learning opportunities throughout the year. As well, ALEA has excellent and timely resources to keep you fully informed of evidence around the role of phonics in learning to read. As well, the teaching of poetry and spelling can always be developed.
Have you joined ALEA yet?
Find out all the benefits at https://www.alea.edu.au/
- International organisations that offer courses online (and in-personif you can get to them!) include:
- International Literacy Association (ILA) – you can check out the benefits and join here: https://www.literacyworldwide.org/membership
- K. Literacy Association – find out and join here: https://ukla.org/
I will be focusing on specific offerings from these throughout the term.
RESOURCES
- From PETAA:
10 authentic texts for phonics instruction – Margery Hertzberg and Leonie Arthur, facilitators of the PETAA online course A Text-Based Approach to Teaching Phonics, have collected examples of quality children’s literature that can be incorporated into a focus on phonics.
Other suggested areas teachers might like to focus on include initial letter-sound relationships, alliteration and more.
The list is available at PETAA and as a downloadable PDF:
Recommended authentic texts for phonics instruction (PDF, 334kb)
- Indigenous Literacy Foundation:
Murli la – Songs and Stories of the Tiwi Islands – a beautifully designed gift book that celebrates the culture of the Tiwi Islands through song. The songs presented in this book hold cultural, genealogical, geographical and spiritual knowledge that has been passed down through thousands of years of Tiwi storytelling, ceremony and in the songlines that circle the islands.
Available at the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s website at https://shop.ilf.org.au/collections/frontpage/products/muri-la-pre-order-only
RESEARCH
- • The Hechinger Report: Kids can learn more from guided play than from direct instruction, report finds
A review of seventeen studies found that guided play is as good as or better than adult-led, direct instruction, by JACKIE MADER March 24, 2022
at Kids can learn more from guided play than direct instruction, studies say (hechingerreport.org)
- The Conversation: article about what ‘My School’ actually tells us.
ADVENTURES
- The Gruffalo
Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo are returning to the deep, dark wood of the Jamison Valley for autumn.
The exciting, augmented reality experience – The Gruffalo Spotters Trail – opened at Scenic World on 25 February 2023 featuring the much-loved characters from the children’s book, The Gruffalo.
fter downloading the free Gruffalo Spotter 2 Aus app, set off on an adventure on the world’s steepest train, the Scenic Railway, into the Jamison Valley, and search the deep, dark woods along the elevated boardwalk for interactive signs that bring the characters to life in the rainforest.
For more information, including everything you need to know about The Gruffalo Spotters 2 Aus app, go to scenicworld.com.au/the-gruffalo
(text from the Scenic World website)
