The range of English literature, English literacy research, and reading resources that is available to teachers in Australian schools is rich and extensive. Any work we want to prepare for our students, whether in a time of online learning, or for working on in the classroom, is improved when it is based on reliable sources.…
This is the title of an excellent paper by Judith Scott, William Nagy, and Susan Flinspach (2008). I have used this reference in a previous blog on this site, ‘The beginnings of literacy’, and as the basis of our online course, ‘Exploring literacy: Vocabulary’ (available soon). The paper puts the interactive role of vocabulary learning…
We’ve missed it by a day, but there is always room for poetry. We can honour poetry this week in our classrooms with a bit of history, lots of readings, and even more writing. It’s in the English syllabus so we have to. As I am preparing this, it is STILL raining, and I am…
The range of books for children to read about our world was pretty limited when I was at primary school, Thank goodness that’s changed!
Here’s an idea to bring to your school. I found it while travelling, and was impressed with its potential. It starts with the question of just who is reading in your school? Students, of course, using whatever scheme/program/model favoured in your school. Teachers, naturally, reading important stuff, poring over the keyboard/tablet/smartphone. Reading to students with…
I love it when teachers ask for advice and ideas from others regarding suitable texts for particular grades, or texts on specific topics or appropriate to different subjects or themes. Here are sites to share with colleagues as you become a book expert yourself.
Recent research describes the importance and impact of teaching handwriting, particularly in the first four years of school.
Understanding that visual images convey meaning on different levels supports the development of understanding that words in written text can do the same thing – the viewer/reader can infer meaning from the message created by the author.
Several of the many facets of the complexity of schooling moved into the public arena with the ABC’s Four Corners program, DigiKids. DigiKids which aired on Monday 11 November, 2019.
What we do in the classroom builds on and around this for each child. We have to treat all literary practices as an integral component of our students’ lives, so that they can take themselves seriously as active participants.