In my time travelling to different schools and conducting seminars with educators, I often highlight the fact that attendance at school is important and essential for children to learn. However it’s important to point out that on its own, attendance will not raise literacy standards. This is particularly the case for remote schools and those […]
Read MoreDuring April and May 2015, Emeritus Professor Bill Louden investigated and prepared a case study report on the school operations and pedagogical practices in place in nine high performing primary schools as measured by NAPLAN. The intention of the investigation was to inform the Department of Education’s understanding of the conditions required for a school […]
Read MoreIt’s clear there’s a broad gap between research findings being published and the application of the same findings in the classroom.
In a recent Weekend West Opinion article,”Read the signs – it’s time for a brave new teaching world”, by Alanna MacTiernan, a bold challenge is proposed to our education system as a whole. Failing a significant number of our students and adhering to outdated and unsupported research frameworks, it’s disturbing reading. I wish I could say I’m surprised but I’m not.
Read MoreThis blog post was taken from an Ask Diana live post. We are going to explore a range of tips and also myths surrounding sight words. Tip Number 1 Start your young students that are transitioning to literacy, by teaching the prerequisite skills first so that they understand this and have the skills to process […]
Read MoreWith the changes in the National Curriculum, Foundation students (that is, Kindergarten NSW/ACT, Preparatory QLD/VIC/TAS, Pre-Primary WA, Reception SA and Transition NT), need to acquire early reading, spelling and writing skills. This is new territory for the educators operating within this ‘Foundation’ phase of literacy instruction. We have many teachers ask the question about reading […]
Read MoreSpeech Pathology Week is here and director of PLD Literacy & Learning, Diana Rigg highlights the role of speech pathologists in schools in order to facilitate increased literacy outcomes. PLD has regularly stressed the way forward for literacy education in primary school is for speech pathology to have a larger involvement within schools. Researchers have […]
Read MoreDiana and the team at PLD have always made it a focus to highlight the importance of phonics as part of a wider skills set for successful teaching of students from the age of 3 up to Year 6. The entirety of PLD’s resources employ a practical and highly functional style beneficial to both the […]
Read MoreIn the recent WA Education Department report, which highlighted the success of PLD literacy programs, Louden asked the question – what do high performing primary schools have in common. Louden’s research reported that seven of the nine high performing schools had adopted what the researcher referred to as ‘lower variation teaching’. Lower variation teaching is […]
Read MoreWe all know that students require alphabetic knowledge in order to embark on the process of learning to read and spell. However, while most parents focus on letter naming ability it is letter sound knowledge that is more important to assist with literacy learning. For example: In order to spell the basic word ‘dog’ a […]
Read MoreLook-Cover-Say-Write-Check is a great strategy for children to learn new spelling words. In this PLD Literacy and Learning Insight, Diana Rigg discusses how to gain the maximum benefit from this technique. The video demonstrates how to slow down and focus children on the process. You may also wish to look at the following supportive products […]
Read MoreIn this PLD Literacy and Learning Insight, Diana Rigg discusses the use of technology by our children. Following a thought provoking article released in the West Australian Newspaper, communicating Telstra’s recent research on smartphone use in 3-17 year olds, Diana Rigg discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the proliferation and widespread adoption of technology by […]
Read MoreFollowing on from our previous popular post on Teaching Spelling in Junior Primary is this new post on applying the concepts to Middle and Upper Primary. So welcome again to another PLD Literacy and Learning Insight – short 5 minute videos designed to assist the teaching of Literacy Development principles. Today’s Teaching Tip is about […]
Read MoreWelcome to another PLD Literacy and Learning Insight – short 5 minute videos designed to assist the teaching of Literacy Development principles. Today’s Teaching Tip is about Teaching Spelling in Junior Primary and specifically – how to slow children down to ‘sound-out’ as they spell and write. Spelling is more difficult than reading. It is […]
Read MoreSight words are a special high frequency category of words that students are instructed to recognise automatically. While that is the end goal, how is this ability developed and how can sight words be instructed? The following strategies can be applied to all sight words: Strategy 1: Sound-Out the Words When the high frequency sight […]
Read MoreToday’s literacy and learning insight is targeted at parents of early years and foundation and will also be useful for educations or students of these ages. Traditional picture book reading is beneficial for children. However, when children become the story-teller, their vocabulary and oral language will expand at a much greater rate. Listening to stories is […]
Read MoreToday’s literacy and learning insight is about students in year 2 and 3 who are missing some of the basics in early literacy and may actually have gaps in year 1 level. My stance when dealing with young children is always “when in doubt always do check things out”. Small gaps can grow into significant […]
Read MoreThis video clip provides a model of the pronunciation of each of the alphabet sounds with an Australian accent. The viewing of the clip aims to assist those working with children to articulate the best model of the common sound linked to each alphabetic symbol and thereby assist the transition to early reading, spelling and writing.
Read MoreThe dilemma faced by many early childhood educators is how to cover all of the underpinning requirements for school readiness while meeting the curriculum requirements. The time devoted to the preparation and performance in literacy and numeracy often leaves reduced time for the teaching and practice of movement skills.
Read MorePerhaps the most common question we are asked by Teachers, Coordinators and Education Support Staff is how to go about implementing a Whole School Literacy Strategy within their school. We have recently updated our online publication “Implementing PLD resources within a ‘Whole School Literacy Strategy’ policy” which includes: An Individual Education Plan (IEP) for non-reading […]
Read MorePresented jointly by Dr Deborah Callcott (ECU) and Diana Rigg OUTLINE OF THE DAY’S CONTENT Given the recent changes within the early years, Diana will provide a 2015 overview of PLD’s scheduling of 3 year old Kindy, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary pre-literacy, oral language and motor skills. An opportunity for those attending to raise specific areas […]
Read MoreEvidence shows that rhyming is not necessarily the most evidence based of pedagogical choices or the simplest phonological awareness skill to master.
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