Literacy and Learning Insights with PLD (Blog)

It’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 Failing a significant number of our students and adhering to outdated and unsupported research frameworks, it’s disturbing reading.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.

Have you noticed students get words correct in spelling tests but struggle applying their new knowledge in written work? Do you wonder why this happens? As a general rule students require many opportunities to rehearse their skills in contexts of increasing complexity. This means if classroom teachers instruct spelling primarily at a single word level, this transfer will never be guaranteed.