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Let us be calm when reading the 2019 PISA results and not point the blame solely at teachers. The report reminds us that there is much work to be done at the teacher training level, the curriculum level and also the classroom/school level. Firstly, the recommendations from the Independent Review of the Teaching of Early […]
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Do you know how the National Curriculum affects preschool children? In a recent cover page article in the West Australian titled ‘Teaching three Rs urged for pre-school”, a case was made for teaching academic concepts to children before they reach primary school. Understandably, both parents and teachers are concerned about what this means for them and the children in their care.
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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 Failing a significant number of our students and adhering to outdated and unsupported research frameworks, it’s disturbing reading.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.
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PLD can be implemented at any time throughout the school year. PLD recommends commencing explicit SSP instruction and regular screening and tracking as early as possible to make the most of the teaching weeks within the school year. This article outlines how to begin implementing PLD within Term 2. PLD implementation can be launched at […]
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Commencing in Semester 2 has its advantages because staff can become familiar with PLD’s programs, and implementation issues can be resolved all before the start of a new school year. This article outlines how to begin implementing PLD within Term 3. PLD implementation can be launched at any stage within the school year. For other […]
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Although it may be considered superfluous to launch a new SSP program within Term 4, it really has its advantages. Staff will be able to familiarise themselves with PLD’s screening and tracking process, teaching sequences and downloadable manuals. They will also be prepared to begin the following school year equipped with resources and the knowledge […]
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Parent education sessions are a key way for educators to share tips on how parents can prepare their children for school and what they will learn. Typically conducted on an annual basis, parent sessions give the school the chance to equip their community with the tools that will reinforce their school based learning. PLD has developed […]
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Strong oral language skills form the foundation of literacy and academic success. A solid foundation of oral language helps children become successful readers and strong communicators. These skills also foster a child’s confidence and overall sense of wellbeing. The ability to apply oral language effectively impacts all areas of a child’s life; from their ability […]
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Did you catch our previous post, The Importance of Strong Oral Language Skills & Language for Literacy Success? We discussed how to create a high quality oral language program to foster a high quality learning environment and the importance of consolidating oral language skills between the home and school. In this three part series we […]
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Have you caught up on our previous posts, The Importance of Strong Oral Language and Vocabulary Skills for Later Literacy Success and Improving Oral Language? PLD believes oral language skills form the foundations of literacy and are essential academic success. For children, repeated exposure to a rich language environment at school and in the home, […]
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With our increasing use of technology, is it necessary to teach children handwriting? Research suggests that the benefits of teaching handwriting go beyond simply writing (Dinehart, 2014). There is increasing evidence of a link between the fine motor skills required in handwriting and the development of cognitive skills which lay the foundation for later academic […]
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AUSPELD is a national body comprised of representatives from various state SPELD associations and a recognised Global Partner of the International Dyslexia Association. Each SPELD organisation is extremely busy catering for large numbers of students and families. While the SPELD’s deliver assessments and diagnose dyslexia, they also advocate best practice. The SPELD’s act to encourage […]
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Learning to communicate using language is a remarkable achievement of early childhood. The progression of language development is very similar across children and even across languages. All children regardless of the language spoken begin their journey of communication with a focus on sounds and engage in behaviours such as cooing and babbling. Over time they […]
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Synthetic Phonics is the gold standard, evidence-based approach to teaching literacy, which suggests the fastest pathway into literacy is knowledge of alphabet sounds and phonic sounds. Students require alphabet knowledge in order to embark on the process of learning to read and spell. However, rather than letter naming ability, letter sound knowledge is the more […]
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Oral language instruction should be an essential component of writing programs. Prior to and once students are able to write, effective oral language instruction helps to increase the sophistication of written vocabulary, sentence structure and the elaboration of ideas. To encourage the explicit instruction of oral language across classrooms, PLD has made our oral language […]
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Today's post relates to the controversy that exists in Australian schools over the use of Cursive versus foundation font for Kindergarten to year 2 students and is prompted by an email from a recent PLD Learning Resources professional development day attendee.
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Evidence 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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PLD is working to preserve Indigenous languages through the creation of region specific resources. For over 10 years, PLD has worked with a range of Indigenous communities for over ten years, including developing a range of online courses to support the literacy requirements of Indigenous communities. You can read more about PLD’s work within remote […]
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In this PLD Literacy and Learning Insight, Diana Rigg discusses the use of technology by our children, how much technology time. 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 […]
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Regarding tracking early reading and spelling progress from 5 years. With 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 […]
