I teach English Language Arts in Alberta, Canada at the high school level. The program of study, at this stage, is largely geared towards literary interpretation and analysis, represented through t… Source: A Word on Curriculum
Read MoreLearning to Read
How the Phonics Check can help teachers and Australia should adopt it
Here is a fantastic blog by Spelfabet on how the Phonics Check makes teachers’ lives easier and why Australia should adopt it. Thanks Spelfabet! http://www.spelfabet.com.au/blog/
Read MoreOne Word at a Time – Teaching Vocabulary – The Confident Teacher
This blog is a copy of my recent Teach Secondary article (click on the link HERE to subscribe) on the importance of vocabulary, with some handy teaching and learning strategies. Source: One Word at a Time – Teaching Vocabulary – The Confident Teacher
Read MoreReading fluency and the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’
Is reading fluency important for academic success? I’d imagine everyone reading this would agree it was very important – crucial in fact. This description from Quirky Teacher of many children’s rea… Source: Reading fluency and the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’
Read MoreTeaching approaches that are supported by research
Here is a really clear table showing which approaches of teaching reading are supported by research. Thank you IFERI for flagging this table by Laura Stewart. stewart-research_summary_table_1
Read MoreShould we teach tricky words as ‘sight words’?
The new year has started and children are sent home to learn to read and spell tricky words by sight, that is by the shape of the word. Does this make sense if they are learning to read with Synthetic Phonics? Read this thoughtful post on the Phonics Blog. http://www.phonicsblog.co.uk/#/blog/4565770755/Common-Exception-Words-and-the-Muddle-over-Tricky-Words/7631625
Read MoreReading strategies – what not to do
Here is a list of strategies that do not help children become fluent, independent readers and spellers. http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/what_not_to_do.htm Thanks Susan Godsland of www.dyslecix.org.uk for this post.
Read MoreDo book bands help launch children into reading?
Ruth Miskin, author of the Read Write Inc phonics programme claims the confused criteria of banding books follows the discredited searchlight model of teaching reading. So why are schools using it? http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/news/2016/09/15/ruths-blog-why-book-bands-block-childrens-reading-progress/
Read MoreHow to get children to read for pleasure
Making time to read to children makes a difference… (this is of course assuming that the children are fluent readers)
Read MoreOn the frustration of seeing children struggle with reading
I read this excellent blog post just now and wanted to add some of my thoughts as a primary school teacher (UKS2) on something that I consider a big problem in schools and society in general: lack … Source: On the frustration of seeing children struggle with reading
Read More