Read this depressing report about adult literacy in the UK. http://rrf.org.uk/messageforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4995&start=0 Thanks to Susan Godsland from www.dyslexics.org.uk for flagging it up.
Read MoreLearning to Read
Spelfabet advises: books to avoid
Its seems like anybody and everybody publishes workbooks that claim they will teach children to read and spell. Spelfabet points out which ones to avoid: http://www.spelfabet.com.au/2013/04/books-to-avoid/
Read MoreWhy the NZ National Literacy Strategy has failed
Let’s learn from this report! http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19404158.2013.842134#.UyDihizivIW Thanks to Susan Godsland of www.dyslexic.org.uk for flagging it up.
Read MoreWeb of Substance counters arguments against Synthetic Phonics
Read this clear, well written blogpost by Web of Substance. http://websofsubstance.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/phonics-skepticism/#comments
Read MoreKnowledge is the core of richer understanding
“How does one get a rich understanding? By relating what you are reading to other material that you already know.” Dandelion Willingham article: http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneducator/winter0607/CogSci.pdf This means that to broaden children’s comprehension we need to teach them vocabulary and loads of history, geography, science, literature etc. Then they can relate what they are reading to what […]
Read MoreCan comprehension instruction damage our pupils?
A great deal has be said and written about the importance teaching children comprehension once they are fluent readers. Well, here is an interesting article by Daniel Willingham about the limited benefits of comprehension instruction. http://www.danielwillingham.com/1/post/2012/04/collateral-damage-of-reading-comprehension-strategy-instruction.html Thank you Susan Godsland of www.dyslexics.org.co.uk for flagging this up.
Read MoreJohn Walker responds to Andrew Davis’s article in Guardian
Read John Walkers response to Andrew Davis’s article on synthetic phonics: http://literacyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/andrew-daviss-philosophical-phonics.html
Read MoreThe crazy politics of learning to read
Read this powerful article by Miranda Devine about ideology in the politics of teaching reading and its tragic outcome. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/the-crazy-politics-of-learning-to-read-20090320-94dg.html
Read MoreTeacher training in Wales – a misconception of phonics
John Walker of the Literacy Blog exposes a fundamental lack of understanding of phonics in Wales: http://literacyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/prate-and-lyle.html
Read MoreHallmarks of a good reading intervention programme
If you are considering a reading intervention programme, here is what a good one should look like: http://health.thewest.com.au/news/1289/missed-dyslexia-diagnosis-causes-heartache Thanks to Cathy Saunders who wrote this article and to Susan Godsland of www.dyslexics.org.uk for flagging it up.
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