Literacy Educators Coalition

Information Sheet <<< Click on the link at the left to download information about the Literacy Educators Coalition.
We encourage you to duplicate the sheet and distribute it widely.Thank-you.

FOR FIRST YEAR TEACHERS . . .

The following articles have been provided to help FIRST YEAR TEACHERS start their classroom careers. They have been written by experienced educators and we thank them for their time and their willingness to share their expertise.

This is only the beginning ... further articles will be added as they are received. The authors hold copyright. You have permission to make one personal copy. If you wish to make multiple copies, please contact the author by email.

1. It's the Little Things that Count! Maureen Douglas (retired teacher and principal)

2. First Day in a Prep / Kinder Classroom Lorraine Wilson (teacher, teacher educator, author)

3. The First Day in Year 3/4: language and literacy Paul Molyneux (teacher, teacher educator)

4. Teaching and Learning about Spelling Strategies Di Snowball (teacher, teacher educator, author)

5. Starting in Year 2/3 Kim Simmons (Teacher)

6. Starting in Year 5/6 Jeff Wilson (Literacy Coach)

Save Our Schools	http://soscanberra.com
Primary Schooling	http://primaryschooling.net

	New thinking backs daydream believers There is mounting evidence amongst brain researchers and psychologists that daydreaming is good for us. It helps students to plan and to develop self-regulation. Daydreaming has been an important factor for creative, successful scientists who have really advanced things. Schools need to recognise the power of daydreaming. Schools could benefit by allowing brief periods where children can relax into their own throughts or draw, or write tings down in a free and imaginative way. Click here to read article.
	Options for special needs kids Debate is intensifying over whether children with special needs or disabilities should be educated away from mainstream classrooms. Article here
	The Case for $320,000 Prep/Kinder teachers New study: Students who learned more in their first year at school were more likely to go to college than students with otherwise similar backgrounds. As adults, they were earning more. Early years teachers are worth more than they are earning! Read report here
	What's Wrong with Accountability? The measurement of student achievement can be a useful determinant of educational policy and reform. But not if it is folded into a scheme of high stakes accountability that promotes aggressive individualism in America’s schools. Reformers have yet to face up to the fact that the complexity of their task has far more to do with not destroying the very features that make education an uplifting, noble endeavor than it has to do with perfecting their devices for measuring and judging individual performance. Click here to read this article.
	Putting the "Boy Crisis" in context Finding solutions to boys' reading problems may require looking beyond gender. Click here to read this article.
	Would later school start times benefit Australian students? Research shows students who start school later in the day sleep more, contribute more in class, have better attendance and report fewer cases of depression, among other benefits. Click here to read this article.
	Children need food, health care, and books. Not new standards and tests. The single strategy to improve education is to eliminate or drastically reduce poverty. Click here to read this timely article by Professor Stephen Krashen at the Univeristy of Southern California.
	Why do Finland's schools get the best results? Click here to read this article, and then wonder why Minister Gillard doesn't follow their approach (instead of the failed approach taken in the US and the UK).
	Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities Kozol's latest book dramatically documents the lack of opportunity presented to many poor students. Essential reading. Click here to read his advice to the Obama administration.
	Getting Real Reading to work Reading for pleasure is a key factor and indicator of learning and intellectual growth. Read the article by clicking here -- it's worth it!
	All languages are created in the same brain areas Karen Emmorey, a professor of speech language at San Diego University, suggests language is universal and doesn't depend on whether people use their voices or their hands to talk. Read article here
	Doubt About Learning Styles "At present, there is no adequate evidence base to justify incorporating learning-styles assessments into general educational practice." Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence, in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Volume 9, No 3, December 2008. Jay Mathews, an education columnist for The Washington Post, summarises the report and concludes that learning styles are hogwash. Read the report here.
	NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing The National Council of Teachers of English has released this Position Paper on the teaching of writing. Highly Recommended.
	Synthetic phonics fails in England - Schools freed from central grip Click here to read report The 'literacy hour' which prescribed synthetic phonics in English classrooms has failed (no change in standards since the 1950s). Now, in a stunning U-turn, schools are being freed from central control. The £100million spent every year will now go to schools instead. They will spend it as they see fit on teaching English and maths.
	The Next Generation of Testing Since the IBM Type 805 Test Scoring Machine first hit the market in 1938, fill-in-the-bubble score sheets and multiple-choice test items have remained the dominant approach to assessment. Such an approach measures only a portion of the skills and knowledge outlined in state standards and does not align well with what we know about how students learn. Read article here
	Confessions of a Twilight Addict An English teacher and scholar, who loves the classics, explains why she loves the TWILIGHT series. Read article here
	Finnish schools succeed because teaching is valued Finland, whose pupils have been the top performers in international tests run by the OECD, puts equity in the way it treats children as among its top priorities. Also, just one in 10 teacher applicants wins a place to train as a teacher, and all take masters degrees. The schools are truly comprehensive and do NOT stream pupils. Read article here
	Aussie School tries to liberate teen brains Unusual Australian school demonstrates what teaching teenagers could look like if their biology were taken seriously. Read article here
	10 False Assumptions behind "Race to the Top" Marian Brady, a veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author, writes about the false assumptions behind the US "Race to the Top" initiative. There are important messages here for Australian educators in a time when our Federal Minister of Education believes we have something to learn from education in the US. Read article here
	Examining the "No Effects" phenomenon in education research Experimental research studies in education often produce the same results: 'No effects,' 'No effects,' 'No effects.' Veteran educators have seen many widely touted research-based innovations come and go with little serious change in student achievement. Read article here
	Gifted, talented, but it's no easy ride Despite the introduction of gifted and talented classes and the growth of selective schools, many feel that Australian culture stigmatises rather than values intellectual ability. Read article here
	Successful ELL Policies (English Language Learning) This report identifies the factors involved in successful ELL programs. See report here.
	Geurrillas to locate literacy in brain Former guerrillas in Colombia have helped neuroscientists locate which parts of the brain are involved in literacy. Read article here
	Can I have your attention? Caroline Milburn, 12 October 2009, The Age Read report here One in four teachers loses 30% of classroom time because of disruptive student behaviour and administrative tasks, according to a report card of the world's education systems.
	First three years key to school success: study Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 09 Click here to read article How children are faring before they turn four is a strong guide to early school success. It is more important than what happens to them in the year immediately before they start school.
	Literacy Educators Gather to be Inspired by Global Scholars Prof Brian Cambourne, certainly a global scholar, spoke to literacy educators in the United States about natural language learning. Click here to read more.
	Inspirational Speech by Ian Thorpe: Australia's Dirty Little Secret 9 July 2009 Click here to read Ian Thorpe's speech about the plight of many indigenous Australians. This will stir your conscience!
	Study: Focus on teacher performance causes decline in student achievement This link will take you to a University of London study, in Portugal, that concludes, "Our results consistently indicate that the increased focus on individual teacher performance caused significant deline in student achievement, particularly in terms of national exams." http://ftp.iza.org/dp4051.pdf
	To the barricades Brian Caldwell (University of Melbourne) says it's time for the community to rise up and demand a better deal for schools. Click here to read article.
	To quality through equity in a Finnish way Pirjo Sinko, from Finland, recently gave a keynote address at the national AATE/ALEA conference in Hobart. She explained that Finland has little difference between schools and that a comprehensive, inclusive education system is the right of every child. (Not so in Australia, sadly.) Click here
	Technology continues to depersonalize us Technology and automation no doubt save money and time, but they also have taken a toll on personal interaction. We need to question the validity of inserting more automation when judging human potential. The raw numbers obtained from standardized tests are flawed and we can mourn an era when we were better able to make judgments person to person, rather than through the lens of automated technology that "quantifies" who we are. (Clay Evans, Daily Camera online) Click here to read article
	Education does not equal a head full of facts Marco Torres, a member of Obama's education taskforce and award-winning teacher, asks a simple question: What is an educated person? He says there is a chasm between learning and schooling. Click here to read the article. (The Australian, 9 June 09)
	Creating Effective Teaching and Learning Environments OECD Directorate for Education. Click here to read report OECD's Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) provides the first internationally comparative perspective on the conditions of teaching and learning, based on data fromover 70,000 lower secondary teachers and principals. Three out of four teachers feel they lack incentives to improve the quality of their teaching, while bad behaviour by students disrupts lessons in three schools out of five.
	Beyond Reading and Writing Kathy Walker in "The Age" (18 May 2009) Education is about the "whole" child, and a focus on literacy and numeracy means that other skills lose out. Click here to read the article.
	No Longer Letting Scores Separate Pupils Winnie Hu, The New York times, 14 June 2009 Click here to read report Sixth graders in a Middle School in Connecticut were ranked 'high', 'middle' or 'low' depending on the previous year's standardized test scores. But this longstanding system for tracking children developed into an uncomfortable caste system in which students were largely segregated by race and socioeconomic background, both inside and outside the classrooms. After mixing the classes, the school reported fewer behavior problems and better grades for struggling students, but also some complaints from high-perfoming students who said they were not learning as much.
	Phonics, Reading, Common Sense and the Dangers of "Read-i-cide" Prof Brian Cambourne (March 2009) Phonics, Reading, Common Sense and The Dangers of "Read-i-cide" It makes much more sense to teach phonic knowledge in the context of learning to write, than in the context of learning to read.
	The Riches of Learning June Factor, The Age, 23 March 2009. Click here to read June Factor's article. The Cambridge Primary Review concludes that "a policy-led belief that curriculum breadth is incompatible with the pursuit of standards in 'the basics' is false. Consistent evidence over decades demonstrates that far from being a threat to achieved standards in 'the basics', a broad, rich, balanced and well-managed curriculum is actually the prerequisite for those standards."
	Early Years Learning Framework The Australian Government is committed to the development of a national Early Years Learning Framework. A Discussion Paper is available.
	No Shame in Failing There is absolutely no shame in failure. Once we learn to define failure as an opportunity to learn, the better our lives will be. Click here to read the article from ON LINE opinion.
	Stop High-Stakes Testing: An Appeal to America's Conscience This new book may be relevant in Australia if Rudd and Gillard go the American way: high-stakes testing. Click here for a review of the book by Audrey Amrein-Beardsley.
	Toward a definition of 21st-century literacies Literacy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. A position paper from NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English).
	Good grammar without the grief An article by Mark Tredinnick, author of "The Little Green Grammar Book." Sydney Morning Herald (6-10-08) Click here
	Shaping a progressive revolution in education Neil Hooley, Lecturer, School of Education, Victoria University (January 2008) Published in 'The Age' with the title, "Students Deserve Genuine Educational Reform." Click here to read the article -- it is a great argument for inquiry based learning in accessible language.
	Education or Learning Education is different from learning. Children are programmed to learn and develop: that is the work of childhood and youth. Education institutionalises that work. We spend many hours thinking about our childisen's education, but little time actually thinking about our children's learning. Click here to read the article (On Line Opinion, 12 February 2008)
	Refugees in our schools Schools are the best place to address the damage done to young refugees, says Dorothy Hoddinott (principal of Holroyd High School in Sydney). Click here to read this article from Teacher (ACER National Education Magazine).
	All our students thinking Any subject – be it physics, art, or auto repair – can promote critical thinking as long as teachers teach in intellectually challenging ways. Click here to read this article from Educational Leadership, February 2008, Volume 65, Number 5.
	The cost of accommodating classroom technology Michael Bugeja, Teachers College Record, 14 Dec 2007 In the course of thirty years in higher education, I have seen technology used as delivery system, then as content in the classroom, and finally as classroom, building and campus itself, and in every case, pedagogy changed to accommodate the technology. Click here to read the article.
	NCTE Guideline: On Reading, Learning to Read, and Effective Reading Instruction: an overview of what we know and how we know it. National Council of Teachers of English. http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions/category/read/118620.htm
	ONLINE LITERATURE FESTIVAL The festival, which engages thousands of young people from all schools across Australia, is on again. See www.learningplace.com.au/sc/ipswich/olf "Ideas, concepts, stories, raps, conversations with mystery guests andinterviews with loved and renowned Australian authors, illustrators, publishers, game makers, script writers and songwriters will leap from keyboards in Australia’s largest online festival. This highly creative and interactive online festival captivates, excites and amazes all who participate."
	Harry Potter Casts a Spell on Student Readers Resources for exploring Harry Potter in your classroom: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). http://www.ncte.org/groups/cee/inbox/127655.htm
	Collateral Damage: How High-Stakes Testing Corrupts America's Schools Nichols, Sharon & Berliner, David (2007) Click here to read the review by Susan Ohanian, Education Review, May 2007. "High stakes testing is wrong – intellectually, morally, and practically. Not only will it 'not work' to improve education, it is already doing demonstrable harm."
	Educating the Whole Child Special Report. "The Whole Child: An International Perspective." Click here for short report. To download the full report, go to www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/pdf/rc7_eng.pdf
	Quality School Leadership Katina Zammit et.al. (University of Western Sydney) "Teaching and Leading for Quality Australian Schools: a review and synthesis of research-based knowledge." Click here
	Beyond the Reading Wars A new book, published by PETA, which helps teachers and parents of primary children struggling to understand the issues behind the debate related to the teaching of reading. Open and print a FLYER (pdf file) or lick on this link: http://www.peta.edu.au/Catalogue/Publications/books/page__1589.aspx

Literacy drive 'is killing creativity'
Award-winning author Jacqueline Wilson said that the national literacy hour (in the UK) has taken the joy out of reading for millions of pupils. Click on this link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2366423,00.html

On Reading, Learning to Read, and Effective Reading Instruction
An Overview of What We Know and How We Know It
A guideline approved by the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English, USA).

Click on this link:
http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions/category/read/118620.htm

In Teachers' Hands:
Effective Teaching Practices in the Early Years of Schooling
A Report commissioned by the Federal Government.
The Age (24 Apr 06): "the difference between the best teachers of young children and
ineffective teachers is not what they do, but how they do it."

CLICK HERE for the DEST web site to download a PDF version of the report.

Gerald Bracey
The List – Personal Qualities Not Measured by Tests

Click here

Submissions to the National Literacy Inquiry, 2005
See below

Papers, Presentations and Commentaries from the
'FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN LITERACY' Conference
The University of Sydney, 3rd and 4th March, 2006

Prof Derrick Armstrong (Dean, Faculty of Education & Social Work,The University of Sydney)
This paper was presented as the opening address at the conference.

Please click on this link: Future Directions in Literacy (Prof Derrick Armstrong)

   Prof Brian Cambourne (Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong)
   Brian's Powerpoint presentation is available for downloading.

           Please click on this link: Response to Literacy Inquiry (Powerpoint Presentation)

   Pauline Harris (Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong)
   A paper reporting on the preliminary findings of research which asked the question, "What is the
   nature of the relationship between literacy research, policy development, and classroom practice?"
   Such a question is timely in the current climate of literacy inquiries and reforms.

Please click on this link:
Probing Relationships between Literacy Research, Policy Development and Classroom Practice

Commentary from Gary Maitland, Master of Teaching student, University of Sydney.

Please click on this link: Conference Commentary GM

Submissions to the National Literacy Inquiry, 2005

AATE (Australian Association for the Teaching of English)
ACSSO (Australian Council of State School Organisations)
ALEA (Australian Literacy Educators Association)
Bean, Wendy (curriculum consultant, author)
Success in a School using a Balanced Approach
Emmitt, Marie, David Hornsby & Lorraine Wilson
Teaching Phonics in Context
Rousch, Peter OA
Walsh, Maureen PhD
Reading Multimodal Texts
Parent (who needs to remain anonymous to protect her son's identity).
Isolated phonics programs are not appropriate for children with
Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia

Back to top

Papers, Articles, Position Statements

Derewianka, Bev (2005) "Questioning the credibility of the Donnelly Report: Benchmarking Australian Primary School Curricula."
For someone purporting to champion rigour and academic standards, Kevin Donnelly has produced a flawed and cynically inaccurate report about Australia Primary School curricula. Why would Australia want to be seen to be denigrating its own well-regarded, internationally recognised curriculum documents?
Fox, Mem (2005) Phokissing on Phonics
A clear explanation of phonics and how to incorporate phonics into meaningful reading/writing activites.
Hooley, Neil (2005) "Let's be clear about student-centred learning."
Criticism of our schools is fine but the purpose is sinister, says Neil Hooley.
Amid Apathy, A Voice of Sanity
Alan Ramsey, 15 April 2006 (Sydney Morning Herald)
Address by Dr Paul Brock AM, Graduation Ceremony, University of New England, April 2006
The Politics of the English Curriculum: Ideology in the campaign against critical literacy
in The Australian
David Freesmith, March 2006
Reprinted with permission.
Breaking some of the myths – again
Dr Paul Brock. Director, Strategic Policy, NSW Department of Education and Training.
Edited version of Opening Address: Refocus on Reading Conference,
University of Wollongong, July 18-19, 1997.
Celebrate Strengths, Nurture Affinities
A conversation with Dr Mel Levine (a pediatrician, author and cofounder of the nonprofit institute
"All Kinds of Minds"). Levine is dedicated to expanding our understanding of differences in learning.
Texting helps children's literacy, claims research
Research carried out by Bev Plester, a psychologist at Coventry University, concluded that text message "shorthand" may in fact help youngsters to improve their literary skills. CLICK HERE to read the report.
Educational Research
Robert McClintock (Teachers College, Columbia University)
Educational research accumulates in great, growing bulk, with all manner of contradictory findings, and no leverage by which to effect practice in any significant way. Better schooling depends, less on research, but on adequate resources for the job, human and financial, and lots of hard work, day by day, in an ethos of support and high expectation, in school and out.
Neuroimaging evidence for English spelling patterns
Evidence from neuroimaging of the psycholinguistic reality of regular spelling patterns in English, versus processing of irregularly-spelled words. www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1751-228X.2007.00005.x
Life chances at 16: Life chances study stage 8
Disengagement with schooling. The survey responses confirmed the continuity and layering of disadvantage.

Each of these downloads is in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.
To download the free Acrobat reader from Adobe's site, please click the image below.