Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Effective Early Years Literacy Teaching Practices Margaret Sankey, Manager Andrea Barker, Project

Literacy SecretariatLiteracy is everyone’s business

Effective Early Years Literacy Teaching Practices

Margaret Sankey, ManagerAndrea Barker, Project Officer Programs & Resources B-8


Aims of this session• To consider the basis of evidence underpinning early years literacy

practice

• To consider strategies that reflect this evidence

• To strengthen our leadership of quality early years literacy improvements

• To share our ideas about early years literacy practice


Outline• Common messages from the evidence

• Literacy Secretariat platform – implications for early years literacy

• Sharing of strategies for strengthening teaching implications

• Where to next?


Reading and writing floats on a sea of talk D.Hornsby


Literacy Definitions

Literacy is the capacity, confidence and disposition to use language in all its forms. Literacy incorporates a range of modes of communication including music, movement, dance, story telling, visual arts, media and drama, as well as talking, listening,viewing, reading and writing.Early Years Learning Framework 2009


Literacy Definitions

Literacy refers to reading, writing, speaking, viewing and listening effectively in a range of contexts. In the 21st century, the definition of literacy has expanded to refer to a flexible, sustainable command of a set of capabilities in the use and production of traditional texts and new communications technologies, using spoken language, print and multimedia.

Australian Curriculum English Consultation Draft 2010


DECS Literacy SecretariatLiteracy is everyone’s business

9

Partnerships with families

and communities

Partnerships with families

and communities

Use of evidence, data and research

Use of evidence, data and research

Quality literacy

teaching

Quality literacy

teaching

Challenging and engaging

literacy learning

Challenging and engaging

literacy learning

Focused literacy

leadership

Focused literacy

leadership

Successful literacy

pathwaysWith high

Expectations

Successful literacy

pathwaysWith high

Expectations

A coherent whole site approach

A coherent whole site approach

CurriculumWhat?

PedagogyHow?

Explicit, balanced and integrated teaching and learning of:Speaking & Listening Reading & Viewing Writing & Representing

ImprovementSo what?

Literacy Improvement


Quality Literacy TeachingIt is the responsibility of all educators to ensure that learners

have the language and literacy skills needed for success across the curriculum and beyond.

To the meet the needs of all learners effective literacy teaching is

• Planned to match literacy understandings and skills and that support literacy engagement and achievement of learners

• Differentiated• Explicit • Intentional • Balanced and integrated• Consistent with whole site literacy agreements and planning.


The National Inquiry into the Teaching ofLiteracy (DEST 2005)

Recommends:that educators provide systematic, direct and explicit phonics instruction so that children master theessential alphabetic code-breaking skills

equally,that educators provide an integratedapproach to reading that supports thedevelopment of oral language, vocabulary,grammar, reading fluency, comprehension andthe literacies of new technologies.


The National Inquiry into the Teaching ofLiteracy (DEST 2005)

•Teaching is informed by evidence-based research

•We must have a clear understanding of why, how, what and when to use particular strategies.


Evidence underpinning early years literacy

• The significant role of communication in early literacy development

• Literacy and well being are interrelated• Literacy is a socio – cultural practice• There are multiple literacies and literacy is multifaceted• Literacy is across the curriculum• Skills such as code breaking (phonological awareness,

alphabetic knowledge, concepts about print and rapid automatic naming) are critical but need to be placed in meaningful contexts.


Evidence underpinning early years literacy • The Big Six (Konza)1. Linguistic Knowledge2. Phonological awareness3. Letter sound Knowledge4. Vocabulary5. Fluency6. Comprehension


Challenges & Opportunities

• In current times what are the challenges & opportunities facing literacy teachers in their everyday work ?


Practice

• Holistic approaches• Responsive to children• Learning through play • Intentional teaching • Learning environments• Cultural competence• Continuity of learning and transition• Assessment for learning


Effective teaching and learning for young children-

Early Years Literacy Program DECS 2006

• Relationships between values, beliefs, theory and practice– Our beliefs about literacy learning influence

what and how we teach


Effective teaching and learning for young children


• Knowledge of children– Knowing each child is essential for planning

effective teaching and learning experiences


Effective teaching and learning for young children


• An engaging and active learning environment– Effective learning is optimised through a

comprehensive and contextual program that promotes engagement


What does a quality early literacy teaching program look like ?• Language rich • Meaningful topics of study• Negotiated with child and teacher

knowledge • Teachers create active learning

environments• A strong language and literacy program


Balanced literacy

• Talking together• Reading aloud daily and frequently• Shared reading• Individual reading • Modeled writing• Shared writing• Individual writing



Documents

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Effective Early Years Literacy Teaching Practices Margaret Sankey, Manager Andrea Barker, Project