Shows
The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 2: Shared Reading: An Essential Instructional StrategyIn this podcast, Diane Snowball discusses how Shared Reading fits into the broader reading experiences of children, and it’s deep pedagogical base.She emphasises the gradual release of responsibility from reading aloud to independent practice in reading. Diane highlights the importance of choosing appropriate books for Shared Reading and how this practice fosters fluency, comprehension, and the development of various reading strategies. The conversation delves into teaching reading comprehension strategies, such as inferring and metacognition, during Shared Reading. Diane also stresses the importance of helping children recognise high-frequency words. Additionally, she mentions engaging activities ass...
2023-11-1241 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Shared Reading: An Essential Instructional StrategyPart 1 of this podcast on Shared Reading features special guest, Diane Snowball, a highly experienced educator in Australia, with classroom teaching expertise and for many years providing professional development for teachers and educational leaders. Diane explores the concept of Shared Reading and its significance in teaching young children how to read.Diane begins by discussing her recent experience working with Grade 1 teachers in Melbourne, specifically focusing on shared reading. She emphasizes the importance of shared reading as a fundamental teaching strategy that helps children develop their reading skills and understanding of print.The conversation delves...
2023-11-0539 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 2: Teaching Early Writers - from Program to Professional PlanIn this second part of the podcast, Sharon and team, and their guest, Grace, delve into various strategies for nurturing writing skills in Foundation year students. One key concept introduced is the use of "sentence stems." These stems provide young children with simple sentence starters, helping them initiate their writing and incorporate high-frequency words. The ultimate aim is to develop reading and writing fluency with 25+ high-frequency words by the end of the Foundation year.The importance of a "word wall" is discussed, enabling students to independently reference high-frequency words and take ownership of their spelling. Alphabet strips...
2023-10-2939 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Teaching Early Writers - from Program to Professional PlanIn this podcast, literacy expert Sharon Callen and team welcome special guest Grace Cullen, a Foundation/ Reception teacher at Littlehampton Primary School. They discuss the challenges and strategies for teaching early writing to young students. Grace shares her experience transitioning from a structured program to a more student-centred approach to writing.Grace emphasises the importance of tapping into students' interests to ignite their passion for writing. She found that when children have something they genuinely want to write about, the floodgates of creativity open. She also highlights the significance of valuing and publishing students' work, giving them...
2023-10-2239 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyUnleashing On-the-Spot Teaching Strategies, with Rob VingerhoetsThis podcast episode with expert numeracy consultant Rob Vingerhoets covers various teaching strategies, including apprenticeship vs lecture style learning Various components of apprenticeship style learning are covered: 'On the Spot' teaching, immediate feedback, engaging tasks, and students as teachers. Other aspects include explicit teaching, student reflection, using key words, and the power of questioning. The episode concludes with insights on classroom changes and the importance of flexible teaching approaches.The team discusses:02:27 Introduction to Rob Vingerhoets06:09 Lecture style learning versus apprenticeship learning09:09 What is 'On the Spot' teaching?11:43 Students as teachers, and supporting each other13:27 Giving i...
2023-07-1652 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyUsing a 'Mud Map' for Genre PlanningWise planning really is the great secret behind successful teaching and improved outcomes! Literacy expert Sharon Callen delves into 'mud mapping' as a way to plan out the teaching of different genres, as a teacher and across a school. She chats further about:What 'mud maps' are and how they work, and their importance in supporting teachers in their planningHow to make them connect to your curriculumHow to set about making oneWhat are some of the essential tools to guide your mud mappingThe incredible role of the mud map in driving unit planning, not just for w...
2023-05-2156 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyWriting in the Early Years, Q & A with Teachers - with Diane SnowballDiane Snowball recently answered teacher’s questions about better ways of teaching writing in the early years with Year 1 teachers at Mildura West Primary School. The session helps clarify understandings for all of us, in particular:How the Language Experience approach works in reality in our classrooms.How we make more use of the writing we are doing together?How do we not waste opportunities in our classroom and teach in more effective ways?How do we help students learn further about their reading and writing, through the experiences we give them?and much more!En...
2023-05-0753 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyAccess to Books Makes All the Difference with Ted EganExpert literacy consultant Sharon Callen chats to Ted Egan, prolific singer, song writer and lover of Australian characters and their stories, about how access to quality literature made a huge difference to a remote community in northern Australia. Sharon then links this amazing story to the latest research on 'access to literature' being key to success in reading and learning about our language.Ted chats about:How David Attenborough named the small, fascinating community of book lovers, 'The Hermits of Booraloola'How the local policeman turned his hot jail cell into a quality library that led to prol...
2023-04-231h 09The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTop Tips for Teaching with Literature with Kate TuckerLiteracy expert Sharon Callen chats with Kate Tucker, literacy facilitator and teacher at Mt Barker South Primary School, about the top tips in using literature as a powerful force in literacy teaching, and across a school.Specifically the duo discuss: How a school intentionally and effectively resources a year long approach to the teaching of writing using literatureHow and why teachers use quality literature actively in their Reading and Writing workshops, and how they do it effectivelyHow a school plans out effective units of writing and reading, so students are able to read like writers and wri...
2023-04-0951 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyLatest Release Books with Mike DumbletonAs teachers we are continually searching for great books to use in our teaching with students, to support them in their reading and writing:We need help in finding books to use as Mentor texts, to help explicitly model how others writeWe want to engage different age groups in the sheer love of reading, whilst also connecting to the curriculumDistinguished author Mike Dumbleton to discuss:His latest booksWhere did ideas come from? What was the need?What are some ways they can support writers in our classrooms?How can they be used in classrooms, how...
2023-03-261h 04The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Four W's of Being a WriterAs teachers we try different ways to get our children engaged in and becoming increasingly successful as writers. In this episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen talks about:The 4 foundational things we can set up and plan before anything elseThe ways we can work with mentor texts to support students not only as writers of a singular piece, but giving them the understanding of ‘how to use mentor texts as models for constructing their own work’And much more!Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Subscribe on Apple...
2023-03-121h 14The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Language Experience Approach with Diane SnowballTop educator Diane Snowball joins literacy expert Sharon Callen to talk about how The Language Experience Approach increases engagement with reading and writing.As teachers continue to try different ways to engage, how do we bring more meaning into what students are doing, so that they are activated, motivated and growing in their skills?We need to find techniques that really support children, providing entry points and opportunities for the success for each child.Our regular expert Diane re-joins the show to talk about The Language Experience Approach can be a solution. She...
2022-12-181h 17The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 2: Teachers Sharing Their Professional PracticesContinuing our series with teachers, literacy expert Sharon Callen talks with two more teachers who she has been working with in 2022 about how they have been developing their literacy teaching practices. Liam Bucco and Liz Sanderson are from Bridgewater Primary School in South Australia.Liam and Liz talk about the challenges and opportunities in developing units of work in an integrated way.They also talk about where to start, developing poetry and autobiography units, the power of planning, the impact of coaching, top tips and resources, and much more. Enj...
2022-12-041h 23The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Teachers Sharing Their Professional PracticesLiteracy expert Sharon Callen brings in three teachers to share their literacy teaching practices. Kate Tucker, Ra Te Whare and Robert Kennedy are from Mt Barker South Primary School, and have been working with Sharon in 2022 to develop their literacy teaching practices.The group talks about the challenges and opportunities in developing units of work in an integrated way.They also talk about coaching, planning together as a group, mentor texts, tools and resources, and much more.Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. S...
2022-11-201h 13The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyHow to Group Students Effectively for Learning with Diane SnowballTeachers have different ways to group students, and these methods are not always effective for learning. For example, fixed grouping for a whole term is a common practice. While this is convenient, does it lead to better learning opportunities for all students?Is there a better way? To talk about this, Sharon Callen is again joined by Diane Snowball, a highly experienced educator who led significant change in education throughout whole school districts in the US as well as Australia.The duo talk about what they have learned about grouping students, gro...
2022-11-061h 18The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Conditions For Learning With Dr Brian CambourneHow can can teachers develop a set of conditions of learning in the classroom that lead to greater student engagement and improved outcomes?Many school leaders and teachers are grappling with this, and wondering whether a program could bring the solution, or whether there's a way to construct the learning with students.To talk about his Conditions For Learning, we welcome back to the podcast Dr. Cambourne, associate professor and Principal Fellow at the University of Wollongong in NSW. Brian is one of Australian’s most eminent researchers of literacy and learning. Brian's nationa...
2022-10-091h 23The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyQuick Writes, Using Mentor TextsMotivating and engaging students in their writing is always an ongoing challenge for teachers.Teachers are also often looking for ways to differentiate and provide good models for writing. In this episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen talks about the power of using mentor texts, including:How to do a routine for using Quick Writes with a mentor textHow it is done in practiceHow to choose a mentor textHow to connect reading and writingGreat tools and resourcesEnjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Subscribe on App...
2022-08-281h 10The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Six Plus Traits Of WritingWhat are the key attributes and traits of effective writers? And how can teachers activate them with their students? In this episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen reveals these key traits, and talks about:How to use these traits to get better at writingHow to know when you're getting better at using themHow to plan well with these traits in the curriculumWhat should we avoidGood connecting tools and resources to useAnd much more!Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podc...
2022-08-141h 06The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyMorning Message As A High Impact ToolWhile the Morning Message can feel like a standard routine, it is a crucial way for teachers to help their students connect with literacy, the day and each other.In this era it is more important than ever, with many students still in and out of class with COVID, the flu and other issues, leading to many teachers struggling to build community. The Morning Message is a great tool to help foster connection and literacy development, and has a place across all levels of schooling. Literacy expert Sharon Callen explains more in this ep...
2022-07-1752 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Power Of Key Words With Rob VingerhoetsAs teachers, we're always on the look out for easy ways for students to access vocabulary and build knowledge about words in lessons. How do we teach and empower students in their word knowledge and use, and see it make a real difference in our teaching?To talk about this and more, we are again joined on the podcast by education consultant Rob Vingerhoets. While a specialist in numeracy, Rob brings many important insights for the literacy space. Rob is an experienced educator and subject matter expert who has worked with teachers and st...
2022-07-0354 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPlanning Effectively With The English CurriculumAs motivated teachers, we need easy ways to access the English curriculum and connect it to our teaching.This includes knowing how to plan with the curriculum effectively, and finding ways for it to have a real impact on our teaching.In this episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen covers this topic from a range of angles including:Where to start with planning around the new curriculumDo's and Don'tsHow to know if you're getting better at connecting the curriculum with your teachingAnd much more!Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and...
2022-06-191h 09The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyNew Books to Inspire Readers With Rebecca BirdTeachers are constantly on the look out for new books to use in their classrooms. We need great books to engage kids in lessons, Read Alouds, shared reading and as part of other strategies and tools.To achieve this, we need a constantly supply of top books for young readers so we've brought back Teachers Toolkit regular Rebecca Bird, literature consultant at Pegi Williams Books, to help us.Rebecca shares her latest list of recommended books for teachers to engage students in literacy learning.Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in...
2022-05-2247 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTips and Tools For Supporting Early LearnersWhen students are at the start of their learning journey, it can be challenging for teachers to know how to put the right literacy steps in place.To talk about this important topic we're joined by Diane Snowball, a highly experienced educator who led significant change in education throughout whole school districts in the US as well as Australia.The session with Diane is from a recent Zoom Q and A session with a group of F-2 teachers at a school in Victoria, Australia. The teachers ask Diane a series of questions related to spelling...
2022-05-081h 03The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Importance Of Teaching High Frequency WordsTeachers will sometimes find it challenging to teach F-2 students high frequency words effectively. To talk about this important topic we're joined by Diane Snowball, a highly experienced educator who led significant change in education throughout whole school districts in the US as well as Australia.In this discussion, Diane talks about:Where to start when teaching high frequency wordsHow schools can plan for teaching HF wordsThe role of parentsKey resourcesAnd much more!Enjoy the episode, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Sub...
2022-03-271h 10The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Effective Literacy Teaching In High SchoolsAddressing the varied literacy levels in high school is a big challenge for teachers, and helping students with low literacy can be difficult. Joining us to discuss this is literacy expert Misty Adoniou, Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Canberra and Principal Fellow, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, and a leader in the literacy research and practice field.The conversation covers:Misty’s background and current work in high schools, greatly enjoying helping teachers apply research directly in their classroom, and specifically about the teaching of Writing, Spelling, Grammar and English as an Additional Lan...
2021-12-0550 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Differentiation: How Do We Achieve It? With Rob VingerhoetsWith such limited time and resources, teachers find it difficult to cater for the needs of all students in the class. It can be hard to know where they are at, and to match them with the curriculum for their year level.To talk about differentiation and how to overcome these challenges, we are joined by numeracy consultant Rob Vingerhoets. Rob is an experienced and highly effective educator and subject matter expert who has worked with teachers and students throughout Melbourne, Country Victoria, interstate and overseas (New York City, Beijing). Prior to this he was a...
2021-10-2441 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 2: Making Connections - The Literacy Teaching Game ChangerIn part 2 of this discussion, Sharon Callen continues to reveal the key insights and outcomes from a three day literacy teaching intensive that she recently ran for a group of schools.It's all about making connections. Integrating reading, writing and word work is the most efficient and powerful way to teach literacy. In this episode, Sharon provides more guidance, tips and solutions that you can apply in the classroom today. Enjoy the episode, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spot...
2021-10-1732 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: Making Connections - The Literacy Teaching Game ChangerAfter recently completing a three day literacy teaching intensive for a group of schools, Sharon Callen reveals the key insights and outcomes in this episode.It's all about making connections. Integrating reading, writing and word work is the most efficient and powerful way to teach literacy. Sharon talks about:'Every Child, Every Day'True classroom practiceThe importance of ACARA as a great place to help us be rooted in the connectedness of English and to curate what reader and writer actions every child, every day, gets to practise, experience and get feedback onHow to read t...
2021-10-1046 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyImproving School Results Through Coaching With Bobbie CameronSchool leaders are always looking for new models and ways to get better teaching results. In the hope of finding a quick and easy fix, some will choose to adopt programs. But many of these 'out of the box' programs come with many limitations and often don't deliver on the promised fast results. Is there a better way?As we explore this, we look to Melbourne where literacy and educational outcomes have been broadly excellent. This is where education consultant Bobbie Cameron has been making an impact. Bobbie began her career in education more than 15 y...
2021-10-031h 02The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyCelebrating Literature With HeartIn this week's episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen talks about how to identify and utilise literature on complex issues to enrich student experiences.This is important for teachers for a range of reasons.Helping students to appreciate literary texts and to create their own literary texts enriches their understanding of human experiences and the capacity for language to deepen those experiences.It builds students’ knowledge about how language can be used for aesthetic ends, to create particular emotional, intellectual or philosophical effects.Students learn to interpret, appreciate, evaluate and create literary te...
2021-09-261h 03The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Value Of Independent ReadingIndependent reading is crucial to literacy learning but schools and teachers can still struggle to bring it to its full potential. Mark Macleod joins the show to share his insights.Mark has been involved with children's publishing for over 25 years as a lecturer, publisher, freelance editor, President of the Children's Book Council and now as an author.Mark published books for young readers and for adults under his own name imprint at Hodder Headline and was Project Manager of 'My Favourite Book' for ABCTV.Mark is well known as a television and radio...
2021-09-191h 07The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyInformation Books in My ClassroomMany teachers are constantly searching for great information books to fit their mini lessons in English and other learning areas.Finding the right books is one thing, teachers also want to know how to make these texts a central part of their teaching, Teachers need to give students access to ‘just right’ information books for independent reading and writing and connect it to reading, writing and word work.Upper primary school teacher Giselle joins Sharon Callen to share key insights, including:What do you search for to find great information books?How do st...
2021-09-121h 22The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 2: How Do We Teach Inferring?Sharon Callen continues her conversation about inferring, to help in the teaching of reading comprehension.Remember, inferring is a strategy. It permits readers to merge their background knowledge with text clues to come to a conclusion about new ideas that aren’t directly stated in the text. Drawing conclusions helps readers gather more information and ideas and understand the writer’s point of view.In this episode, Sharon talks about:Key actions to take when implementing inferring as a strategyTeacher prompts to activate thinking when modellingHow to assess students' abilities to infer and draw conc...
2021-09-0545 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPart 1: How Do We Teach Inferring?Teachers are looking for ways to teach reading comprehension strategies more effectively. If we notice that our students are falling down in reading comprehension, particularly on formal assessments, how do we help them be more successful? What do we teach to help students be good at inferencing?Firstly, we need to understand what inferring is.Inferring is a strategy. It permits readers to merge their background knowledge with text clues to come to a conclusion about new ideas that aren’t directly stated in the text. Drawing conclusions helps readers gather more information and...
2021-08-2947 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyAn Author's Story with Amelia McInerneyJoining Sharon Callen on the podcast is Amelia McInerney, a humorous picture book author based in Canberra, Australia.Amelia is the author of Who Fed Zed?, a zany picture book about a gluten-intolerant goldfish which she produced with Adam Nickel, the illustrator of the phenomenally successful No One Likes a Fart.Her other titles include The Book Chook illustrated by Connah Brecon (a CBCA Notable Book, also short-listed for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year), My Bird, Bertie, illustrated by Shane McG and the internationally published Bad Crab, illustrated by Philip Bunting....
2021-08-2257 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyQuick Writes For Quick ResultsTeachers often struggle with students who don't have the motivation, skills and strategies to activate their extended writing and start taking risks. This is where it is important for teachers to support a rehearsal process. What is Quick Writing?It's a quick-to-use tool to free the writer’s mind, to help them learn how to craft writing and to give it a go, once, twice, reflect ... and again. It puts them in the driver’s seat and gives independent opportunity. It moves the student into trying it out rather than being involved in extensive joint const...
2021-07-181h 19The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyPlanning For Spelling Across The SchoolTrue success in spelling comes when schools have a strategy that integrates and evolves with every year level.In this episode, one of Australia's top educators and Teacher's Tool Kit regular Diane Snowball joined literacy expert Sharon Callen to talk about how to do that.The trio talk about:How to teach in a coordinated way across the school that addresses the two spelling strands:Teaching children HOW to learn words in a deeper wayTeaching children a range of strategies to work out how to spell unknown words (phonetic, visual, morphemic)How do we...
2021-07-111h 26The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyStory Doctors with Boori Monty PryorAward winning Indigenous Australian author and performer Boori Monty Prior joins the Teacher's Tool Kit podcast for an incredible interview about storytelling, writing, communicating, performing and his own journey. Boori was born in Townsville, North Queensland. His father is from the Juru people of Cape Upstart from the Bowen region. His mother is a descendant of the Gurubana Moiety group from Kunggandji Nation near Cairns. Boori is a multi talented performer who has worked in film and television (as an actor and writer), modelling, sport, music and theatre-in-education. Boori has written several award-winning children’s book...
2021-07-041h 17The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyHigh Impact Teaching Strategies Within The Workshop ModelWhen working with teachers and leaders, we are always working towards the best outcomes for all of our literacy learners and looking to enable highly effective outcomes. This drives us to these considerations:What are the high impact strategies that many of us are working with?And how can these be managed to enable high impact for every child, every day?In this episode, we’ll look at this in relation to the English block in literacy learning. To honour you our listeners as authentic teachers and leaders who are pondering, confirming and cons...
2021-06-271h 12The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyGreat Books For High School ReadersMany teachers are looking for more ways to engage secondary students and young adults in their reading. And a lot of that comes down to choosing the right books and texts.But how can teachers find 'just right' texts for students?How do we find a place for these texts when there is so much required content?How do we create more space for independent reading?Sharon Callen is again joined by Rebecca Bird from Pegi Williams Bookshop to discuss these questions and more. Resources mentioned in this episode:
2021-05-301h 11The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyMotivation: Key to Reading SuccessMany teachers will say "my students aren't motivated to read!" But how much do we really know about this?We test students, effectively and sometimes not effectively, in a number of ways to find out what they're doing and how they're performing as readers, but we don't often take the time to discover a child’s self concept as a reader or the value they place on reading.Are you determining the reading motivation of your students? What can teachers do to support reading motivation for students, and how can we make an effo...
2021-05-231h 13The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTeaching Spelling Within WritingMany teachers will often see students pick up spelling and word knowledge, but struggle to transfer it to their writing.To talk about teaching spelling within the context of writing, we're joined by Diane Snowball, a highly experienced educator who led significant change in education throughout whole school districts in the US as well as Australia. Some key considerations discussed in the episode:The context for teaching spellingHow students understand spellingStrategies used for spellingTeaching through investigationsHow do we teach spelling strategies that will work?How the approach changes across year levelsAnalysing writing for spelling k...
2021-04-181h 22The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracySharing And Reflecting EffectivelyAs teachers, it is important to help our learners transform their thinking through talk. A thought can stay a thought only until it is transformed through talk. Until I can say it out loud, I can’t really clarify my thinking. Talk as reflection, transformative talk, is often classified as one of the most under-utilised comprehension strategies. So how do we get thoughtful, purposeful written and spoken reflection and sharing? In this episode, literacy expert Sharon Callen shares strategies to teach readers and writers how to reflect and share effectively.Resources mentioned in this...
2021-04-111h 15The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyFrom Testing to ShowcasingFor many teachers, getting students ready for standardised testing can be a worry. In Australia we have NAPLAN. As teachers we want to know what preparation makes a difference, and what we don’t have to worry about.We want to change the construct from something being done to us, to an opportunity to 'showcase'.In ourTimeless T’s we talk about Transformative Tracking. We value and use everyday information about our readers and writers to teach what they need, to lead them into the next phase of their learning and to, day by day...
2021-03-281h 30The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyA Teacher's Story: Motivating Older ReadersThis podcast episode has been designed around the research about motivation to read, and how Giselle has intentionally orchestrated her classroom, her tasks and her teaching. Giselle first joined us back in episode six. She's a highly experienced year 6/7 teacher in Adelaide. Definition of Reading: Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency and motivation (Reading Rockets).What is motivation to read? The likelihood of engaging in reading or choosing to read. Engaged readers are intrinsically motivated to read for a variety of personal goals, strategic in thei...
2021-03-211h 18The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyReading Like A WriterTeaching the craft of writing to students is no easy task.Kids may need to improve their beginnings, endings, sentences and more ... but where do teachers start?According to Sharon, it is all about 'Reading Like A Writer'. Sharon explains what exactly that means, how it works, how to to teach it and much more.Resources mentioned in this episodeWriting Workshop Series - Writer’s Craft - Beginnings (info sheet). Email Phil phil@cuelearning.com.au for a copy.Connect with us!Join our community on Fac...
2021-03-1447 minThe Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Art of Crafting The Writing WorkshopAs a teacher it can be tough to inspire and motivate young people to write. How can we get our writers to be engaged, experimenting with their reading, seeing themselves as writers, creating rich range of texts for a rich range of purposes, and build a writing community?This is where the Writing Workshop comes in.What is the Writing Workshop?The workshop model is generally described as having three components: Mini Lesson: Focusing on the TO and WITHIndependent Learning: Focusing on the BYReflection/Share: Allows for metacognition of what has...
2021-02-281h 07The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyRead Aloud: Mem Fox on Capturing Hearts and Minds Through LiteratureThe legendary Mem Fox has inspired generations of writers, readers, creators and teachers all over the world. In 1983 Mem became Australia’s best-selling writer. Possum Magic, her first book, is still available in hardback after 37 years and has become a beacon of children’s literature for millions of Australian families. She has written over 40 children’s books and several non-fiction books for adults. Her books have been translated into 21 languages, and many of them have been international best sellers.Mem is a retired Associate Professor of Literacy Studies from Flinders University, South Australia, where she taught...
2021-02-211h 07The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Art Of Crafting The Reading Workshop"As a teacher, you don't want your students to resist reading. You want them to burn to read, be engaged and be impacted on a number of levels through the books they read and the way you teach. The Reading Workshop provides an excellent lesson structure for this to happen.Speaking from personal experience, it starts by taking responsibility. And through learning more about the teaching of reading, investing in professional development and trying new things, we came to the Workshop Model," Sharon said.What is a Reading Workshop?The Workshop Model is g...
2021-02-141h 19The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTeaching Writing Through LiteratureFrank Smith, one of the literacy greats, said: "We learn from the company we keep." He said our role as teachers is to "ensure children have access to reading materials that are relevant to the kind of writers they are interested in becoming at that particular moment - recruit the authors who will become the unwitting collaborators."Many teachers are looking for more ideas on how to make literature the focus - not just a nice 'every now and then thing', but an integral part of the writing program. In the company of aut...
2021-02-071h 08The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTransformative Tracking: The Reader's NotebookHow can teachers help their students write meaningfully about their reading, instead of writing answers to predetermined questions, which typically produce low levels of thinking and engagement? This is where the Reader's Notebook comes in. What is the Reader's Notebook?It is a book where students write, draw, detail, describe, explore, organise, ponder, problem solve, record and share their thinking in response to texts heard, read and viewed.The Reader's Notebook helps students 'learn to remember to hold onto their thinking’ (Zimmerman).It is intentional, and gives students a recor...
2021-01-311h 11The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyAvoiding The Trench Of Lost Momentum With Rob VingerhoetsLosing momentum is a common trap for many teachers, especially in literacy and numeracy. So how can we maximise every second of learning time?Rob Vingerhoets joins the show to share his insights on the issue. Rob is an experienced and highly effective educator and subject matter expert who has worked with teachers and students throughout Victoria, other Australian states, New York and China. Prior to this he was a primary school principal, curriculum coordinator and classroom teacher. He is an experienced teacher and author, having written a number of best-selling maths resource bo...
2021-01-241h 09The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyEvery Child, Every DayAs teachers there are always so many things we are being asked to do, cover, implement and introduce to our students. For Sharon Callen, a breakthrough came through one of the most practical literacy leaders on the planet, Richard Allington, and his work with Rachel Gabriel. It was Every Child, Every Day. What is Every Child, Every Day?It is six simple elements of effective reading instruction, including:Every child reads something he or she choosesEvery child reads accuratelyEvery child reads something he/she understandsEvery child writes about something personally meaningfulEvery child tal...
2021-01-171h 14The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyAn Early Career Teacher’s StoryMaddie is teaching Reception in South Australia.She shares her story, including starting out in teaching, a year of rapid growth and how she has learned to quickly apply her learning.In this discussion, Maddie also talks about:How literacy learning has impacted her developmentThe importance of professional developmentHow she connects with every child, every day and the 7 Timeless T’sHer practices and routinesHow she revamped her classroom libraryEssentials of literacyAnd much more!Connect with us!Join our community on Facebook for exclusive resources, Q and A, discussions, in...
2021-01-101h 05The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTransformative Teaching: The Mini LessonSometimes teachers feel like they struggle to get bang for buck from bigger and longer lessons. But when it comes to literacy, Mini Lessons can be used strategically and effectively.So, what is an effective Mini Lesson?Mini Lessons are the time when we bring the whole class together, and then we reveal what we have noticed about our students as readers and writers. And when we fully understand our students, we launch into the ‘just right’ next actions/processes/strategies for them, letting them in on the secret of what good readers and w...
2021-01-031h 14The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyA Book Lover's StoryMost teachers know the importance of reading aloud but the research also backs this up.Reading aloud has been found to be the most significant factor in the development of literacy levels of young children (Kalb & Van Ours, 2014)As a reading intervention strategy it has many benefits: Motivating children to read, improving basic comprehension and development (Bus, Van Ijzendoorn, & Pellegrini, 1999; Fox, 2013; Swanson, Vaughn, Wanzek, Petscher, Heckert, Cavanaugh, Kraft, & Tackett, 2011)Reading to children in the early years has been linked to related language growth, emergent literacy and reading achievement (Bus et al., 1995).An analysis of 29 studies found “significant, positive ef...
2020-12-261h 13The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyFive Levers for Change in the Literacy ClassroomIt’s the nature of the profession that we’re always learning. And particularly as literacy consultant and expert, Sharon Callen spends time looking at old practices vs new ways to think about teaching and ask that challenging question, of others and herself, "why are you doing it that way?"What do we mean by 'levers of change'? In short, it is new, simple ways to think about teaching and learning.THE FIVE LEVERS ARE:Classroom LibrariesIndependent ReadingConferringMini Lessons - Read Alouds, Shared Book ExperienceConnecting Reading with Writing(Note: There are more...
2020-12-191h 04The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyThe Importance of Our Own StoriesWayne has been making wine since 1979. He is the founder of Dutschke Wines, a family-owned boutique producer of classic Barossa red wines and fortifieds. He is also the author of children’s book, My Dad Has Purple Hands.Wayne talks about:Insights and lessons learned as both a winemaker and an authorWhat led him to write a bookThe tools and techniques he used to produce the storyThe impact reading and writing has had on himHow Wayne is going getting his own kids into writingAnd much more!Wayne will help you motivate and make some great co...
2020-12-121h 11The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyTrue Tasks: The Importance and Power of Read AloudsWhat do we mean by ‘Read Alouds’? These are texts are beyond the independent reading ability of children, and are read by a fluent adult reader - it’s best if it is the teacher at school or a parent at home. Listening to stories online are another way to hear fluent renderings of texts. Every day, the teacher reads aloud materials that are at the students' listening level, but usually above their independent reading level.The amazing power of Read AloudsReading aloud has a big impact on literacy growth and deve...
2020-12-051h 13The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyA Teacher’s Story: Teaching VocabularyGiselle is a year 6/7 teacher in Adelaide. She shares her insights, tools and lessons learned from her development of approaches to teaching vocabulary.Teachers are looking for more ideas on teaching vocabulary because it isn’t easy to teach, and it can be difficult to integrate with reading and writing and other areas of the curriculum.Everyone agrees that an extensive vocabulary helps us share our thoughts and feelings with others more effectively. An extensive vocabulary is also central to reading comprehension. The larger a reader’s vocabulary, the easier it is for him or...
2020-11-281h 09The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyAn Illustrator's StoryIn his 30+ years in the industry, Greg Holfeld has supplied storyboards and animation for television series such as 2 Stupid Dogs, Ren and Stimpy, Pearlie, Figaro Pho, Monster Beach and Kitty Is Not a Cat, directed award-winning commercials, created short films that have screened and pulled awards in numerous international festivals, and made hundreds of pages of comics for everyone including kids. Greg began illustrating children's books in 2001 and is now credited with over 35 titles. His work also appears regularly in The School Magazine. He currently lectures in 2D animation at CDW (Flinders University).For Greg it...
2020-11-141h 01The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyGetting Started with The Teacher's Tool Kit For LiteracyIn this introductory episode, Sharon Callen introduces herself and gives you a taste of what the show is all about - giving tools and techniques to really help teachers in their classrooms (and they work for all students). Sharon also touches on some key questions that teachers are asking, including: How do we get all students to be engaged in literacy? How do we know the tools we choose are working? How do we create an entry point for each and every student? How do we become a thinker, rather than a deliverer of programs? Ho...
2020-10-2135 min