Fast Track Literacy Success

When we think of reading comprehension we should first start with the understanding of the Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986), consisting of two essential components for learning to read, Language Comprehension and Word Recognition. Word Recognition has been covered in our previous podcasts of Phonemic Awareness and Phonics and in this episode we share with you some skills, elements, and components of Language Comprehension using the framework of the Simple View of Reading. Reading comprehension ability is complex and multifaceted; it consists of being familiar with a text’s vocabulary, having some background knowledge of the particular topic and grasping an understanding of the language structures used.  So let's explore these together and I'll give you some hints and tips to use straight away in your classroom.  

In Episode #54 we take a close look at Fluency, the often neglected component of a reading program.  It is overlooked because it isn't a stand alone variable. Fluency is a culmination of successful orthographic mapping skills, prosody (intonation and expression) and comprehension. It also looks different in each grade level due to the developmental nature of the ‘learning to read’ process. Join me as I unpack each component of Fluency and load you up with strategies to use in your classroom today. To download the show notes and freebies head to www.theliteracycollective.com/podcast

Not all phonics is effective so how do we ensure our program is evidence based and maximising learning? Join me in Episode #53 as I not only share the 5 key components of effective phonics, but I bring in an expert neuroscientist to teach us how the brain uses phonics to learn to read. Neuroscientist, educator and author, Jared Cooney Horvath shares the research and turns theory into practise. https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/  

Research shows that Phonemic Awareness is a strong predictor of long term reading and spelling success. “It can predict literacy performance more accurately than intelligence, vocabulary knowledge and socio economic status” (Gillon, 2004) Episode #52 takes a close look at Phonemic Awareness, as this skill is a very crucial component that many teachers and commercial programs often overlook. While we use our eyes to read, the ​true starting point for reading is ​speech sounds​. Phonemic awareness is 1​00% auditory​, meaning it is only related to the sounds a letter makes, or the sounds letters make together in a word. Tune in as I unpack the 8 core phonemic awareness skills and load you up with practical strategies and explanations. find out more at www.theliteracycollective.com/podcast

Over the next six weeks I would like to take you through the 6 components that every Science Based reading program should have. Known as the Literacy Big 6, these recommendations are the result of three international reviews commissioned by the Governments in the US, UK and Australia, in an attempt to provide teachers with ‘best practice’ for teaching children to read.   In this episode I share with you the first component of the Literacy Big 6, Oral Language, that can sometimes get overlooked in a foundation classroom, to the detriment of our most vulnerable learners.  Join me as I unpack expressive and receptive language, phonological awareness and speech rhythms. To Find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com/podcast/

Podcast episode #50 will provide you with practical evidence based teaching tips that can potentially enable a child to store and retrieve hundreds more words than they would be able to if they’d been taught using the widely common 'whole word' teaching methodology. Step into any English speaking, early year’s classroom and you can pretty much be assured of one thing, children are being given copious lists of ‘sight words’ to memorise or learn by heart.  Until quite recently, it seems that this practice has received very little opposition. Well I’m here to tell you that science is telling us a different story. There is a better way to teach sight words and (spoiler alert) you may be surprised to learn that  all words should be taught this way. For those of you who have already begun your journey into the ‘science of reading’, you may have discovered that there is a real shift away from traditional whole word memorisation to a process called orthographic mapping which I will explain in this episode. We’ve also learnt that the order in which we should introduce sight words needs to be given careful consideration, to ensure it aligns with the developmental decoding process of spelling patterns. Find out more here: https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/

In episode #49 I share the knowledge and the tools to begin the identification and prevention of decoding fluency difficulties….. There are many quality assessment tools out there that are aligned to the Science of reading but even with those, which ones do you choose and how do you know which assessment is the right one for your students? The simple answer is to have a basic understanding of where the problem lies because from there you can use further assessments to dig down to the root of underlying deficits.  Today I want to share with you a basic snapshot diagnostic assessment so you can quickly identify where the gaps are and determine the best way to remediate the problem. I’ve provided the TLC Phonics assessment, for FREE for you today. I recommend using this quick check to see what phonics learning has been retained and what areas need further investigation.  It’s also very useful for obtaining a quick snapshot of a new student’s phonic knowledge.  This data can also be used to group students with similar gaps and provide Tier 2 intervention in class. Join me as I unpack the 6 components of the assessment. To download your freebie and to explore other podcasts click here https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/    

Here at TLC we are passionate about The Science of Reading and the methodologies to match because they work for ALL learners, especially for our most vulnerable learners. I’m in classrooms every week working alongside some amazing teachers who are putting these methods into practice and I’m seeing first hand the results of using evidence based instructional methods. Today’s podcast is a response to questions I’ve had from teachers about blending. Have you got students in your class that know letters and sounds but are having difficulties with blending them to read words? Today I want to load you up with multi sensory strategies to help your little learners become confident readers and it all starts with blending skills. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Well no matter where you are on your SOR journey, I think you will find today’s topic really helpful. What I am about to share can have a HUGE influence on the instructional practises in your classroom….plus today’s freebie is gold, so make sure you get a hold of it on our podcast web webpage. Research examining different instructional materials and methods in reading has often identified the "teacher variable" as a critical factor in effective instruction.  Even though teachers may choose to use resources aligned to the Science of Reading, it is you, the teacher, that can have the greatest impact.  So today’s topic, ‘responding to oral reading errors’ is about recognizing your key role in effective reading instruction and equipping you with response strategies that align with the science of reading. The way you respond to errors may influence the way your students learn to read. So, as you can see, it’s pretty important topic that we are discussing today.  Now, you may have seen those charts with common reading strategies for children that have 10 different characters to help them if they get stuck on a word... like Skippy Frog, Eagle Eye, Tryin’ Lion…. You may even have one on your wall, that’s ok, this is a judgement free zone, but here’s my advice -  throw it in the bin! These strategies are not evidence based and can actually have detrimental effects on reading.  Not only are there so many to learn (cognitive overload) but they are based on the debunked methodology of the 3 Cueing system. We need students to decode words and crack the alphabetic code, not skip words, look at pictures or take a wild guess.  So what a teacher says and directs students to do, heavily influences the way they learn to read.    Find out More at www.theliteracycollective.com

Episode #46 takes a close look at the early ‘reading behaviours’ that are conducive to ongoing reading progress. In knowing what to look for, you’ll also be able to identify deficits and facilitate timely interventions, which will prevent unnecessary reading struggles. Don't forget to also download the freebie to start building your students' reading profiles based on the Science of Reading. You'll notice there’s not even a hint of a suggested behaviours like ‘look at the picture’ or ‘guess a word that makes sense’.  That’s because if you are truly on the Science of Reading journey, you're going to encourage evidence based strategies that are most effective for helping your little learners decode and map new words, and in the process, wire their brains for ongoing reading success. “Contextual guessing strategies are supported by the cueing systems model of word recognition which has no basis in reading science. According to this theory, students are said to use graphophonic cues, semantic or meaning cues, and syntax or contextual cues to recognize words. In practice, the emphasis is on anything but the links between speech sounds and spelling. Unfortunately, balanced literacy students are learning strategies that poor readers rely on, not what good readers know” (Moats, L. 2007). Source: Dyslexia SA. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Many bolt on spelling programs are doing little to improve children’s spelling abilities, especially for our most vulnerable learners.  In fact many of the most common spelling activities have been shown to be a ineffective. This is most apparent in the gap between student’s weekly spelling test scores and their spelling accuracy in their writing. Join me in Episode #45 as I unpack some key evidence based strategies that will help make spelling knowledge stick. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

As a literacy coach I see so many phonics scope and sequences that have multiple weeks focused on this ‘so called’ concept of 'BLENDS', but is it truly necessary?  Well podcast #44 will give you important insights into why 'blends' should be seen as a process not a concept. Join me as we discover 4 common errors in phonics programs around this concept of 'blends' and give you practical strategies to fast track phonics success. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Guided reading time should adopt a powerful instructional approach to teaching reading that promotes a high level of reading growth. Unfortunately, 'round robin' reading methodologies have crept into common practise. There is considerable evidence that this methodology is ineffective so let's understand why…. Join me in Episode #43 as I share the 6 steps to maximise learning during guided reading time. To get a copy of your freebies and show notes visit www.theliteracycollective.com/podcast To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Episode #42 takes a close look at guided reading groups and the negative talk in the 'Science of Reading' community. Tune in as I give you some key considerations before jumping on any bandwagon, and more importantly, gain the skills to decipher the information presented out there so you can reflect on your own practice and make decisions that will maximise learning for YOUR classroom and YOUR students. I'll show you how you can have group work and align it to 'Science of Reading' instructional methods if structured and planned well. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Are you a leader in a school wanting to start the process of aligning practices to the Science of Reading, but just don’t know where to start? Change can be hard at the best of times but moving to Science of Reading instructional methods is definitely worth the effort. When schools make the decision to adjust their methodologies to align with SoR, they are choosing to provide the most effective, current, evidence based literacy instruction that caters for all students especially your most vulnerable. Join me in Episode #41 as I share 4 key strategies to get the ball rolling in your school, even if you have resistant teachers. Find out more at www.theliteracycollective.com

Whether you're on the 'Science of Reading' journey on your own, with a small group of collegues or as a whole school, Episode #40 is full of practical strategies for everyone who is wanting to effect change in their schools. As the saying goes, 'when we know better, we do better' so join me on the journey to fast track literacy success in your school even if you're faced with resistance from colleagues or members of leadership. The tide is turning, governments and school systems are slowly beginning to realise that 'Science of Reading'  holds the key to fixing the failing literacy problem so you just might be the one leading the change in your school. Next week, in Part 2 of this topic. I’ll look at the scenario of school environments where administration is wanting to implement  a SoR program but is faced with resistance from their teachers.  To download the freebies and hear more of our podcasts visit www.theliteracycollective.com/podcast 

Join me in Episode #39 as I address the strong views of teachers around the use of running records. I want to help teachers enhance the literacy development of all students by preventing them from wasting time and resources on ineffective, expensive and outdated approaches to reading assessment. I'll share some strategies of how to replace ineffective assessments with rigorous, evidence-based tools for reading assessment and take an important step towards evidence-based reading instruction and remediation. For more, visit www.theliteracycollective.com

Podcast #38 was inspired by some great conversations that I had last week with teachers who are coming up to a reporting period and are implementing their 'end of semester' assessments.  The questions and stories that the teachers had around their benchmark testing were so relevant to everyone who is transitioning to methodologies that are based on the ‘science of reading’ and they were just too good not to share. Join me as I unpack the purpose of reading assessments and give you the knowledge to make effective decisions, challenge the old, save yourself a whole lot of valuable time all while providing the best monitoring and assessment systems to cater for early intervention. To find out more, visit www.theliteracycollective.com  

PART B: As a literacy coach, I visit many schools supporting teachers in their journey implementing literacy programs using the ‘Science of Teaching Reading’ methodologies. Last week I was chatting with Prep staff at one particular school. They were mentioning how quickly most of the children were progressing, already blending and segmenting words successfully and transferring this to reading and writing. However, there were still a small group of students in each class that they felt were progressing a lot slower.  They asked some great questions like…. ‘What skills should students have by now?’ ‘What should we do for these students?’ ‘When and how should we be assessing them?’ ‘When should we provide withdrawal intervention?’ Join me in Episode #36  and #37 as I unpack the crucial strategies of Phonemic Awareness.  I'll show you how to identify deficits and give you some practical strategies to implement with your vulnerable students. Don't forget to grab your FREE Phonemic Awareness Reading Readiness Assessment and also scroll down to our Lesson Library. See our Video Library and download your freebie at: https://theliteracycollective.com/36-how-to-identify-reading-deficits-early-and-the-practical-strategies-to-fill-the-gaps/  

As a literacy coach, I visit many schools supporting teachers in their journey implementing literacy programs using the ‘Science of Teaching Reading’ methodologies. Last week I was chatting with Prep staff at one particular school. They were mentioning how quickly most of the children were progressing, already blending and segmenting words successfully and transferring this to reading and writing. However, there were still a small group of students in each class that they felt were progressing a lot slower.  They asked some great questions like…. ‘What skills should students have by now?’ ‘What should we do for these students?’ ‘When and how should we be assessing them?’ ‘When should we provide withdrawal intervention?’ Join me in Episode #36 as I unpack the first 4 crucial strategies of Phonemic Awareness.  I'll show you how to identify deficits and give you some practical strategies to implement with your vulnerable students. Next week we will unpack the last 4 strategies (Part 2) and give our teachers more strategies that will fast track their vulnerable student's success.  

Today’s topic is hotly debated amongst teachers and schools.  Join me in episode #34 where I present the facts on what type of readers you should be using in your classroom and help you see that this requires serious consideration by early years teachers and curriculum coordinators in every school. I know this may sound dramatic, but for some children (potentially 20-30% of your class) it could literally mean the difference between a successful launch into reading or a lifelong struggle with reading. Yep, it’s a big deal! For more information visit www.theliteracycollective.com

The attraction of a common early reading success fallacy has been a consistent lure for teachers, and has sufficiently undermined English reading instruction ever since it was first stumbled upon. It did not take long for this 'golden bullet' to hit globally, providing enormous commercial enterprise for companies producing resources with this debunked philosophy. These resources and programs are so ingrained that even educational systems today mandate the use of their commercialised assessments and data and it is producing concerning ‘false positives’ result. In today’s early primary classrooms, teachers are feeling an ever-increasing pressure to get their students reading. It is easy to lose sight of the developmental process and try to skip steps in order to get our kids reading as soon as possible. There is just one problem: skipping steps is not going to work in the long run. Children’s progress in reading will be limited if they haven’t learned the crucial fundamentals of reading. Remember the saying, ‘short term gains result in long term pains’.... Join me in Episode #33 to find out about the concept of ‘false positive’ results and hear how you can protect your students’ learning for their long term education.

In Episode 31 & 32 you'll find out what is now considered “the most current theory of how children form sight word representations”. We will dive deep down into the most current research and see what top cognitive neuroscientists and educational psychologists are telling us about the process we use to store printed words in our long-term memory.  When we understand the research we can ensure best practise is occurring in our classrooms, giving students the essentials for successful learning. The skill we are talking about is called Orthographic Mapping and today we will unpack its meaning then give you practical strategies to get your students using this advanced strategy and fast tracking their literacy success.

In Episode 31 I will be sharing what is now considered “the most current theory of how children form sight word representations”. We will dive deep down into the most current research and see what top cognitive neuroscientists and educational psychologists are telling us about the process we use to store printed words in our long-term memory.  When we understand the research we can ensure best practise is occurring in our classrooms, giving students the essentials for successful learning. The skill we are talking about is called Orthographic Mapping and today we will unpack its meaning then give you practical strategies to get your students using this advanced strategy and fast tracking their literacy success.   Don't Forget to download your awesome FREEBIE! https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/

Episode 30 is all about making the most of this lock down time and avoiding common mistakes that teachers may unknowingly make when transitioning students to home learning. This is new territory for everyone and I know as teachers you are doing everything you can to keep afloat and manage this new way of supporting learning. The early primary school years can be the most difficult as the independent skills of your students are minimal, students require more explicit teaching and activities require guidance and feedback for learning to occur so teachers have a far more difficult job in setting up the right learning framework. Today we shed some light on common mistakes that hinder the learning process so that you can ensure you’re not falling into the trap of these. We also unpack strategies to use that will combat all of these mistakes and continue the deep learning journey for all students.

As we know, the most crucial years of learning for any child are the years they learn to read. How well they master this skill can have far reaching consequences for their ongoing achievement at school,their social and emotional well being, their vocational and financial success and their ability to thrive in and contribute to society. Episode 29 takes a look at how we can ensure our little learners in their first year of school can continue to learn the essential skills they need in order to read whether they are at school or home. Every day counts and the Covid 19 interruptions can have devastating effects.  So let’s take a look at the reading skills that every child must master in order to become a competent reader. And I’ll give you a tool kit of strategies to get you through the challenges ahead.

Episode 28 is a 6 step checklist and support plan to help  students and their families make a smooth transition to home learning during the COVID19 outbreak.  Many parents will be feeling anxious about their ability to step in as their children’s teacher so we want to empower them in that role and make their job as easy as possible.

I’m pretty sure you’ve had students in your class at the end of Kindy, Grade 1, Grade 2 and in fact every grade, who can get 100% accuracy in a spelling test and then their writing is riddled with spelling errors. There seems to be very little transference of spelling knowledge into their writing. Frustrating, right?  Well lets take a close look at the teaching strategy of ‘Dictation Exercises’. This one strategy can be an important key to unlock the connection between spelling and writing. Join me in Episode #27 and get the 5 step guide to effective dictation exercises that improve working memory.

Reading scientists, cognitive neuroscientists and educational psychologists all agree that Phonological weakness is the most common blocker for reading success.  According to researchers, at least 80 percent of all poor readers demonstrate a weakness in phonological awareness and/or phonological memory. Readers with phonological processing weaknesses also tend to be the poorest spellers.  So join me in Episode #26 and learn many practical strategies that teachers can use to ensure they are giving their learners the best start to becoming successful readers. find out more at www.theliteracycollective.com

Episode 25 will give you two very simple rocket fuel daily drills that will successfully launch all of your students into the reading success stratosphere.  Literacy time is limited in our crowded curriculum so I want to give you practical strategies that use proven methods and have high impact to optimise learning time….. this podcast takes a look at the benefits of adding a daily drill and gives you some key take aways to use immediately in your classroom.

Have you ever spent hours scouring TPT and Pinterest looking for resources for your literacy program, found a great game or resource then spent hours printing, laminating and cutting only to realise it was a one hit wonder.  You end up using it once and then pack it away until next year. (If you are the organized, store and label type)  I have a garage full of those types of resources  and have often thought to myself, ‘enough is enough!’  It got to the point where I would only select resources that could be used multiple times and in multiple ways. In episode 24, I want to give you one resource and show you how it can be used in 4 different ways, all year round, even as students increase their competency. This resource is one, you’ll grow to love and you’ll wonder how you ever taught without it. To discover more about the program, visit www.theliteracycollective.com 

Episode 23 reveals one very common teaching strategy, that is widespread in our classrooms today. This flawed strategy and has been totally debunked by neuroscientists. In fact, researchers label it as a complete waste of time and even detrimental to the learning process.  Join me as I take on the traditional 'holy grail' of learning....'sight words'...... and present the do's and don'ts of early years methodologies for supporting successful beginning readers. Find out more at www.theliteracycollective.com

Episode #22 takes you on a personal journey of how one teacher made 5 small but mighty changes to her literacy program and transformed struggling learners into confident readers.  These 5 simple steps could be implemented into your classroom straight away.

It seems like everyone is decluttering or organizing something... be it their homes, their lives, their minds or pretty much anything else that is declutterable.  And apparently the benefits are numerous - more productivity, more time and more joy! Taken to a whole new level by Marie Kondo in her books and Netflix series, decluttering has become a global phenomenon.  So it totally makes sense that we would apply this knowledge and evidence to our classrooms, right?  In Episode 21 I unpack the research from a study looking at classroom design features that can significantly  increase learning outcomes. Also for a bit of fun, we discover what ‘Marie Kondoing’ our classrooms would look like. In this short podcast, you'll be given the 5 key principles for SPARKING LEARNING in your classroom. Listen to more podcasts and discover The Literacy Collective at: https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/    

Have you ever found yourself wondering just how much you can rely on the materials found on the internet? Or maybe you have purchased a cheap resource that ended up just being a whole lot of preparation and a one hit wonder. The real question is …....can we really trust resources made by other teachers sold cheaply on the internet? The need to have resources aligned to the ‘science of reading’ is imperative and all resources should be about learning, not busy work, therefore I’ve create this simple 6 step guide to help your decision making and get the best outcomes for learning. Check out the TLC Program at www.theliteracycollective.com  

During Episode 19 I look more closely at the way phonics is being taught in  many classrooms across the globe. I also explain why these classrooms are failing to get the results hoped for.   Let’s face it, you can be using an evidence based phonics approach but if it is not being taught in a way to maximise results, then it becomes just another ‘program that wasn't great’. Give your students the advantage by tuning into Episode 19 and find out about the misconceptions and advantage points of phonics in the early years. To find out more visit www.theliteracycollective.com

The most successful early reading instruction studies, by reading scientists, have been ones using a linguistic phonics approach. Learn how a 'Sound to Print' approach to teaching phonics makes learning logical and managable for all learners. With 26 letters and 44 sounds, the English language is one of the most complex languages to learn so we need an approach that simplifies its process. Join me in Episode 18 as I delve into the different approaches and give you some practical examples along the way.

‘Which phonics program will be the most effective to ensure every child learns to read?’ Call it 'The Reading Wars' or 'The Phonics Debate', either way the true question that really matters is what approach to teaching reading is scientifically proven to be 'best practise' to achieve success. Join me in Episode 17 where we take a closer look at two phonics approaches that seem to be in most of our schools and which one is clearly the front runner with lasting results.   To find out more about our program and other podcasts visit www.theliteracycollective.com 

In Episode 16 I take a close look at a very underestimated teaching approach to teaching phonics and early reading skills.  In fact, this strategy can supercharge your program and results. It is a proven method that is recommended for students with reading disabilities like dyslexia but has now scientifically been proven to help all learners. I am also going to pack this episode full of ideas and tips that you can use in your classroom straight away!   To find out more about the TLC program go to www.theliteracycollective.com 

Did you know there are 5 types of phonics instructions? Some instructions are backed by science and are proven methods for success while others are having detrimental effects on student learning. Tune in to Episode 15 to find out the best approaches to teaching phonics. We will explore what's in and what's out. This podcast might just change the way you view phonics.   Find more podcasts and the TLC program at www.theliteracysuccess.com

Episode 14 unpacks The Science of Teaching Reading with educational expert Toni Hatten-Roberts. Toni shares her expertise on this critical topic and unpack what current research is teaching us.  She informs us about what a quality literacy program should include and gives us considerations for what and how we are teaching reading.   Visit www.theliteracycollective.com to find out more about our program and resources

To simplify the research we can simply say that Reading Comprehension is critical, especially when establishing a love of reading. There’s no point reading words with fluency if you’re not understanding what you’re reading. Think back to your favourite novel as an adult. I’m sure you loved it because it kept you guessing with every twist and turn in the storyline, you would have been predicting what was coming, inferring character traits and feelings, questioning why events happen and making connections with your own feelings and experiences.....these comprehension strategies are what fluent readers naturally use to engage with and enjoy literature. So join me in Episode 13 as we go through part 2 of a two part series that will provide you with loads of practical ideas to teach reading comprehension strategies explicitly.   Find out more at www.theliteracycollective.com

To simplify the research we can simply say that Reading Comprehension is critical, especially when establishing a love of reading. There’s no point reading words with fluency if you’re not understanding what you’re reading. Think back to your favourite novel as an adult. I’m sure you loved it because it kept you guessing with every twist and turn in the storyline, you would have been predicting what was coming, inferring character traits and feelings, questioning why events happen and making connections with your own feelings and experiences.....these comprehension strategies are what fluent readers naturally use to engage with and enjoy literature. So join me in Episode 12 as we go through a 2 part series that will provide you with loads of practical ideas to teach reading comprehension strategies explicitly.   Learn about our full program at www.theliteracycollective.com Find more of our podcasts and freebies at https://theliteracycollective.com/podcast/ 

Poor spelling impacts a child’s literacy development, it impedes the writing process and can limit participation in subjects across the curriculum, even limiting future job opportunities.   In Episode 11, I take you through 7 simple methods to set your learners up from success. 

Imagine if you could give every student in your classroom a foundation so strong that your vulnerable learners were never given an opportunity to develop learning gaps. Imagine the sense of well being these students would experience, knowing they have the tools to become good at reading and writing just like the other kids around them.     Well in episode 10 I share the secret strategy to set students up for success and fast track reading success.   With the simple steps to implement this strategy, you’ll be equipped to effectively teach the crucial pre-reading skills necessary for a successful literacy launch.   Explore the full program at www.theliteracycollective.com

We all know a laugh or two is good for us but have you ever stopped to think that humour could be used in the classroom to improve educational outcomes? You have to admire scholars willing to look at 40 years of research on any topic, but how awesome to find researchers interested in understanding the role of humour in education. In episode 9, I unpack the benefits of humour in an Early Years (K-2) classroom, the strategies to use to implement it effectively and some practical examples you could use in your classroom straight away!

What if, along with creating a fabulous lesson plan, you also gave more thought to creating the ideal conditions for learning. What does that look like, you may ask? Well as usual, I’ve done the research for you and I’ve put together a step by step checklist for creating an optimal learning experience in which your young learners will feel safe, engaged, ready to learn, with an expectation of success. In Episode 8 I’ll unpack Cambourne’s 7 conditions of learning and will show you how these steps will assist anyone (regardless of their age) in learning a new skill. No doubt, you’re already doing a number of these steps or maybe even all of them. If not, I really want to encourage you to harness the power of these sequenced teaching strategies to create an optimal leaning experience for all of your students. When you’ve nailed it in your classrrom, why not apply it to your own life to learn a new language or a musical instrument, (in your spare time) or perhaps teaching your partner to cook. Yes!! Now we’re talkin!   To find out more about our program visit www.theliteracycollective.com

There is a clear pathway for teaching every child to read. Science has proven this over and over again. I can’t wait to share Part 2 of Teaching reading, using a ‘sound’ phonics program. I’d really advise listening to last week’s podcast before this one. I unpack a 90min literacy block where I take you through how to introduce a phoneme (sound). In this episode, we’ll look at teaching the grapheme/s that represents the phoneme taught the day before.

Episode 6 unpacks the quality teaching strategies needed in a 90 minute literacy block, using research based strategies that accelerate literacy learning for all students. There are two camps of thought when it comes to defining phonics and the one you choose will determine the underlying philosophy of the way you teach a child to read. The difference is subtle, almost non observable to most teachers. The real difference will be observed in how well your students, especially your more vulnerable learners, launch into their literacy journeys. So what are the two camps of thought? Find out in this episode! In this podcast, I’m going to break down what a 90min literacy lesson looks like teaching a single phoneme/sound to your students. The plan I outline adopts a multi-sensory pedagogical approach with a mixture of small group rotations and hands on/physical games, making it suitable for all learners with multiple intelligences. This is especially important for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Dyslexic learners typically struggle with auditory and/or visual processing and they really benefit from hands-on, whole body learning. Download today's freebie to see the full day plan, timing and types of activities incorporated. Check out The Literacy Collective at www.theliteracycollective.com Follow TLC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLiteracyCollective/  Join our Podcast Private group https://www.facebook.com/groups/604117287086648/ 

In episode 5, I unpack the 7 simple lesson sequence that takes less than 10 mins to introduce new vocabulary in your classroom. I’ll give you evidence based strategies based on Marzano's methods that aid memory retention of new words as well as fun, helpful teaching tips. The freebies alone are worth listening for! Join our facebook podcast group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604117287086648/  Download the episode freebies here: http://theliteracycollectivepodcast.com/ep-5-vocabulary/  Visit our website for full program details www.theliteracycollective.com 

Sight words have always been one of those confusing and contradictory areas for young learners and because they appear so early in a child’s literacy journey, many children start the reading process on the back foot – confused and overwhelmed before they even get started.  Episode 4 Gives you a clear list of Do's and Don'ts when teaching sight words. I share with you some super helpful tips for teaching as well as my favourite researched based game assisting memorisation Sight words do not need to be confusing and the good news is they can be decoded EASILY, fast tracking fluency.