Insights and Updates - The Literacy Bug

This podcast summarises a range of resources that can help teachers better plan and monitor for effective literacy teaching and learning. We encourage visitor to download the presentation slides and resources at http://bit.ly/2-Planning-Monitoring-Resources

This is a presentation that explores the changing nature of literacy across the various stages of literacy development. In so doing, we discuss how instruction must change as learners consolidate core skills and prepare for new skills and expectations. Teaching routines for the various stages of literacy development are also discussed. Please explore and enjoy! Presentation slides are available for download at https://www.theliteracybug.com/s/Teaching-Routines-Stages.pdf

This is a presentation that provides advice on "How to plan and monitor effective teaching and learning". It emphasises the need for teachers to develop scaffolded activties that provide learners with the skills to succeed. Presentation slides are available for download at https://www.theliteracybug.com/s/Planning-Monitoring.pdf

The presentation explores the many components of literacy development, the stages of literacy development, and the dual-demands of "code-based" and "meaning-based" practices. To be exact, it sets out to meet the following objectives: (a) to explore the components of literacy development (e.g. oral language development, phonemic awareness, etc); (b) to explore the stages of literacy development (i.e. the gradual, cumulative nature of literacy development); (c) to understand the difference between code-based skills and meaning-based skills; (d) to understanding the four levels of processing texts / reading text; and (e) to appreciate that learners are active participants as the makers of meaning, the constructors of knowledge and members of communities.

Welcome to another episode of The Literacy Bug Podcast! This week I respond to the recent blog entry called “Encoding, Decoding and Understanding (Print) Language”. In the mentioned blog entry, I casually glossed over the importance of oral language comprehension in the role of literacy development. In glossing over oral comprehension, I did not neglect or undermine its significance. In fact, I acknowledge the complexity and significance of language comprehension in propelling the need the encode and decode anything in the first place. In this podcast, I explore that which was left unexplored: the intricate relationship between print processing, language development and cognitive process. Please listen, explore and enjoy! We aim to bring many more episodes in the coming weeks. (theliteracybug.com)

Even though we are referring to this as the fourth episode of the podcast, it is the first one under the name The Literacy Bug. Originally, in its previous form, the podcast applied Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language to the domain of literacy. Since then, the podcast and its associated website (theliteracybug.com) have evolved into something a little less esoteric and a lot more practical; we explore everyday issues pertaining to literacy teaching and learning. Without further ado, we launch into the first official podcast under the name The Literacy Bug. The topic is assessment. I would like to demonstrate how proper assessment practices are essential for effective teaching and learning, because they contribute to targeted, equitable instruction. We hope this is the beginning of many more episodes to come. (theliteracybug.com)

Welcome to the third episode of the Wittgenstein On Learning Podcast. In this episode, I discuss Wittgenstein's concept of commanding a clear view. Given the amount of time spent recently on literacy pedagogy in the blog (wittgenstein-on-learning.com/journal), some may be surprised at the choice of topic. However, the topic makes perfect sense. Over the past few weeks, I have been committed to gaining a clear view of the topics of language and literacy development. I have taken a reflective stance of seeking an overarching description of my topic. With such a viewpoint, it is easier to "find my way about". In this podcast, I speak about commanding a clear view in a more general way, and I speak about the significant yet difficult task of developing a synoptic view over our knowledge. That said, any such achievement must be balanced with real practice. In other words, a thinker must spend time ommanding a clear view whilst also getting to the rough ground to test and refine one's ideas. Or as Wittgenstein puts it, "thinking too has a time for ploughing and a time for gathering the harvest." (Culture & Value). iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/journal-wittgensteinian-view/id879917574

This is the second episode of the Wittgenstein On Learning Podcast. In this episode, I discuss Wittgenstein's concept of language games. The concept of language games serves as a central features of Wittgenstein's later philosophy. Through this concept, Wittgenstein is able to take a more anthropological or ethnographic approach to language by emphasising how language is acquired, developed and justified within contexts. In this episode, I explore (a) how language is acquired in contexts through engagement in various communities of practice; (b) how individuals develop a range of concepts over time that become applied to experience, and (c) how it important for individuals to become critically aware of the discourses that are used to explain and interpret experiences and events. I welcome people to listen to the podcast for more, and I invite comments and questions. (wittgenstein-on-learning.com) iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/journal-wittgensteinian-view/id879917574

The podcast will provide a further outlet to present ideas in relation to the impact of Wittgensteinian ideas on contemporary discussions of language learning, literacy acquisition, cultural practices and the development of knowledge. The first episode provides an introduction to the website as well as a brief contrast between the treatment of language (and literacy) in the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigation. To keep the contemporary feel, the contrast is applied to Paris's (2005) presentation of constrained skills theory in relation to literacy development. I welcome people to listen to the podcast for more, and I look forward to taking further advantage of the medium as a complement to journal entries and other content on the website. (wittgenstein-on-learning.com) iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/journal-wittgensteinian-view/id879917574