Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Effective Early Years Literacy Teaching Practices Margaret Sankey, Manager Andrea Barker, Project Officer Programs & Resources B-8

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Outline Common messages from the evidence Literacy Secretariat platform – implications for early years literacy Sharing of strategies for strengthening teaching implications Where to next?

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Reading and writing floats on a sea of talk D.Hornsby

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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 Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business

Quality Literacy Teaching It 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.

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business The National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy (DEST 2005) Recommends: that educators provide systematic, direct and explicit phonics instruction so that children master the essential alphabetic code-breaking skills equally, that educators provide an integrated approach to reading that supports the development of oral language, vocabulary, grammar, reading fluency, comprehension and the literacies of new technologies.

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business The National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy (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.

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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.

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Evidence underpinning early years literacy The Big Six (Konza) 1.Linguistic Knowledge 2.Phonological awareness 3.Letter sound Knowledge 4.Vocabulary 5.Fluency 6.Comprehension

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Challenges & Opportunities In current times what are the challenges & opportunities facing literacy teachers in their everyday work ?

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Practice Holistic approaches Responsive to children Learning through play Intentional teaching Learning environments Cultural competence Continuity of learning and transition Assessment for learning

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Effective teaching and learning for young children Early Years Literacy Program DECS 2006 Knowledge of children –Knowing each child is essential for planning effective teaching and learning experiences

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Effective teaching and learning for young children Early Years Literacy Program DECS 2006 An engaging and active learning environment –Effective learning is optimised through a comprehensive and contextual program that promotes engagement

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business 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

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business Balanced literacy Talking together Reading aloud daily and frequently Shared reading Individual reading Modeled writing Shared writing Individual writing

Literacy Secretariat Literacy is everyone’s business