And now we cross live, for the launch of the Correct Reading Alliance People. Interviewer: I’d like to welcome Professor Donna Kruger to the launch of a visionary new initiative, called the Correct Reading Alliance People. Welcome, Professor Kruger. Professor Kruger: Thank you John, delighted to be here. I: So what exactly is the Correct …

The Correct Reading Alliance People: A New Bottle (spoiler: same old wine) Read More »

I have had the great honour, over the last year or so, to have been a regular guest on the ABC Radio Adelaide Jules Schiller Drive show. Jules is a keen wordsmith and a bit of a larrikin, hence the title of his linguistics segment: Polish a Word. This week, Jules wanted to talk about Arabic …

Polish a Word: Unexpected Words that Come from Arabic Read More »

We are judged on our linguistic output whether we like it or not. People are instinctively primed to make snap decisions about others based on a range of subtle signals. Language is a huge factor. This is one of the reasons that language-based disorders in children can have such long-term, corrosive effects. In my practice, …

Stranded in a World of Brang and Drawed Read More »

The start of every year brings a new influx of students. They all have certain things in common: They have not progressed in reading and/or writing enough to keep up with their peers. They are in need of support. They are in need of assessment. They have, at some point, been told that they have …

What is the one question we never ask our new students? Read More »

Last week I sought information from teachers about being mandated to use Running Records for assessment and reporting. This followed an article I wrote about why these assessments were not fit for purpose. When I say Running Records, I do mean formal Benchmark Assessment System tests and less formal stand-alone Running Records. I wanted to …

Running Records: Results of a brief survey (spoiler: they’re unpopular if you haven’t drunk the balanced literacy Kool Aid) Read More »

Taking steps to improve the quality of instruction so that all children progress appropriately towards literacy is not a job for the faint-hearted. Yet my 2019 was filled with stories of courageous schools and teachers making huge strides. The ambition to make my tutoring practice (and others like it) a necessity only for those with …

Rethinking Running Records: ammunition and armour in the battle for better literacy Read More »

This just in from a slightly panicked vendor of teaching resources: Hi everyone! I’ve been asked to coin a derogatory term for my detractors to help shift attention off the weaknesses in my resources and put it back where it should be: on the Reading Wars. To that end, I’m going to go with phonics-centric. …

“Hey Smartass!” No one gets to mess with my market share! Read More »

A report on Dr. Steven Dykstra’s talk at The Reading League Third Annual Conference in Syracuse on October 19th 2019. In his biographical notes on the International Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction website, Steve states: As a psychologist with over 25 years of experience, working in an urban setting with the most challenging and difficult mental …

“Hey Dumbass!” The marketing problem in the Reading Wars Read More »

That was the cry of the 900+ educators from all over the world who converged in Syracuse, New York this week for The Reading League’s Third Annual Conference. The theme, as we sailed off into two days of incredibly high quality professional development, was about sharing knowledge in the best possible way so that everyone …

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Part One of The Reading League 2019 conference debrief Read More »

Emily Hanford sure is a hard act to follow (see part one). Luckily, those who did follow were outstanding. Conferences are always a joy, but coupled with it is the terrible fear of missing out (FOMO). Delegates have to regretfully choose between concurrent presentations. Presenters have to present at the same time as big names. …

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Part Two of The Reading League 2019 conference debrief Read More »