Category: News

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Events Literacy News

Talking Literacy Series 2

Following the incredible success of the first series of AUSPELD’s Talking Literacy webinars, we are excited to announce the line-up of guests for Series 2!

Talking Literacy features conversations with international experts as they share some of their acquired knowledge, key discoveries and thoughts for the future. The series focuses on the acquisition of language, literacy and numeracy and includes interviews with Stanislas Dehaene, Julie Washington, Natalie Wexler, William Van Cleave, Maria Murray and David Kilpatrick, as well as a special episode to start off the 2021 series featuring three of the world’s leading reading researchers, Kathy Rastle, Kate Nation and Anne Castles.

These interviews (conducted by AUSPELD President Mandy Nayton) will be essential viewing for teachers, administrators, speech pathologists, psychologists and parents concerned about evidence-informed practice in the fields of literacy and learning.

If you have previously registered for Talking Literacy in 2020, you will automatically receive an email notification when each new webinar is released.

If you have yet to register, sign up here.

Mark Wednesday March 17th in your calendar and be sure to follow AUSPELD on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Categories
Events Literacy News

A Special ‘Talking Literacy’ Conversation

The first Talking Literacy webinar to be released in 2021 is a special one. AUSPELD President Mandy Nayton will be chatting with Kate Nation, Kathy Rastle and Anne Castles, who recently won the 2020 Economic and Social Research Council Celebrating Impact Prize in the category of ‘Outstanding International Impact,’ based on their highly regarded 2018 paper focused on bringing the science of reading to reading instruction in classrooms around the world.
This conversation with three of the world’s leading reading researchers will focus on why their paper “Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition from Novice to Expert” has had such a significant impact. It will also include an exploration of what Kate, Kathy and Anne are up to now, and what the implications of this are for future practice.
This webinar will be followed by Series Two of Talking Literacy which will feature conversations with nine international experts in the fields of literacy and language. We are currently confirming the schedule of interviewees and can’t wait to share this information with you! There are some very exciting speakers you will certainly want to hear from.
Those who have already registered for the previous series of Talking Literacy will automatically receive an email notification when the new series becomes available.
If you have yet to register for these exceptional free webinars, you can sign up here.
Categories
Advocacy News

AUSPELD’s Submission to the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education

We recently sought the input of teachers, parents, and students with learning difficulties to help inform AUSPELD’s submission to the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education. We received almost 1,000 completed surveys from families and educators across Australia!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many teachers, parents and students who took the time to respond to the survey and who spoke so honestly about their experiences and views. Hopefully, we have captured your thoughts and voices in our submission.

AUSPELD’s submission can be viewed here.Cover Page of AUSPELD's Submission to the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education

Categories
Advocacy Literacy News

Primary Reading Pledge

Five From Five, AUSPELD and Learning Difficulties Australia have collaborated on an evidence-based framework for schools to dramatically reduce the number of children who finish primary school unable to read proficiently. It is vitally important that schools and teachers are provided with the support, training and resources they need to ensure that all students learn to read.
Primary Reading Pledge:
“To reduce to near zero the number of children who finish primary school unable to read by providing primary schools with the resources and training to provide effective assessment and intervention.”
Download the Primary Reading Pledge plan here: https://fivefromfive.com.au/primary-reading-pledge
Add your name to the list of people who support an evidence-based action plan to get all children reading by the end of primary school.
Go to https://fivefromfive.com.au/support_primary_reading_pledge
Categories
Advocacy Literacy News

Launch of the Literacy Hub website and Year 1 Phonics Check

AUSPELD strongly supports evidence informed practice in the teaching of literacy. In order to read well, children need to be taught to read words accurately and fluently, and they need the knowledge and vocabulary to understand what they read.

The Phonics Check is one component of a high-quality structured literacy program. The recent announcement by the Federal Government that stage one of the Year 1 Phonics Check is now available to schools and families across Australia has been welcomed by AUSPELD. It is a simple tool which checks student progress in the second half of Year 1. The results of the Phonics Check provide teachers with a useful overview of students’ individual reading skills and assists teachers to identify students who need additional support.

The Phonics Check is available now via a new online portal for teachers, school leaders and families called the Literacy Hub. The Hub includes information on how students learn to read, as well as resources for schools and families to support literacy development. Additional resources will be added over the coming months.

Go to literacyhub.edu.au to find out more.

 

Categories
Events Literacy News

Talking Literacy Webinar Series

AUSPELD is excited to announce an upcoming new webinar series, featuring conversations with international experts as they share some of their acquired knowledge, key discoveries and thoughts for the future. The series focuses on the acquisition of language, literacy and numeracy and includes interviews with Louisa Moats, Mark Seidenberg, Kate Nation, Carl Hendrick, Paul Kirschner, Daniel Ansari, Pie Corbett, Emily Hanford and Pamela Snow.

These interviews (conducted by AUSPELD President Mandy Nayton) will be essential viewing for teachers, administrators, speech pathologists, psychologists and parents concerned with evidence-informed practice in the fields of literacy and learning. More information about how to register for – and contribute to – these free webinars will be shared soon. Be sure to follow AUSPELD on Facebook or Twitter for updates – https://www.facebook.com/AUSPELD/  https://twitter.com/auspeld

Registrations now open

Categories
News

Additional Updates to SPELD Services

Over the past few months, state SPELD associations have responded to the COVID-19 context by adapting their service delivery models to include online clinical services, professional development, and tutoring. As restrictions start to ease in some parts of the country, some state SPELDs have begun to return to face to face service delivery while online and tele-health options continue to be available at all state SPELDs.

To find out more about the services available at each state SPELD, please click here.

For further information, contact your local state SPELD.

Click to enlarge

 

Categories
News Research

Emily Hanford’s exploration of the science of reading

Journalist Emily Hanford (author of Hard Words: Why aren’t kids being taught to read) recently presented an online keynote presentation as part of the PaTTAN Literacy Symposium.

The presentation focuses on Emily’s exploration of the science of reading. She shares some important take-home messages about changing the way the message of effective evidence-informed instruction is delivered.

We are looking forward to hosting Emily soon as a guest on our upcoming webinar series featuring several exciting international speakers. More news coming soon!

In the meantime, please enjoy this webinar which is highly recommended for educators, parents, and anyone concerned about how children are taught to read.

 

Categories
Literacy News

Interview with Dr. Jack Fletcher

This video interview with esteemed child neuropsychologist Dr. Jack Fletcher is a must-watch! Dr. Fletcher is the Principal Investigator of the Texas Centre for Learning Disabilities and is a former member of the NICHD National Advisory Council and the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education.

In the video, he explains the importance of early intervention for children with dyslexia, the key characteristics of effective reading intervention, the danger of intervention fads, and more.

Dr. Fletcher advocates for “Strong core instruction for everyone, which absolutely reduces risk… in the context of universal screening and progress monitoring.”

Listen to (or read) the interview here: readingrockets.org/teaching/experts/jack-fletcher

Child Neuropsychologist Dr. Jack Fletcher
Categories
News

Sounds-Write training is now available in an online format!

Sounds~Write is an evidence-based linguistic phonics program utilising an exciting and highly successful approach to the teaching of reading and spelling. The AUSPELD team are delighted to be offering online Sounds~Write workshops to interested teachers, tutors, parents, and allied health professionals. The first AUSPELD Sounds~Write course has gotten off to a fantastic start, and the upcoming June course is already booking up quickly. Two new start dates have also now been announced in July and August.

The online course runs for six weeks (with four weeks of content) and is monitored by experienced Sounds~Write trainers. Further information and booking details can be found by clicking on the flyer below.