-
The Wonder of Teaching Vocabulary with Freddy Hiebert
How Teachers Can Transform Vocabulary Learning Revolutionary insights from literacy expert Dr Freddy Hiebert reveal why traditional methods aren't working—and what to do instead Australian educators are discovering what Dr Freddy Hiebert has known for years: flashcards and word lists aren't just ineffective—they're actively hindering student progress. The literacy researcher...
-
Part 6: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Team Teaching Success at Mt Barker South Primary School What happens when two passionate Year 5/6 teachers join forces to create a truly integrated literacy programme? At Mt Barker South Primary School in South Australia, Renee Saldhana and Ra Te Whare have discovered the transformative power of collaborative teaching that...
-
Building Literacy Foundations: Essential Strategies for the Modern Classroom
Transformative approaches for creating vibrant literacy environments that empower students and foster lifelong learning habits As teachers, we understand the importance of setting the tone for a productive, inspiring school year. Creating a literacy-rich environment isn't just about the aesthetics of your classroom—it's about equipping students with the strategies and...
-
The Heart of Mathematics: Proficiencies in Action
A deep dive into Rob Vingerhoets' approach to mathematical proficiencies and how they can transform your classroom Beyond the Basics: Understanding Mathematical Proficiencies When mathematics consultant Rob Vingerhoets describes mathematical proficiencies as "the thing" in mathematics education, he's highlighting a fundamental shift in how we should approach teaching maths. In...
-
Part 5: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Transforming Literacy: A Journey of Growth and Innovation In a thought-provoking conversation between Sharon Callen, a literacy consultant, and Tamara Biddle, a Foundation year teacher at Mount Barker South Primary School, we gain valuable insights into the transformation of literacy teaching practices. This inspiring discussion reveals how moving away from...
-
Getting Better at Conferring, Yrs 3-6
Transforming Reading Instruction Through Five-Minute Conferences In a recent podcast featuring literacy expert Sharon Callen, educators were introduced to a powerful approach to reading instruction that centres on brief, targeted conferences with students. These five-minute interactions offer teachers a window into students' reading processes while providing immediate, actionable feedback that...
-
Part 4: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Building a Passionate Reading and Writing Community in Your Classroom When was the last time your students were so captivated by each other's writing that you could hear a pin drop in your classroom? For Robert Kennedy, a dedicated Mt Barker South Primary School primary teacher in his third year...
-
Mastering NAPLAN: The Authentic Way
As educators, we often grapple with the challenge of preparing students for standardised tests while maintaining authentic teaching practices. Sharon Callen's insights on NAPLAN preparation offer a refreshing perspective that aligns test readiness with excellent teaching practices. Here's how we can transform NAPLAN preparation from a source of stress to...
-
The Power of Expert Coaching in Sustainable Change
Transforming School Literacy: The Power of Expert Coaching in Sustainable Change When schools undertake literacy transformation, the role of expert coaching can be transformative. Mt Barker South Primary School's five year journey demonstrates how partnership with a literacy consultant became a catalyst for sustainable change, building teacher capacity and revolutionising...
-
Part 3: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Transforming Literacy Learning: A School's Journey of Collaboration, Confidence, and Student Empowerment In the ever-evolving landscape of education, some schools manage to create remarkable transformations that inspire and challenge traditional approaches to teaching and learning. The story of Mt Barker South Primary Schools literacy journey offers powerful insights into how...
-
Evidence-Based Literacy Teaching: A Workshop Roadmap for Educators
Evidence-Based Literacy Teaching: A Workshop Roadmap for Educators We recently designed and presented this workshop for a school in far north South Australia. It offers a comprehensive approach to powerful literacy teaching that can benefit all literacy educators across Australia. The presentation focuses on evidence-based strategies to create engaged and...
-
Part 2: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Starting a Literacy Journey: Jess Kneebone and Sharon Callen Reflect on Growth in Literacy Teaching Five years ago, a young teacher named Jess Kneebone began her teaching career fresh out of university. It was during her first year at Mount Barker South Primary School in Adelaide that she joined an...
-
Part 1: Celebrating Growth in Literacy
Celebrating Teacher Practice Education visionary Garth Boomer emphasised the significance of celebrating learning journeys, for both students and teachers. His 10th learning principle, the Confirming (and Celebrating) Principle, highlights the joy and empowerment learners feel when successfully executing a plan. He wrote: "Once I have understood and acted with effect...
-
Part 2: The Essential Classroom Setup in 2025
By Sharon Callen As teachers, we constantly seek ways to improve the learning environment for our students, making literacy engaging and effective. This blog, inspired by my latest podcast episode, brings together ideas to set up your classroom for success in 2025. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting...
-
Part 1: The Essential Classroom Setup in 2025
By Sharon Callen As teachers, we understand the importance of setting the tone for a productive, inspiring school year. Creating a literacy-rich environment isn't just about the aesthetics of your classroom—it's about equipping students with the strategies/ tools they need to explore, create, and grow. In this blog, I'll introduce...
-
Part 3: The Importance of Teaching Comprehension, F-2
Teaching Comprehension in the Early Years: A Practical Guide for Educators In the foundational years, teaching comprehension is one of the most impactful ways to foster confident, engaged readers. This narrative, inspired by insights from Diane Snowball, offers practical strategies to help teachers cultivate comprehension skills in their classrooms. From...
-
Part 2: The Importance of Teaching Comprehension, F-2
The Importance of Teaching Comprehension in Foundation to Year 2: Insights from Diane Snowball Teaching comprehension in the early years lays the foundation for lifelong literacy. Diane Snowball's recent podcast offers a wealth of wisdom on how teachers can seamlessly integrate decoding and comprehension to empower their youngest learners. Let's...
-
Part 1: The Importance of Teaching Comprehension, F-2
Teaching Comprehension in the Early Years – A Conversation with Diane Snowball In the world of early literacy, comprehension often takes a back seat to the foundational skills of phonics and decoding. However, as literacy expert Diane Snowball passionately argues, comprehension is the heart and soul of reading. Without understanding,...
-
Part 3: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers
Unlocking Literacy with Purpose: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers In the world of teaching literacy, we're always striving to support each student's growth in reading and writing. But how do we track and encourage this development in a way that's meaningful, manageable, and aligned with curriculum goals? Enter a...
-
Part 2: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers
Part 2: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers – Enhancing Literacy Through Observation and Strategy In this episode, Sharon dives into a new, actionable assessment tool that helps teachers pinpoint where students are thriving in literacy and where they may need more support. Called the 'Listening to Reading, Watching Whilst...
-
Part 1: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers
Part 1: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers – Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing Protocol In the ever-evolving landscape of education, assessment tools that effectively capture the nuances of student learning are invaluable. One such tool, recently developed by Nell Duke and her team (Ward and Klingelhofer), is the...
-
Part 3: Blessing the Book with Sharon Callen
Blessing the Book: Nurturing Readers through Stories In part three of the podcast series, Sharon Callen invites teachers to explore the magic of children's literature, emphasising the idea of "blessing the book." This concept goes beyond simply reading aloud; it is about honouring the story, respecting the author's craft, and...
-
Part 4: Blessing the Book with Sharon Callen
Blessing the Book: Exploring Picture Books with Sharon Callen – Part 4 Picture books hold a special place in a child's life, offering them a chance to explore the world, their emotions, and the complexities of life through art and words. In the fourth part of her podcast series, Sharon...
-
Part 2: Blessing the Book with Sharon Callen
Blessing the Book: A Framework for Building Student Engagement In this blog, we delve into how teachers can foster reading engagement in the classroom. Drawing from research by experts like Linda Gambrell and strategies shared by Sharon Callen, this framework emphasises the importance of actively teaching engagement alongside reading skills....
-
Part 1: Blessing the Book with Sharon Callen
Motivating Young Readers: Unlocking the Joy and Purpose of Reading One of the most common challenges teachers face is ensuring that students not only read but also understand and enjoy what they are reading. Many children can decode words and pass reading tests, but are they truly engaging with the...
