How children learn to read well and what kind of teaching helps them is a scarcely penetrated mystery. This book is a fascinating and informative research report by a group of teachers who set out to teach children who have failed to acquire a useful degree of literacy; in it they discuss their experiences. The authors are presenting evidence about a central and constant problem in education, an essential kind of evidence which is often ignored, because it is so difficult to collect and present. The report presents enough case-notes and recordings of lessons and discussions to allow readers to make their own interpretations alongside those of the writers. Highly informative about many of the central topics of teaching literacy it discusses children’s motivation, the influence of social and cultural background on learning, and different methods of teaching reading.

This book sets out a clear and logical framework for the teaching of reading throughout different age groups, whereby systematic progression can be developed within a structured framework. A detailed set of recommendations are offered and are both illustrated and justified, for the teacher to examine and use. Much has been written about the importance of skilled and efficient reading and language usage in the early years of education, but all too few teachers are aware of the need for the development of reading skills in an ordered sequence with older children as well. Problems such as the motivation of the learner, the place of reading in a mass media age, the extent and classification of reading failure and the diagnosis of reading problems are examined, and the complexities of the linguistic background and of linguistic deprivation are covered thoroughly.

How children learn to read well and what kind of teaching helps them is a scarcely penetrated mystery. This book is a fascinating and informative research report by a group of teachers who set out to teach children who have failed to acquire a useful degree of literacy; in it they discuss their experiences. The authors are presenting evidence about a central and constant problem in education, an essential kind of evidence which is often ignored, because it is so difficult to collect and present. The report presents enough case-notes and recordings of lessons and discussions to allow readers to make their own interpretations alongside those of the writers. Highly informative about many of the central topics of teaching literacy it discusses children's motivation, the influence of social and cultural background on learning, and different methods of teaching reading.

Literacy remains a contentious and polarized educational, media and political issue. What has emerged from the continuing debate is a recognition that literacy in education is allied closely with matters of language and culture, ideology and discourse, knowledge and power. Drawing perspectives variously from critical social theory and cultural studies, poststructuralism and feminisms, sociolinguistics and the ethnography of communication, social history and comparative education, the contributors begin a critical interrogation of taken-for-granted assumptions which have guided educational policy, research and practice.

Despite a vast amount of study, literacy is still a very confused topic, which requires the integration of findings from different areas. Reading and writing are psychological skills, but they are also linguistic skills (since people read and write meaningful language) and social skills (since written language serves particular functions in different societies). In this book Michael Stubbs provides a basis for a sociolinguistic theory of literacy. He believes that a systematic theory of literacy must be based on an understanding of a number of factors, such as the relationship between written and spoken language, including how English spelling works and how it is related to spoken English. Also of paramount importance are the social, educational and technological pressures on written language, which are particularly powerful in the case of an international language like English; the social and communicative functions which written language serves – largely administrative and intellectual functions; and the variability of spoken language and the relative uniformity of written language. The book also discusses the arguments behind deprivation theory as an explanation of educational failure. Reading failure is not well understood, but the author stresses that a vital element is the attitude of teachers towards the child’s language. He emphasizes that it is important that teachers should understand as much as possible about the relationship between written language and the child’s spoken language. Such understanding, he argues, can only increase tolerance of regional, social and ethnic diversity in language.

Examines the current and future role of public libraries in adult literacy service provision by analyzing survey data collected from state library agencies, designated literacy contacts in those agencies, heads of state literacy resource centers, and local library literacy programs. Discusses the use and limits of technology, program planning, finance and funding, and programs at the state and local levels. The final section presents the main findings of the study, along with conclusions and recommendations. Includes tables detailing the study questions and responses and a listing of the respondents. Charts and tables.

The new edition of Supporting Education is the perfect handbook for anyone who works with qualified teachers in a role supporting the education and development of school children. Supporting Education, 3e is written to support the Certificate III in Education Support qualification, from the streamlined CHC Community Services Training Package. It provides Education Support Workers with an overview of child development and how children learn, as well an introduction to the key learning areas. The text also links to new online support resources and information to help with teaching and class prep time. Premium online teaching and learning tools are available on the MindTap platform. Learn more about the online tools cengage.com.au/learning-solutions