“Reading to learn”

Last week I was privileged to attend a 1-day master class of professional learning around Education Queensland’s new reading position and what it means for our school. We heard the research around the latest approach to teaching students to read and acknowledge that learning to read is not a natural skill. Research states we must explicitly teach the vital components of reading in a logical order. Students become confident with reading when they are successful.

“Learning to read is a process that needs step-by-step teaching and plenty of practise at school and at home. Unlike walking or talking, reading is not a skill that we learn naturally — everyone needs to be taught how to read.”

At Bowen State School we have already commenced moving to the best practices around the new way to teach reading and have been purchasing decodable readers that align to this approach. Teaching reading through the v9 Australian Curriculum and including the tailored and differentiated supports with all our children will help them become independent and confident at reading.

For the remainder of the year we will be differentiating the support to the classroom teachers, providing time and professional development at our school in the ways they can effectively deliver the components of reading for each and every child. I have included the reading position statement for families to view in this week’s newsletter and some information for families around how we teach children to read.