Comments for Bill Boyd - The Literacy Adviser

Comment on The Tyranny of the Test by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:24:44 +0000

Hi Natty08,
How sad. You have just summed up more eloquently than I ever could the confusion which reigns over the way forward in terms of literacy development, and in fact the curriculum in general. It all sounds so familiar: the reluctance to let go of 5-14 curriculum; the fear of Big Brother in the form of HMIE or the local authority; the over-prescriptive nature of the guidelines to teachers; the compartmentalising of the curriculum (one hour of this, one hour of that, 2 sessions of something, x pages of something else); the need to pick up a “workbook” and see evidence of “hard work”. I wonder why there is such a turnover of staff! You have demonstrated through your concerns that teacher professionalism is indeed the key to changing the culture. There are people working for that change at the moment and they will prevail. Hang in there.

Best wishes
Bill

Comment on The Tyranny of the Test by shoutabyss

shoutabyss — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:05:54 +0000

Thanks for writing about this. That is some powerful and disturbing information. As far as NCLB, all I can say is that, like always, water tends to seek its own level.

Comment on The Tyranny of the Test by Natty08

Natty08 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:39:46 +0000

Although it has not made the news here yet I think that it has happened! There are far too many distractions within the Language scheme of work early on in a child’s life and not enough concentrating on the basics. I would be interested to see what others take on it is but here is my overcrowed week which does not allow for actually teaching the basics but instead looking at things which are not important for 6 and 7 year olds.

There is also strong feeling of overcrowding within language and I suppose that is due to the fact that schools although working towards CfE are not letting go of 5 – 14 guidelines until we know what assessment will replace and what HMI are looking for!

I do news which takes one session a week, story writing which takes one session a week this leaves me with three sessions to fit everything else in.

I am expected to use Jolly Grammar and the reading scheme but for whatever reason I have to do every workbook and PCM that goes with it. I also have phonics input and handwriting to do. After Christmas they will also try and make me use an outdated comprehension scheme.

I know for a fact that the Jolly Grammar although is a weekly programme was not designed to teach it all on the one day, their should be input daily which towards the end of the week should have the assessment in the form of the traditional worksheet in the book. It is simply not possible. The reading scheme which has 4 books taught over 3 weeks has 15 pages with it that equals almost 2 workbook pages a day.

I have to say that I do have an active ethos in the classroom so things like the Grammar and spelling is done through games etc.

What I feel happens (in my humble opinion) is that schools buy in these new schemes as they claim to solve problems but they don’t look at what is already there. So there are crossed wires and things being repeated. For example phonics input comes from the spelling page of Jolly Grammar (it is all in one book) but the reading scheme we do also has phonics pages. So the children are then bogged down in two different lots of phonics. It is the same with the comprehension – we do it in the reading workbook pages but are also expected to do it through Focus on Comprehension.

There is no give and take and teacher professionalism is a laugh! This is not just in my school as for several years have also been on supply however this is the most prescriptive one I have been in.

On top of that I have 5 reading groups to hear and I simply do not have time to do it properly!

I also think that a major problem with Heads letting go is the turnover of staff within schools (probationers) in the past two years my school has had three and the years before that two. I can understand that if you don’t know what a person is doing or claiming to do it is much harder. It is easy to pick up a stack of workbooks and check that work is being done – however what is the quality of learning?

Although I have not been up the school there is the same level of frustration there – things getting interesting but having to do the next lesson in the book etc. They also have the added expectation of using GLOW to develop ICT and discussions etc.

My opinion is that if we are letting children down at the beginning of time because we can’t get them to read etc. then what hope it there when they get up the school.

Comment on Snow White and the Seven Reading Strategies 2 by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:19:46 +0000

Thanks Chris. I’m sure the same principles could be adapted to work with younger children as well but I don’t have any experience in that area. You could check out the Early Years pages on the Learning and Teaching Scotland website or get yourself a Twitter account and find some people who are working in early years and using technology in the classroom.
Good luck.

Bill

Comment on Snow White and the Seven Reading Strategies 2 by Chris Mckeesick

Chris Mckeesick — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:36:36 +0000

This was very informative and illuminating. I enjoyed the presentation very much and thought it was engaging and fun at same time,
I particularly liked the use of technology to enhance the reading experience and especially motivate boys..

Would be good to see something like this geared for younger children in the future.
A good way to spend Saturday morning & enjoyed meeting folks from other authorities too.

Comment on What Others Think by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:13:39 +0000

Thanks for the very generous comments Claire. I’m glad you found it useful.I would be interested to hear how you get on using Samorost especially so please come back and tell me.
Best wishes.
Bill

Comment on What Others Think by Claire MacDonald

Claire MacDonald — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:18:49 +0000

Had a very useful and insightful morning in the Radisson Edinburgh. As a support for learning teacher I found your approach to reading very refreshing. The morning provided me with lots of ideas how to motivate pupils to read and develop comprehension skills using materials other than books. I was particularly interested in Samarost I will definitely share what I have learned with my colleagues. It was a most enjoyable morning -thanks.
Claire

Comment on Snow White and the Seven Reading Strategies 2 by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:44:18 +0000

Thanks for the comments. Glad you found it useful. Keep checking the blog for updates on digital storytelling. You may also want to check out the list of best books for 10-14 year olds, including the best graphic novels, by clicking the Tab at the top of the page.

Rgds
Bill

Comment on Snow White and the Seven Reading Strategies 2 by Rhona and Carol

Rhona and Carol — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:40:24 +0000

As Primary practitioners we found the insights into the increasing use of digital narrative resources interesting and informative. Your links with the Curriculum for
Excellence were also illuminating. Well worth attending.
Many thanks.

Comment on Snow White and the Seven Reading Strategies by Jo Moore

Jo Moore — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:59 +0000

Profile is on its way. However, thanks to my stupid iPhone I managed to reject your request to follow me instead of accept! Oops! Sorry – if you add me again I promise not to reject you twice!!