For many educators, structured literacy is a step in the right direction to improving New Zealand’s falling literacy rates. But educators need to remain adaptable as the science of reading evolves.
You stayed up all night to make a Book Week costume – but now your child won’t wear it. In fact they don’t want to go at all. Here are some ideas to try.
Gail Pacheco, Auckland University of Technology; Lisa Meehan, Auckland University of Technology, and Thomas Schober, Auckland University of Technology
The effect of NZ’s abysmal literacy and numeracy rates can be seen in employment, health and justice outcomes. Education policy must address improving in these basic skills.
Reading fluency and expanding vocabulary are the bridge from decoding to comprehension. Weaknesses in any of these building blocks will limit a child’s ability to read for meaning.
Kylie Hillman, Australian Council for Educational Research
A major international test has found about 80% of students have “more than elementary” skills in reading comprehension. This is the same result Australian students recorded in 2016.
With the proliferation of social media platforms, smart devices and apps, the demands on our attention have never been greater. But how is this affecting our ability to process and retain information?
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary