Reading comprehension but not as you know it: Diving into knowledge-rich curricula
Sharing Best Practice GEELONG 2023
It was a pleasure to present this talk in March 2023.
Abstract
Many schools are starting to incorporate the five major elements of reading in their literacy approach. The foundations of Science of Reading are increasingly reflected in classrooms. However, the work of embedding the effective teaching of reading and writing across the learning areas is a much bigger task. The potential of reading instruction as a pathway to the powerful knowledge that exists in other curriculum areas, and not just the mastery of linguistic concepts, cannot be overstated.
Teaching students to decode and spell is vital, but the crucial next step is figuring out how they can best put those literacy skills into use (Shanahan, 2020). Drawing upon experiences at Brandon Park Primary School, Dr Swain will explore how your school could launch from the explicit and rigorous teaching of word reading and spelling into the teaching of reading comprehension as part of a knowledge-rich curriculum (Wexler, 2020).
In this session Dr Swain will describe how Brandon Park teachers are ensuring that in every subject, children are supported to read, write and discuss high-level academic concepts and ideas (Hochman & Wexler, 2017). He’ll detail how the school has made explicit and direct connections between what students are learning in English, and the vast knowledge bases in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. We’ll explore how teaching with a knowledge-rich curriculum can support your students to become informed, insightful, and critical readers and thinkers.
Bio
Dr Nathaniel Swain is a Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Writer. He has recently joined La Trobe University School of Education and SOLAR LAB as Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences. Nathaniel is passionate about language, literacy, learning, and effective teaching for all students. He has taught a range of learners in primary school settings, and writes a blog for teachers known as Dr Swain’s Cognitorium. In 2019, Nathaniel founded a community of over 16,000 teachers committed to the Science of Learning: Think Forward Educators is proudly sponsored by the Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn’s Catalyst project.
Watch my whole presentation here:
Access other blogposts in the COGNITORIUM
You may also be interested in …
This free webinar from THINK FORWARD EDUCATORS on the approach to reading instruction at Brandon Park.
My original “right way up” blog post.
Signing up to create units as part of the read2Learn project at THINK FORWARD EDUCATORS
ABOUT me
Dr Nathaniel Swain
I am a Teacher, Instructional Coach, Researcher and Writer. I am passionate about language, literacy and learning, and effective and engaging teaching for all students.
I teach a class of first year foundation students, in a space affectionately known as Dr Swain’s Cognitorium. I also work as Science of Learning Specialist in my school.