Francis Gilbert on Teacher Training

Good piece by Francis Gilbert in the Observer about the importance of retaining the essential link with Universities for teacher training. Thanks Francis! http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/17/teacher-training-education-university

CLPE Poetry Prize

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) has asked me to judge their poetry prize. I did this last year with John Agard who had won the previous year. I will be judging this year's competition with the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. As you might imagine, I'm thrilled.

I'll be sitting in a room with the Poet Laureate, Margaret Meek (Chair) and others discussing poetry written for children. Bliss.

I want to recommend 'Little Red Hood' by Marjolaine Leray. It was originally published in French. It's a quick read, but with plenty of depth. It's an intriguing take on the traditional tale. The illustrations (in pencil) are superb.

Phonics Dawn

Dame Tickell has written a response to newspaper headlines that her report into the EYFS appeared to suggest that phonics was not all that learning to read was about

'I have not recommended that phonics should be downgraded. Phonics is one of the most robust and recognised ways of helping children to learn to read and write. My report clearly highlights the importance of children starting school ready and able to learn, and I set out in the reading and writing goals the phonic development children should have reached by the age of five.'

The Times Educational supplement reported: 'In contrast to the Government’s promotion of phonics, reception teachers should use a wide range of approaches when preparing children to read, a review of the early-years foundation stage (EYFS) published this week recommended. Dame Clare Tickell, who led the review, has recommended that assessing five-year-olds on their ability with phonics should be scrapped. Instead, children should be tested only on how good they are at reading. The proposals appear to be a stark contradiction of Government plans to introduce a test of children’s phonics skills in Year 1 as a stand-alone skill. Ministers are pressing ahead with the plans, despite opposition from teaching unions'.

What do experts really think about phonics? Anyone would think that people were afraid in some way to suggest that teaching phonics alone is not the answer. Ken Goodman in his book 'Phonics Phacts' and other writings has always said there is a place for grapho-phonics reading cues, but that semantic and syntactic cues must be taught and learned at the same time. Before we become hooked on phonics it is important to read the research. Visit the United Kingdom Literacy Association's web site. You can find the phacts there.