Read Australia™
- Overview of Services

'The Reading Brain'

Whole School Training - Australia

From June 2012 - At the Early Reading Centre
(Hope Island, Gold Coast QLD)

* Pre-School FUN Reading Classes (Discovering Speech Sound Pics™) for children aged 2+
* Developing Speech Sound Pics™ - Children aged 5 - 11 (suitable for children not reading and spelling with confidence by 6)
* A Fresh Start to Spelling using Speech Sound Pics - Children aged 8+
(focus on children having difficulties with spelling)
* Student Reading and Spelling Assessments - With Support Plans
(find out why your child is struggling to read and spell with confidence)
* Parent and Carer Reading and Spelling Workshops- Find out how best to help your child with reading and spelling.

* Decodable Reader Library
* Reading and Spelling Resources including Jolly Phonics, RWI

Current Services

Individual student assessments offered on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Surrounding Areas. 60 Minute assessment followed by 30 minute feedback to parent/ teacher- and includes a written report or video outlining recommendations for improvement.
Email to book

Parent and Carer Workshops-
Teach your child to read and spell with confidence, and avoid difficulties
Email to book

Speech Sound Pics Training !

Order the Discovering Speech Sound Pics DVD - Includes Child Folder to Get You Started!

How to teach pre-school aged children to read and spell- even if not ready to hold a pencil and write letters.

This training changes brains.
Furthermore we believe this can actually prevent children from developing reading difficulties
such as 'dyslexia'.

If you use this method before children start school you can avoid the difficulties many current experience within our current education system- a system in which teachers are not getting research based training.

46% of adults (aged 15 - 75) cannot read to a level that will enable them to follow a cooking recipe. We are, quite simply, not meeting the needs of all children.

Brain imaging studies show that we can change the brains of poor readers if we teach them using specific strategies. This is what we teach parent, carers and educators to do.

The Reading Whisperer™ offers a range of 'home made' DVDs to help those who cant attend her training.

'Discovering Speech Sound Pics™' explains how to start teaching reading and spelling - and gives step by step instructions about helping children hear and identify speech sounds, and learn the sound pics used to represent these speech sounds. Contents of a Read Australia™ reading folder is included.
This is especially useful for those teaching children aged 3 - 8. You can start teaching speech sound pics as soon as children are speaking.

Follow on DVDs soon available- suitable for children already 7+ and failing to read and spell with confidence. Before you start thinking they have dyslexia or other learning difficulties please follow lesson plans included in this DVD.
We are also currently completing a DVD specifically for parents and teachers wanting to know how to improve spelling skills.

Discovering Speech Sound Pics - $97 plus P&P

Teaching Children to Read and Spell DVD
Jolly Phonics Focus

- 4+ Hours of Footage - Includes The Reading Whisperer in action with Kindy Children and Struggling Readers

Special Offer - Limted Time Only

Buy BOTH of the above for just $147 plus P&P
($10 in AU)

Most Popular School In-Service Training / Professional Development Options led by The Reading Whisperer- Emma Hartnell-Baker

- 'Teaching children to read and spell by 6'
Including training for struggling students- helping them catch up without the need for separate lessons. (ask about Speech Sound Pics™ training)

* Whole School Workshop- $975 - $1475 (2.5 hour workshop- 'Why do so many children find reading and spelling difficult- and what can we do to prevent this?' How can we identify children at risk (this is not linked with intelligence) and ensure that they succeed and never even realise they have difficulties! How would 'every child reading by 6' change your school community? Putting a plan into place, developing a whole school approach- training Prep, Year 1 and 2 staff - involving parents.

* Prep, Year 1 and 2 Staff Training (two x 2.5 hour intense phonemic awareness & systematic phonics workshops with free 12 month ongoing support following training – including lesson plans, free resources (including decodable readers) and individual child monitoring (reports sent to the Head Teacher each term) $1975

* Whole School Training in House (full day 9 - 3pm) - 2 hour workshop for all staff followed by a longer workshop for teachers working with Prep, Year 1 and 2 children. There is a focus on improving spelling skills within this section- particularly useful for year 3,4,5 and 6 teachers.
Within this second workshop teachers will learn how to teach phonemic awareness combined with the teaching of phonics directly, systematically and explicitly. Includes planning lessons, resources, how to assess and monitor progress - and how to develop phonemic awareness and check for early difficulties. Learn how to pick up on these from the first term- and how to ensure that every child is reading by 6.
$2000 plus travel expenses if outside QLD. Note that these workshops are delivered based on the needs of your staff team- to be used alongside, and to enhance, what is currently happening. It will help teachers build on current knowledge and perceive the teaching of reading and spelling in much simpler terms. This approach is very much welcomed from child centred practioners as teaching revolves around meeting the needs of each child- inspiring them as well as teaching them to read and spell with confidence before the end of Year 1 (and often before the end of Prep)

* 3 hour workshop for teachers working with Prep, Year 1 and 2 children. Within this workshop teachers will learn how to teach phonics directly, systematically and directly- including planning lessons, resources, how to assess and monitor progress - and how to develop phonemic awareness and check for early difficulties. Learn how to pick up on these from the first term- and how to ensure that every child is reading by 6.
$1495 plus travel expenses if outside QLD

2.5 hour workshop for those working with the Kindy, Prep and Year 1 age group. Early reading and spelling with a focus on the Jolly Phonics program. Includes a 1 hour 45 minute presentation followed by 45 minute hands on workshop planning the program for your individual students. Youll be able to start teaching this the next day!
$1275

2.5 hour workshop for those working with the Year 3,4,5 and 6 age groups. Improving spelling (and therefore writing skills) Includes a 1 hour 30 minute presentation followed by 60 minute hands on workshop planning the program for your individual students.
Youll be able to start using this the next day- all it takes is a ten minute session after registration each day.
$1275

2.5 hour workshop for those working with children who have special needs.
90 minute presentation covers why so many of your students struggle with reading and spelling- and what they specifically need to focus on- including how to have a whole school 'sound pics' session each morning in each class- around 10- 15 minutes- to help the children spell (and therefore write) more easily. Also how to use bolded text and decodable readers even with older students, to improve reading skills.
We then have an hour where we focus on the specifics and I model quick lessons for you all- and show you how to assess and monitor progress.
Ill give you specific tragets- ie what the children should understand even using one group of sounds, and how to gradually introduce all the sound pics that represent our speech sounds. Many will have language difficulties and so we cover this, and how to effectively link speech with print.
$1275


*Parent/ Carer Workshops- subsidised by Read Australia™ as part of the Parents Aboard programme- $375 for a 90 minute interactive session with parents of children due to start prep, as well as those already enrolled in prep, year 1 and 2 at your school. During the session even the least confident of parents (regarding literacy) will understand how best to help their child develop 'auditory discrimination' and how to help them read and spell quickly and with confidence, rather than guessing form the pictures or memorising.

Become a Reading Coach with The Reading Whisperer and offer tutoring or classroom support.
Ideal for those working in the early years 3 - 8
1:1 training or online.

Level 1 Reading Coach
- Become Accredited with Read Australia™ and start tutoring young children.

New! Online Training
Become a Level 1 Reading Coach - start tutoring young children, with the backing and support of Read Australia™

Level 1 Reading Coach- 1:1 Training with the
Reading Whisperer™
Emma Hartnell-Baker

Become a Level 1 Accredited Read Australia™
Reading Coach - Includes Free Web Site Listing, Free Ongoing Support for 12 Months.
Learn how to teach children to read and spell - useful for parents of pre-school aged children, parents/ carers of older students struggling with reading and/ or spelling, learning support staff, special needs teachers, early years teachers, pre-primary and primary teachers in training and for those wishing to start their own early reading groups.

9.30 - 3.30pm - Flexible Mutually Convenient Dates - 1:1 Intensive Training in The Development of Phonemic Awareness, Plus How to Teach Phonics Directly, Systematically and Explicitly. Includes info about Jolly Phonics and Read, Write Inc
- $1375 fully inclusive when training on the Gold Coast QLD
or within a 40 mile radius

More info here shortly

• Why Reading by Six?
  
  Find out whats happening in Australia
  
  

• In 2005 The ‘Executive Summary’ of the Teaching Reading report
  from National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy recommended that teachers provide systematic, direct and explicit phonics instruction so that children master the essential alphabetic code-breaking skills required for foundational reading proficiency.
  Equally, that teachers provide an integrated approach to reading that supports the development of oral language, vocabulary, grammar, reading fluency, comprehension and the literacies of new technologies.
  (See report recommendation 2)
  
  We call this the 'Discovering Sound Pics' Approach- a 'whole package' approach to the teaching of reading. It is an approach rather than a programme- that starts with the skills and concepts required by children if they are to learn to read and spell with confidence, as quickly as possible.

• 
  
  
  'Phonics' (without specifying what type) is a mandatory (but small) part of the new Australian Curriculum. However, unfortunately for Queensland schools,
  
  ' Education Queensland does not mandate, endorse or approve individual training courses or resources.  This is a decision that is made at the school level. Individual schools select programs for their school in consultation with the wider community. This ensures that programs meet the specific needs of their students.'
  
  

• Which means that schools are on their own at the moment- unsure of what they should be doing to help the most children.
  

• 
  QLD has the worst reading scores for Years 3 and 5 students (according to NAPLAN) in the whole of Australia. This indicates that we aren't actually meeting the specific needs of our students. Teachers need more information, training and support about teaching of reading.
  
  'Phonics' can be used to describe a number of different approaches and we are concerned that schools will try to teach phonics in isolation, or be inconsistent. Phonics must be taught directly and systematically within a language rich environment.

•  

• Read Australia™ was created therefore to offer schools the support and training they are asking for. We offer workshops and courses about using a 'Discovering Sound Pics' approach- so that they can then decide how to use this in their school. Read Australia™ offer ongoing support.

• 

• 
  
  Education Queensland did create a booklet about phonics for teachers in 2006. They told us...
  
  "Focus on Phonics is designed to provide teachers and administrators with a comprehensive resource outlining the nature and role of phonics in the teaching and learning of reading. It was developed by Education Queensland's Teaching and Learning Branch in 2006 to support the five-day Literacy Professional Development program developed for Prep and Years 1 to 3 teachers. The kit was provided for all teachers who attended the five-day Literacy Professional Development program. In response to requests from Principals, additional copies were published and distributed to all state schools. "
  
  Read Australia™ have asked for a copy however
  
  "Unfortunately, Focus on Phonics is no longer available for distribution."
  
  
  What is happening in your state? Who is making a difference? Share your experiences, and get onboard to bring about change! Tell us of individuals and organisations who are making a difference!

  ---

Why should you NOT teach sight words or use a whole language approach, hoping that this will result in all children reading and spelling with confidenc?

In 2005 The ‘Executive Summary’ of the Teaching Reading report
from National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy reported that

The attention of the Inquiry Committee was drawn to a dichotomy between phonics and whole-language approaches to the teaching of reading. This dichotomy is false. (p. 11)

Why Systematic Phonics and Not a 'Whole Language' Approach?

Important Research

• In the USA, Congress established the National Reading Panel in 1997, its task being to assess the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach children to read. It reported
  on 13 April 2000.
• 
  In the UK, Parliament established in 2004 a House of Commons Select Committee on the
  Teaching of Reading, which conducted several hearings in 2004-2005. It reported on 7 April 2005. The outcome was an announcement on 3 June 2005 that Jim Rose, a former Deputy Chief Inspector of Schools, had been asked to lead an independent review to examine best practice in teaching reading, emphasising the crucial role of synthetic phonics instruction in
  the reading curriculum.
  Rose Report
• 
  In Australia, on 30 November 2004 Dr Brendan Nelson, then Federal Minister for Education, Science and Technology, launched the Australian Government National Inquiry into the
  Teaching of Literacy. The Inquiry was intended as a broad, independent examination of
  reading research, teacher preparation and practices for the teaching of literacy, particularly reading. On 8 December 2005, this Inquiry issued its report and its recommendations in a
  document entitled ‘Teaching Reading’.
  AU Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy
  
• 
  
  Others

The Education Dept- Australian Government

NAPLAN

The ‘Executive Summary’ of the
Teaching Reading report
from National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy recommended that Australian and State and Territory governments’ approaches to literacy improvement be aligned to achieve improved outcomes for all Australian children.
(See report recommendation 17)
This is not yet happening

Current News Plus Government Strategies Relating to Literacy Improvement

Read Letters and Recommendations from Literacy Specialists Regarding Future Improvement

Including Read Letter to Emma Hartnell-Baker from David Smith on behalf of the Minister for Education and Industrial Relations (Hon Cameron Dick MP)

Bellfield Primary School, VIC
The submission says that the school is one of the most disadvantaged schools in Australia but has an academic performance amongst the very best. The submission notes that the school has been transformed by rejecting whole language strategies and implementing teaching and learning strategies based on ‘Four Pillars’: teacher directed learning; explicit instruction; moving children’s knowledge from short-term to long-term memory; and the relationship between teacher and student. The submission says that the teaching programs at the school are explicit and sequential, and based on Robert Slavin’s Success For All program in the US. The school has implemented a Phonological Awareness Program from P-6, with the support of Professor John Munro from Melbourne University.

The link seems to have disappeared- 356- has the Inquiry Into the Teaching of Literacy been swept under the carpet?
Email us with info

Read about the
'Reading Whisperer™'
'

Are you training to teach in Early Childhood Prep, Year 1 or 2 and want to fully understand how to ensure that ALL children in your class are reading and spelling with confidence?

In 2005 The ‘Executive Summary’ of the Teaching Reading report from National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy recommended that

• 'the key objective of primary teacher education courses be to prepare student teachers to teach reading, and that the content of coursework in primary literacy education focus on contemporary understandings of:

  • evidence-based findings and an integrated approach to the teaching of reading, including instruction on how to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary knowledge and text comprehension;

  • child and adolescent development; and inclusive approaches to literacy teaching.

  • 
    
    Please note that it is currently possible for Australia’s future teachers to complete a Bachelor of Education course in Australia with less than two per cent of total credit points devoted to instruction in the teaching of reading.
    
    Read on to find out what exactly is happening in Australian Universities
    

So until you are receiving the training you need within your teaching degree courses please do ask about training courses and workshops, and especially about our new Certificate. On successful completion you will be listed as an Accredited Read Australia™
Reading Coach. Teaching strategies are based on findings from rigorous, evidence-based research that are shown to be effective in enhancing the literacy development of all children
( See Report Recommendation 1)

ALL Australian children deserve to be taught to read in ways that will work for all of them, and avoid remedial work.

The development of reading skills serves as THE major foundational academic ability for all school-based learning. Without the ability to read, the opportunities for academic and occupational success are limited. Moreover, because of its importance, difficulty in learning to read crushes the excitement and love for learning, which most children have when they enter school/
Read More

Reading & spelling

Anyone can struggle to learn to read if not taught to develop phonemic awareness, combined with systematic phonics training. This amounts to around 1 or 2 in every 5 children....

I
n 2011, Fumiko Hoeft, MD, PhD, authored a study that used sophisticated brain imaging to predict with 90 percent accuracy which teenagers with dyslexia would improve their reading skills over time. Now the Stanford imaging expert has turned her attention to the diagnosis of the learning disability, and she and colleagues have provided “biological evidence that IQ should not be emphasized in the diagnosis of reading abilities.”

Using Sound Pics™ in the Early Years. How to teach pre-school aged children to Read and Spell WITHOUT buying a commercial program such as Jolly Phonics.
Sound Pics™ can also be used
alongside any commercial program. It is a simple way to teach reading and spelling that makes sense!

Teacher In-Service Training - How To Ensure Your Students Are Reading by 6 (7 at the latest) using a 'Synthetic Phonics Plus™ Approach
(phonemic awareness, phonics (taught directly, explicitly and systematically) vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
As phonemic awareness and 'phonics' are arguably the MOST important elements that will help EVERY child read and spell well, and the elements most Australian teachers have received the least training in, these are the two aspects we focus on. Most teachers are doing the others well, but for struggling readers the horse must come before the cart!
Ask for short 2.5 hour workshops of intense 1 or 2 day workshops

Primary Teacher and Kindy Team Training in Phonics and Jolly Phonics- Email to Request Info
Also offering bespoke training to schools and Kindy's eg
*Improving Spelling Skills
*Teaching Children to Read in Prep
*Understanding Phonics and Phonemic Awareness
*Understanding how certain 'readers' can hinder reading progress.
*How to ensure that no child enters High School not being able to read
*Literacy Programs for children with behavioural difficulties
*Involving parents to improve reading levels - and more!

About a Systematic Approach to the Teaching of Phonics

The systematic, direct and explicit teaching of phonics (starting with phonemes and blending these into whole words) In addition, children will also develop phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension using this approach

Information About Phonemic Awareness

Information About A Synthetic/ Systematic Approach to Phonics

Synthetic Phonics Plus™

Pronouncing Speech 'Sounds'

Sound Pics™

Speech Sound Groups -Help with Spelling

National Reading Panel Report (NICHD, 2000) found that
Systematic phonics instruction was shown to produce substantial improvement in reading and spelling in kindergarten through sixth grade, especially for younger children who were at risk of future reading failure and disabled readers. The contribution of systematic phonics instruction to reading achievement was greater than that of programs that provided unsystematic phonics instruction and programs that included no phonics instruction.
• Positive results were greater with younger students (kindergarten students and first graders), indicating that beginning systematic phonics instruction early is helpful.
• Systematic phonics instruction produced gains when used in a variety of grouping patterns such as one-on-one tutoring, small groups, and whole-class instruction.
• Gains in reading were demonstrated by children from all socioeconomic levels.
• Systematic phonics instruction improved comprehension and showed an even greater impact on word recognition

Why earlier than Prep in Queensland? QLD is still the worst state in the country for reading according to NAPLAN. Rather than waiting for the Education Department to help schools and teachers so that all know how to bring about change (as is now mandatory in the UK) we are offering this help, including to parents. In partnership with parents and carers, and Kindys, we aim to help as many QLD children as possible learn to read before Prep so that it will not effect them so much if the Prep and Year 1 teachers are not trained in the most effective methods (ie how to use a systematic phonics approach - combined with phonemic awareness, fluency and comprehension) Most schools are NOT getting the training and support they need to ensure that every child enters Year 2 reading- and the QLD Education Department openly admit they refuse to get involved in helping them update their methodology so that ALL of our children can learn to read.

Read Australia™ will help you therefore. We will help you learn how to ensure that EVERY child is reading by 6.

We are HIGHLY disappointed in the QLD Education Department. This is the worst state in Australia for reading scores and we have not even been invited to come and give advice as to how to ensure that every child is reading by 6 (and 7 at the latest) This is the latest letter - where they have 'closed' correspondence. They have NOT given answers and are NOT meeting the needs of our Australian children. You only have to look at our appalling NAPLAN results to see evidence. They get an 'F' for their report card this year!

Parents, Schools and Teachers please email Read Australia™ for training and support - specifically relating to early reading, writing and spelling. Much of this support is subsidised by Read Australia™
and is free.

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