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Early last week I was interviewed by ABC radio on how we can help boys with their literacy.  The callins from listeners was overwhelming.  So I wanted to write an article on how we can help our older struggling readers to improve their literacy. As state education departments increasingly adopt structured methods for teaching early…

One of the questions I frequently receive from parents via email is whether I have any book recommendations for their teenage sons. Fortunately, I’ve read a variety of books that are perfect for teen boys, and I’ve put together this list to help parents find a great read for them. However, these books are enjoyable…

Why do students forget? And what can we do to help them remember? These questions are likely at the forefront of many teachers’ and parents’ minds. How can you help to prepare our students for exams?

I often publish resources around engaging our learners with reading and literacy. However, one aspect that significantly impacts our overall literacy instruction is the classroom environment. Our classroom libraries and their organisation play a crucial role. Using a mix of genre, topic, and author organisation can create a more engaging and effective classroom library.  Let’s…

Sharing an article from ACER ~ is library use a factor in student performance?  It is a short read for both teachers and parents. Almost 13% of Australia’s year 4 students who took part in an international study said they had ‘never or almost never’ borrowed books from their school or local libraries. New analysis…

Awesome to be featured in The Educator Australia magazine, read a little about what they’ve said about us below.   The Educator: How schools can make literacy learning fun for students At the end of 2022, the OECD released the latest results of its Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results showed, since PISA…

As we enjoy the mid-year break, getting a book to replace a controller in a boy’s hand is a struggle!  My best advice is to ‘parallel’ read a book alongside your son these holidays.  Discuss the plot, the characters, the choices that the character made ~ it shows your son that you value what they…

Sharing an article that recently appeared in Forbes magazine by Natalie Wexler.  It explores the “fiction effect”, which asks: do boys who read more fiction, as opposed to comics or non-fiction, do better academically? You might be surprised. Teenagers who read a lot of fiction do better on international reading tests, according to a recent…

Teaching literacy is a skill. It takes a lot of time, practice, and effort to be good at it. This article will show you how to level up your literacy instruction and make a massive impact with your students, all while keeping them engaged! A Reading Framework: think of it as a steel cable Our…

It is more than a coincidence that I have received calls from multiple parents concerned about their son’s reading ability this week – all are in Year 3. Fewer than 1 in 5 students who are behind in Year 3 catch up and stay caught up. (AERO, March 2024) Learning gains are hard to maintain. …