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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. …

Attention educators – we have just released a brand new literacy profile report for your learners!  Monitoring and documenting literacy progress is essential in not only helping students feel supported but also to grow more positive and independent in their learning. Our team at LFK and LFB provide teachers with a term-to-term information report about…

This post looks at the six strategies that are used most commonly in classrooms today.  Direct instruction to support comprehension development includes what is referred to as the ‘super six’.

I am one of the growing number of educational researchers who are concerned that schools and even preschools are trying to teach boys to read and write too soon.  Starting boys on these concepts too soon can be one of the causes for the negative attitudes boys develop toward reading and writing, and even school….

Learning occurs best in a social context – that is, we learn best when we are allowed to share ideas, ask questions and engage in problem-solving with others.  Learning should be a joy for children and promote a sense of confidence and competence.  Students of all abilities learn best when they feel safe, in control…

I am frequently asked, “How can I improve my child’s writing?” or “How can I improve my child’s understanding of maths?”  You might be surprised to hear that I often suggest reading is the fundamental skill that can help to develop knowledge in other areas of the curriculum.  Time and time again I see students…

The NAPLAN debate is always re-invigorated at this time every year. The testing window this year has been moved to Term 1 and has added extra navigation for teachers.  However, this standardised testing with a national benchmark, gives educators and parents a view into how an individual student is performing amongst their peers (particularly after…