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Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Program that is helping teachers lift the literacy rates of their students

The comparably low levels of reading performance of Australian primary and secondary students compared to international benchmarks has been high on the agenda of policy-makers and education professionals for many years. Our PISA report card showed that Australia has slumped to 16th in reading, the domain PISA focuses on most and uses to generate its overall ranking scores (see our article for further statistics). Boys in particular show a worrying decline in academic achievement, particularly in English.

The Solution for Educators

We developed a powerful educational tool that offers online literacy activities that contribute to successful reading skills. Literacy for Boys is tailored specifically to boys, their interests and how they learn. Quality content is essential, which is why activities were written by qualified teachers who understand what motivates boys. Literacy for Boys caters for all ages and ability levels. Our program adapts to students’ individual ability levels and presents them with hundreds of skill building exercises via engaging, boy-centred topics.

To ensure the program is fun and motivational, Literacy for Boys has implemented an array of game mechanics, including a leaderboard, point system, certificates and achievement badges.

Evidence of LFB’s Success

Independent, standardised testing of 80 students revealed that the age for spelling, reading and comprehension improved by up to 52 weeks after only 18 weeks using the program. Click here for full results.

The program helped to close the gap

Students were well below their chronological age before the program. After 18 weeks the gap was almost closed.

Testimonials from our teachers

“Literacy for Boys is the only program that I have used in my 12+years teaching career that boys have used willingly. It is also the only program that has grammar, punctuation and spelling activities that match the reading comprehension. Our boys have benefitted greatly from Literacy for Boys and feedback is very positive.” (T Hill, Aquinas College)

“Our school commenced using the LFB program in 2018 as a tool to assist students to develop their literacy skills and foster a positive attitude towards reading. We initially trialled the program with different pockets of students and performed pre and post-assessments in reading, spelling and comprehension. Students found the program fun, interesting and engaging. A majority of students had significantly improved their literacy skills. We will definitely be using the program again.” (S Eltis Learning Support teacher, Eatons Hill State School)

“Since using Literacy for Boys I have not only seen large gains in boys’ literacy but also their confidence. Teachers are time poor and the program offers students instant feedback, where they can correct mistakes. All the students find the activities interesting and engaging. Having all the activities align with ACARA is a bonus. Our school have renewed our licences. It is so lovely to come across a program that has a child’s best interest at heart.” (C Simons, St Augustine College)

We welcome both new and existing schools

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of our schools renewing their subscriptions in 2020. We are excited to welcome our new schools as we collaborate to help lift literacy rates in their students.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your class and children (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

How to raise confident kids

Everyone wants their kids to be happy and confident, but how much is due to their personality and how much is due to the messages they receive from their parents?

Developing self-confidence is dependent on children knowing how to feel content and secure in their own skin. As parents, you have a definite role in helping your children to achieve this. Raising confident kids mean that they are better equipped to deal with peer pressure, responsibility, frustrations, challenges, and both positive and negative emotions.

Practical Ways to Boost their Confidence

Give praise

Try to make it genuine and specific to the good behaviour – and don’t overdo it. Avoid saying phrases like, “You are incredibly clever” too often, because when they find something difficult, they may stop trusting that are ‘clever’, and also stop trusting the person who tells them that they are. We don’t want our children to have the mindset that they have reached their limit when things become hard, and stop trying.

Don’t step in and ‘rescue’ them

Avoid doing things for them, especially when things get tough. If your child isn’t feeling confident about trying something and asks you for step in for them, how you respond will make a difference. When we are running late, it is always tempting to step in and do the task for them. But this reinforces their belief that they aren’t up to the challenge. Allow them to do tasks that they are capable of doing, or learning to do.

Let them fail

Part of increasing a child’s skillset is learning from failure

This follows on from the above point. The fear of failure often prevents children from trying their best and reaching their fullest potential, which can naturally diminish confidence. Making mistakes, trial and error and experience are all part of active learning.

Kids are more likely to remember what they learn, and build on their confidence in the process, if we teach them that it’s far more important to try (and fail), than to only do things that you are good at.

Break down any difficult tasks

Breaking down challenging tasks can help your child feel less overwhelmed and more in control, confident and safe. Divide the task/assignment into manageable steps.

Admit to your mistakes

Kids will work out if you are doing something wrong and trying to cover it up. Talk to your kids about it and how you will try to improve. You are their best role model for improving behaviour.

Be specific if they do something well

If your child succeeds at something, ask them how they did it or how they knew. This assists them in developing an awareness of particular things they did that contributed to their achievement.

Never threaten a punishment that you cannot carry out

Nearly all of us have said, “If you do that there is no more tv/gaming!” Avoid doing this.

Encourage them to express their feelings

Encourage children to express both positive and negative emotions, and help them talk through these emotions in a healthy way. Allowing them to express negative emotions is ok. The trick is teaching them productive ways of dealing with things if something doesn’t go their way.

One of the best things that parents can do is to discover what lights up their child. Investing time and energy into your child’s passion is great for their self-confidence.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your child or class (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Lockdown Proof Literacy: 7 Ways Teachers Can Make Remote Learning Better

Approximately 1.25 million students in New South Wales children will be learning from home again. Our current situation offers a stark reminder that despite best efforts, outbreaks can emerge out of seemingly nowhere and throw a wrench in the plans of even the most well-prepared cities and countries.

This means that teachers are again left searching for effective and engaging ways to continuously provide student learning outside the four walls of the classroom. While schools are better prepared second time round, remote learning does have significant drawbacks.

Let’s look at what we learnt last time and how we can make it better.

Regardless of how much (or how little) contact with your students you’re able to have, and how much (or how little) academic instruction is happening, these ideas can help you prioritize relationships with your students and stay connected.

What are some strategies for maintaining a strong teacher-student connection online?

We asked dozens of teachers (and took a sneak peek on Instagram and Twitter) to find some clever ideas that help to drive engagement and learning.

1. Try to say “Hello!” frequently

A simple, daily hello via video lets your class know that you are thinking of them, care for them and miss them. We love this example from teacher John Thomas – it is engaging and fun.

Calling by phone (consider working through small groups at a time) may seem time-consuming. However, one Year 7 and 8 English teacher saw the impact: “The first few days, I had only a few kids logging on, but now I have almost 98 percent attendance,” she says.

2. Maintain morning meetings

Routines are part of classroom life, so try to find ways to continue these routines with home-based learning. You might host a morning meeting, record and share a daily video announcement or start with a read-aloud.

See here for some Morning Meeting Starters.

3. A variety of ways to check-in daily with your students

Keep it quick and simple: “I posted on Schoology to give me a thumbs up, thumbs sideways (meh), or thumbs down to describe their day…. I encourage them to take selfies of their thumbs,” says high school teacher via Twitter. Some teachers were using forms to check-in. We liked this check in form remote learning as a quick way for kids to tell you how they are feeling that day.

Why not ask the students to check in with each other? One teacher is promoting peer check-in by assigning the task of checking in with one classmate.

“I’m asking them to write to me and tell me how, say, Jacob is doing today. They can choose how they want to check in – email, text, Skype,” says Kate, a Year 6 teacher. She adds that setting up guidelines is important and she models the practice for her students first. The simple task can be worded as “My homework is to check on Isaac.”

4. Connect around books

Books are an opportunity to escape – we need them! Here are some great ideas from teachers and parents:

“My son’s second-grade teacher just FaceTimed him! Yesterday, she asked if it would be something my son would like, with no pressure at all. She said, ‘I would love to hear you read! Can you pick a book for when I call?’ We just got off the phone with his teacher, and it made his day!” Samantha, mum

“My husband volunteers in my classroom every Friday and listens to my students read. Now students can sign up to read to him on Zoom. They’re thrilled!” Jo

“I’m planning to continue our read-aloud we were doing before the shutdown. We are close to the end of the book and it would help re-connect with students if I did a ‘read-aloud lunch break’ video each day of me reading a chapter or two, and have students comment on Google Classroom or some other platform about what they think will happen next. Read-alouds and books have a way of bringing people together.” Charlotte

“On Seesaw, the students and I are completing a reading bingo (for example, read with sunglasses). Everyone posts their pictures or video. I am keeping the academics very light and trying to focus on the enjoyment of reading and the importance of community during these times.” Jess

5. Create virtual group tables (not friendship groups)

There will be many kids who stay in touch with their close circle of friends, however, it’s important to consider pairing kids with peers who aren’t in their immediate social group. Aim to mix up the groups weekly.

This Year 8 English teacher uses Google Classroom for this because her class is already familiar with the platform. “I will set up discussion threads with four to five students so they can discuss assignments, ask each other questions, and stay connected,” she says.

6. Don’t skimp on the communication

No one likes feeling out of the loop or in the dark, especially when it comes to their children, so keep your parent updates regular and consistent. While just knowing you’re around will give parents confidence, they’ll be eager to hear three things during this time:

Student progress
Any recurring technical issues they might need support with
Major developments and changes in the program.

7. Use existing resources…… and make sure they are open access

Our first bout with school closures saw teacher exhaustion, stress and burnout. It is unrealistic to expect that you, on your own, will produce a term’s worth of high-quality videos. You can use pre-developed resources available online and provide students with clickable links.

HINT: Using open resources helps prevent access problems for students. If any of your suggested resources are not accessible, you will receive an inbox full of student emails and eventually waste all your time troubleshooting. Spending a few extra minutes carefully searching for fully open access materials will save you a headache later.

We genuinely hope that educators all over the world find value in these suggestions that foster connection, especially with teachers and students tethered loosely together via wi-fi.

Looking for an online resource that supports your literacy program?

Literacy for Boys is an online literacy tool designed to help students improve their reading comprehension, grammar, spelling and punctuation skills in a fun way that keeps them attentive and motivated. Our program supported schools during COVID lockdowns, saving them time while providing detailed reports so teachers can track student progress using statistics, graphs, and charts.

Literacy for Boys is adaptive and simple to use, providing additional support to educators who do not feel comfortable using technology. Using an individualised approach, content is easily adapted to students’ reading levels, and is designed to fit in every culture and continent.

The program adapts to students’ individual ability levels and presents them with hundreds of skill-building exercises that suit their needs. Literacy for Boys is unique in that it caters specifically to boys, their interests and how they learn.

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of our schools renewing their subscriptions in 2021. Literacy For Boys received outstanding results from a school trial in 2018. The study showed participants’ results improve significantly. Tested age for spelling, reading & comprehension improved by up to 52 weeks in just 18 weeks using the program! See here for full results.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your class and children (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Report highlights the connection between student wellbeing and performance

A brand new report by Educator Impact on the importance of student wellbeing states that a child’s social and emotional intelligence is closely connected with their academic outcomes.

Educators and parents universally recognise that social and emotional wellbeing are crucial to overall student outcomes. You may or may not be surprised to know that confidence plays a huge part in learning. Decades of research support the notion that believing in your ability to do something enhances your ability to do it.

What is student wellbeing?

According to The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) student wellbeing is “a sustainable positive mood and attitude, health, resilience, and satisfaction with self, relationships and experiences at school”.

Broadly speaking, student wellbeing encompasses positive mood/attitude, resilience and satisfaction with self, relationships with others and experiences at school.

Why should student wellbeing be a focus for schools?

The recent report carried out by Educator Impact reiterated that the correlation between student wellbeing and academic outcomes is “well established”. For instance, it cites a significant student wellbeing survey published in

Highlighting the importance of wellbeing

the Journal of Positive Psychology that found students who reported “feeling good” and “doing good” gained “superior grades, higher self-control and lower procrastination than students who were moderately mentally healthy or languishing”.

Conversely, students with poor mental health experience significant learning and performance challenges at school.

A concern for educators is the growing number of students who identify as experiencing mental health challenges. The Mission Australia Youth Survey of 2019 reported that 43% of young people (15-19) feel ‘extremely’ or ‘very concerned’ about coping with stress; a three-fold increase since 2012 .

Critically for schools, the same study found that a third of students would turn to a teacher or school counsellor for help instead of family and friends.

Importantly, the report acknowledged that teachers are not mental health professionals and can’t be expected to diagnose mental disorders.

How can we address these critical challenges?

A learner who has belief in their abilities will set themselves challenging goals, be motivated to achieve them, put in effort and use appropriate strategies to perform well.

On the other hand, a learner without self-efficacy (self-confidence) will set themselves low-level goals, not put in the effort (why bother trying when you think you’ll fail?), not use appropriate strategies and not perform well. As a result, their confidence and motivation levels will continue to fall.

We’re at the start of a new term and the last half of the year. A confident learner is a happy and productive one, and every teacher wants a class full of them!

5 Tips for Building Learner Confidence

Set learning goals together

An important part of building student confidence is making sure everyone is on the same page about learning goals. Often in teaching our learners are kept in the dark about expectations, guidelines, and desired learning goals. If learning intentions are clear, we can encourage self-directed learning.

2. Encouraging self and peer assessment

This can be a tricky one for teachers. However, there are positives in giving students the responsibility for helping both themselves and others in improving their learning by encouraging ownership.

3. Giving useful feedback

Consistent and valuable feedback allows students to learn from their mistakes and also experience ownership of their efforts. Some learners are visual so graphing results can be useful.

4. Brain dump

Often students lose their confidence because they feel like they’re struggling more than they are. Try the brain dump technique: get learners to unpack everything they have learned by jotting it down on a blank piece of paper. This way, they can realise that learning and knowledge gain have been happening. It builds on a student’s confidence and can be used with teacher feedback to fill in any gaps.

5. Show them that effort is normal

The biggest confidence killer for a student is thinking that they are the only ones who doesn’t understand something. Beyond doubt, this attitude is humiliating, demoralising, and utterly destructive in their learning journey. However, the key thing that a struggling student has to have an awareness of is that even the so-called “smarter” kids have to work hard much of the time.

You can inspire confidence in your learners every day with the help of the growth mindset. Click here for a free printable GROWTH MINDSET poster for your classroom or office. This digital PDF resource will give both you and students a daily reminder of how adopting the growth mindset can change everything, both in the classroom and in life!

We can help with improving student confidence in literacy

“By better understanding why our boys struggle with literacy, we’ve been able to develop an online learning platform that is hugely effective in improving boys’ comprehension, reading and spelling,” says Tanya Grambower, founder of Literacy for Boys.

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of our schools renewing their subscriptions in 2020. Literacy For Boys received outstanding results from a school trial in 2018. The study showed participants’ results improve significantly. Tested age for spelling, reading & comprehension improved by up to 52 weeks in just 18 weeks using the program! See here for full results.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your class and children (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Literacy For Boys schools were best prepared for remote learning

It’s no secret that boys largely have a disinterest in reading and comprehension. It’s a concern for both teachers and parents. We can shed light on this problem and offer a solution.

LFB helps boys to engage with literacy, whether they need extra support, extension or extra motivation to read. LFB assisted teachers in delivering key literacy skills – comprehension, spelling, grammar & punctuation – during recent remote learning. LFB supported both teachers and learners through COVID shutdowns.

Literacy for Boys, launched in 2018, works by addressing problems associated with boys and literacy. LFB is a unique, boy-centred program that boosts boys’ motivation to read, increases their achievement in school and sets them on a path of lifelong literacy.

How does the program work?

Boys need to be engaged and capable readers. Failing to address the literacy needs of all young boys is an educational challenge for everyone. Concerns about boys’ reading attitudes and their achievement led to the development of Literacy for Boys. So, what do boys want from their literacy instruction?

personal interest
action
success
fun
purpose

LFB has found the right reading material, at the right levels, and offer it in the right ways. As educators, we need to view boys as a resource in their own literacy development to improve the chances of elevating their achievement. Allowing them to choose from a broad range of engaging topics (at their level) is a key ingredient to our success.

The program also includes videos, games and interactive activities – which boys love!

Results are in and LFB gets top marks for improving literacy

Alarming research shows that 25 per cent of Year 4 students struggle to understand what they read, and 14 per cent of 15-year-olds are at risk of leaving school without acquiring basic literacy skills.

Literacy For Boys received outstanding results from a school trial in 2018. The study showed participants’ results improve significantly. Tested age for spelling, reading & comprehension improved by up to 52 weeks in just 18 weeks using the program! See here for full results.

Current feedback & potential bouts of remote learning

Parents and teachers have expressed relief in returning to normality but is there a likely chance of recurring educational disruptions in the future? Yes. While there have been some success stories in remote learning, many teachers were under enormous stress as they live-streamed all day, created lessons and monitored student learning. Family members also struggled to maintain the expectations of remote learning whilst working.

The unknown factor of the pandemic means that schools might need to be equipped to revert back to remote teaching if local cases surface in their communities.

“LFB was a saviour for our school during remote learning. The program catered well to both groups: the students who attended school and those who learned from home. I set tasks to be completed each morning during literacy block. The teacher dashboard allowed me to monitor student completion and their results. It saved me alot of stress and planning time during COVID.” (Rona, Year 5/6 teacher)

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of our schools renewing their subscriptions in 2020.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your class and children (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Leading with Literacy – useful ideas to improve children’s literacy at school and home

Since my early days as a teacher over 20 years ago, getting students to read more, and to read with understanding, has been a personal mission. With research showing that reading for pleasure has dropped by 10% over the past four years, and that most adolescents aren’t reading, how can parents and teachers help to promote a love (or at least a ‘like’) for reading? Here are some issues and tips surrounding reading:

The worrying ‘decline by nine’

Data from a 2019 study by the Kids and Family Reading Report, found the percentage of children defined as frequent readers (reading books for fun 5–7 days a week) drops from 57% among 8-year-olds to 35% among 9-year-olds. The data also shows a drop between ages eight and nine in the number of students who say they love reading (from 40% to 28%), as well as the percentage of kids who think reading books for fun is important (from 65% to 57%).

A child’s attitude towards reading enjoyment and importance is a predictor of reading frequency. It is worrying that many children are losing their connection to reading when they need it most, in fourth grade. There are a number of powerful predictors why this occurs but the main reason is that texts become more difficult. To keep up, 9-year-olds have to be able to decode words, comprehend sentences and make inferences about what paragraphs mean. If they can’t, they get frustrated fast. At this point, parents and teachers need to find ways to motivate kids to keep reading: reward systems, access to books/magazines/comics, positive peer influences with reading and building on student’s subject-area knowledge (thus building on their vocabularies).

Ebooks are not always the page-turner

Our supposedly tech-addicted kids can still be bookworms. When e-readers hit the market over 10 years ago, they were mostly for reading and used eye-friendly text on backgrounds that replicated paper. However, as technology has improved, there is internet connectivity and other features (such as music playback) and links so that they are now more like tablets rather than books. The benefit of hard copy books is that they offer one purpose – to read – without added distractions. Used together though, both the e-reading experience and hard copy versions provide variety for children.

Kids need help finding books

Infrequent readers are going to find this more of a challenge than frequent readers. Again, the age of ‘nine’ seems to be when this problem increases. School librarians are some of my favourite people and they are a wealth of knowledge of authors/genres/topics. Read our article on How Teacher Librarians Boost Literacy. Ask your librarian for suggestions to keep your child motivated.

Books in the home and classroom

Reading every day has long-lasting benefits

“I wish my children would do more things that did not involve screen time.” Electronic devices may be pulling children away from books but don’t use this as an excuse. Parents can encourage reading by keeping print books in the home, reading themselves, and setting aside time daily for their children to read. We can’t stress enough the value of a large home library (borrow from your library – it’s free) and having parents involved in their child’s reading habits. Both factors will foster reading enjoyment and lead to reading improvement. If technology is your child’s currency, reading for 30 minutes can be a prerequisite to video game time/phone access.

Schools and teachers can develop a strong reading culture in their classrooms. Working with teacher librarians to place a focus on quality texts, holding reading challenges over the holidays (click here for our Reading challenge checklist – ready to print) and reading outdoors are some examples to promote reading. Our blog Literacy Toolkit – some fresh ideas to inspire your students to read, published earlier this year, was very popular with teachers and educators.

Reading role models are essential

Everyone in a child’s life – parents, grandparents, older siblings, teachers, principals — can be a reading role model. It’s up to us all to provide them access to books, be readers ourselves, ask and answer questions about what a child is reading and read aloud together.

If a child knows that the people around them value reading, then this stimulates a culture of literacy in our homes, in our classrooms and in our schools.

Looking to teach literacy in a more innovative and engaging way? We have a solution for teachers and parents.

Our passion to engage boys with reading led to developing a unique online resource. Literacy for Boys is the only program of its kind developed specifically for boys, their needs and how best to appeal to them. It is aligned with the Australian curriculum and covers the basics of reading comprehension, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Our topics cater for all boys’ interests – sport, science, adventure, true-life stories, forensics, tech gadgets, ghost stories, gaming and more. Our formula for success lies in building confident readers via engaging content.

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of our schools renewing their subscriptions in 2020.

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your class and children (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Boys don’t read enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Helping kids return to school after COVID: tips for parents and schools

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every facet of our lives but one aspect hit particularly hard is education. With millions of students learning at home for the first time, it is obvious that this crisis will have flow-on effects on teaching and learning in the 2020-2021 future. Regardless when classrooms reopen nationally or worldwide, students are at the heart of the matter and some will find it more challenging than others.

We urge parents and teachers to keep the following factors in mind as likely impactors on student and school communities in the coming months:

Anxiety

For some students who have social anxiety, they may have found a calm during this isolation period. Interaction occurred intermittently (and remotely) and their bedrooms have been a bubble. How can you help them cope with a return to school life?

a) Encourage small but regular instants of stepping outside their comfort zone. Examples include going for a walk for exercise, helping with grocery shopping, teaching them relaxation techniques, role-playing situations. Reinforce daily.

For some expert advice on dealing with anxiety in children, listen to Leo (a Kids Helpline Counsellor). Click here to listen to this 20 minute resource.

b) Be positive. Student well-being is a prime concern and there needs to be clarity around the need to get back in the classroom. Provide a positive attitude about transitioning back to school but acknowledge that there will be bumps along the way. School communities will be working extra hard to construct a sense of community, rebuilding and re-connecting. Reinforce how your child’s teachers and school will be making a huge effort to achieve this.

c) Resume a routine. Like many families we have enjoyed a longer lie-in, wearing pj bottoms, regular snacks. However, getting your children into a virtual school routine earlier, rather than later, will be helpful. Avoid going to bed late, sleeping in, snacking whenever – these do not help the school mindset.

d) A plan of action. Anxiety can occur from escalating perceived risks and underestimating your ability to cope. Making a plan on how to tackle tricky situations once back at school can help your child to feel a sense of control and calm. Some examples include: listing teachers they can go to for support, nominating a safe place at school, role-playing situations, a dialogue of what to say if things seem uncertain.

Educational effects: the ‘COVID’ slide

Despite the sudden shutdown of schools across the world, most students and teachers are currently engaged in some form of remote learning. The transition to online learning may have been relatively smooth for some students who already have their own electronic devices. But other challenges have arisen: unequal access to devices, insufficient Wi-Fi, parent/carer inability to help, loss of enrichment (and support) services, and other remote-learning challenges.

When school does restart, we can expect two things:

students will have made varying amounts of academic progress
a ‘COVID slide’ will have taken place for many students (similar to the ‘summer slide’ phenomenon where there is a slip in progress due to an extended period away from school)

Tackle the fallout

Given the predicted ‘COVID slide’, students may be in need of accelerated learning opportunities to boost key academic skills in the potential of lost learning.

As teachers work to assess students’ literacy skills following COVID-19 school closures, they may find the online literacy tool Literacy for Boys to be of use. Beyond functioning as an essential literacy resource targetted at boys (whilst also proving popular with girls), the program provides personalized instruction for students working independently, online, and during class—and will likely boost learners’ reading levels along the way.

Both teachers and parents are equipped with an instructional resource they need to promote student mastery of the fundamental literacy skills: comprehension, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Engaging Learners

Build a culture of literacy and success by connecting boys with engaging material, extending the teacher’s reach in

Students can monitor their attempts: both successful and unsuccessful

the classroom and motivating students to take ownership of their learning. Ultimately, Literacy for Boys meets individual students where they are—below, at, or above expected literacy levels—and provides engaging content to facilitate their progress.

The student dashboard helps students manage learning goals, monitor their progress, and develop time management skills.

Proven to accelerate student reading ability

Literacy for Boys is research-proven to improve the reading performance for students of all abilities. Teachers can use progress monitoring data to offer targeted, personalised instruction when working directly with students, thereby perpetuating a cycle of support and intervention built to maximise student learning following the COVID-19 crisis.

School trials show that when Literacy for Boys is used regularly, a significant percentage of students at all levels will increase their reading comprehension, reading age and spelling age at an accelerated pace. Those students wanting extension are also catered for.

In one of our independent school trials, students improved their reading, spelling and comprehension ages by an average of 18 months after just 18 weeks on the program. For a majority of students, Literacy for Boys managed to close the gap between their chronological age and their reading comprehension age. Click here to see results in more detail

In conclusion, it is important that educators and parents discover how to best catch students up when in-school instruction resumes, following COVID-19 shutdowns. Social-emotional learning is equally important and we hope that our tips from this blog offer a solid support network for our children.

What our LFB community are saying!

As a parent I love this site. I will continue to purchase this for all my boys. It’s the best money we have spent! (Bec)
I have been a member of Literacy for Boys since 2017 and the cost of the subscriptions is the best money that our school spends on literacy resources each year. I am amazed at how the children engage with the program and how frequently new topics are added – the kids love it! LFB is a lifesaver with the curriculum. Thankyou for helping me to make literacy fun and engaging. (Camilla)
I LOVE this resource; it saves me a lot of time in supporting teachers who have children with learning difficulties. Well done! (Samantha)
Your website is wonderful. I am so glad that I discovered it. I subscribed today for our two boys and am so happy that I did. (Amelia)

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your kids (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Boys Don’t Read Enough: changing the non-reading mindset

How do we change the non-reading mindset for our boys? That is, the state of being able to read, knowing how to read, but intentionally choosing not to read.

Mountains of research show that 75% of 9- to 14-year-old boys self-reported they only sometimes or rarely read for pleasure. In other words, when four boys are left to their own devices, only one will choose to read and the other three won’t.

My 20+ years as a literacy educator supports this data, and that’s why busting boys’ negative attitudes toward literacy has been, and continues to be, my passion and mission.

Boys will read, if given the right material

David Reilly, a psychologist and Ph.D. candidate at Australia’s Griffith University, co-authored a recent analysis on gender disparities in reading in the U.S. He points to the stereotype that liking and excelling at reading is a feminine trait. He suggested that psychological factors—like girls’ tendency to develop self-awareness and relationship skills earlier in life than boys—could play a role in the disparity, too, while also explaining why boys often struggle to cultivate a love of reading.

We need to cultivate a love of reading for boys

The fallout from boys not reading

Most often, girls routinely outstrip boys at reading. In two of the largest studies ever conducted into the reading habits of children in the United Kingdom, Keith Topping (a professor of educational and social research at Scotland’s University of Dundee) found that:

boys dedicate less time than girls to processing words
boys are more prone to skipping passages or entire sections and,
boys frequently choose books that are beneath their reading levels.

What can we do – starting today?

Reading for pleasure is, as the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) has found, a habit that can prove essential to performing well in the classroom.

“Any cognitive skill can be improved with practice,” Reilly says. “If girls are reading more outside of school”—if they’re doing so out of an intrinsic motivation rather than because they have to—“this provides them with thousands of hours of additional reading over the course of their development.”

When making reading selections for boys, do not underestimate the value of books with utility, action, and interest. Utility is important because struggling readers – especially boys – enjoy reading about real things. Utility gives boys a sense of purpose when they read; they are learning about the real world in a way that helps them understand it better. The Guiness Book of World Records is popular with boys of all ages. Action may sound obvious, but is a bit more complicated. Many boys are impatient with stories that take too long to get off the ground or stories that are designed to convey some big important lesson they may be too young to understand.

There is nothing more damaging to literacy than the perception that reading is something kids do for someone else; if boys are not encouraged to read what they want, the perception and its damage will be evident. Interest is what teachers and parents must pay attention to if they want to get boys reading and keep them reading. Whether a boy chooses comic books, skateboarding magazines, video game “cheat” books, a how-to guide on zombies or a slang dictionary, their choices should be taken seriously.

Aim for a variety of kinds of text or books for a variety of purposes.

And those extra hours spent reading will pay dividends for years to come in the classroom!

Resources for Parents & Teachers

We’ve saved you some time by sorting book titles into themes so that you can match your male reader to a book. Here are some titles and resources to help parents and educators:

Want an online program to boost your son’s reading ability?

What our LFB community are saying!

As a parent I love this site. I will continue to purchase this for all my boys. It’s the best money we have spent! (Bec)
I have been a member of Literacy for Boys since 2017 and the cost of the subscriptions is the best money that our school spends on literacy resources each year. I am amazed at how the children engage with the program and how frequently new topics are added – the kids love it! LFB is a lifesaver with the curriculum. Thankyou for helping me to make literacy fun and engaging. (Camilla)
I LOVE this resource; it saves me a lot of time in supporting teachers who have children with learning difficulties. Well done! (Samantha)
Your website is wonderful. I am so glad that I discovered it. I subscribed today for our two boys and am so happy that I did. (Amelia)

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your kids (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy

Listen to Dr Rennie’s 20 minute podcast here.

Brought to you by Tanya Grambower

Made for Boys: an online program that is targeted specifically to how boys learn

“What about the boys?” is a common theme in education circles when discussing academic achievement, particularly in English. Let’s unpack why it is essential that we stop the worrying literacy trajectory for our boys as they become young men.

A worldwide problem

In the UK, as in other western countries, the problem with boys’ literacy is stark and has dire consequences. Boys are more likely to be expelled from school, less likely to go to university and not as likely as girls to find employment between the ages of 22 and 29. Most disturbingly, men are also three times more likely than women to commit suicide and comprise 96 per cent of the UK prison population.

In Australia, one in four Year 9 boys (27%) do not meet the NAPLAN minimum standard for writing. Boys trail girls in every NAPLAN literacy area tested at ALL ages. Boys’ NAPLAN results get progressively worse as they get older. This is not unique to Australia, it’s a global phenomenon.

Literacy skills are essential

“Fifteen-year-old boys are more likely than girls of the same age to be low achievers,” the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its study of students from 65 countries and territories.

The statistics support the worldwide problem. Considerable research links poor literacy attainment to poor classroom behaviour, an increased risk for school dropout, anxiety, depression, low self-concept, incarceration and attempted suicide.

Why it’s important to get boys reading

Dr Jennifer Rennie, a senior lecturer at Monash University and president of the Australian Literacy Educators Club, argues “reading for pleasure needs to be back on the table”. As a former primary and secondary teacher, she understands the effects of low literacy.

Low literacy has far-reaching consequences

How can we help boys?

This is not a new problem. Millions of words have been written and billions of dollars have been spent on government programs trying to fix this problem, to no avail. Effective reading instruction has the essential components of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. For early success in reading, these skills must be taught well. If boys (and girls) miss any of these crucial stages then they can fall behind.

Why our program is different

Literacy for Boys is unique in that it is the only program of its kind developed specifically for boys, their needs and how best to engage them. It is aligned with the Australian curriculum and covers the basics of reading comprehension, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Our topics cater for all boys’ interests – sport, science, adventure, true-life stories, forensics, tech gadgets, ghost stories, gaming and more. Our formula for success lies in building confident readers via engaging content.

What our LFB community are saying!

As a parent I love this site. I will continue to purchase this for all my boys. It’s the best money we have spent! (Bec)
I have been a member of Literacy for Boys since 2017 and the cost of the subscriptions is the best money that our school spends on literacy resources each year. I am amazed at how the children engage with the program and how frequently new topics are added – the kids love it! LFB is a lifesaver with the curriculum. Thankyou for helping me to make literacy fun and engaging. (Camilla)
I LOVE this resource; it saves me a lot of time in supporting teachers who have children with learning difficulties. Well done! (Samantha)
Your website is wonderful. I am so glad that I discovered it. I subscribed today for our two boys and am so happy that I did. (Amelia)

We are offering a FREE 2 week trial of Literacy for Boys. Try it for yourself and see how it works for your kids (8 years to 15 years). Contact us today: info@literacyforboys.com.au

Noticed gaps in your child’s learning since remote learning? We offer the solution

How LFB is gaining real results in improving literacy