Year
2021Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Prerequisites
ENGL140 Childrens Literature: Worlds of Fiction or ENGL104 Exploring Literature
Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit focuses on the emergent and early literacy development of children in the early years. An explicit focus on the literacy strand of the Australian Curriculum: English and the importance of grapho-phonic relationships, morphology and syntax and the role in early reading pedagogy will be foregrounded. The teaching of writing will be developed through knowledge of word, sentence and text level structures, English grammar, drafting and editing processes, and spelling awareness. These approaches include the ability to motivate, develop and extend children’s responses to literary, factual and multimodal texts; to introduce higher-order thinking strategies through critical and analytical tasks appropriate for children in the early years of primary school. Literacy teaching and assessment practices will be developed from this strong basis of understanding current literacy research with a focus on supporting the literacy learning process and will draw on the discipline knowledge developed in previous units. The unit will introduce the notion of teaching and learning as socially embedded, together with recognition of the complex contexts of teaching practice and curriculum design. Underpinning the learning in the unit is a fundamental concern for justice and equity, and the dignity of all human beings.
This unit aims to assist pre-service teachers with the understanding of the emergent and early literacy development of children in the early years. The teaching of reading and how children learn to read will be developed through knowledge of the processes of reading, as well as through a range of pedagogical approaches
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - Describe the major theories of children’s emergent and early literacy development as these apply to the early years of primary school and their implications for practice. Consider how these theories apply to literacy learning prior to formal schooling and the importance of working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers (GA5; APST 1.2, 2.1, 2.5, 7.3)
LO2 - Show how research on emergent and developing literacy underpins an understanding of the Australian Curriculum: English and the interdependence of talking, listening, reading, writing and viewing and informs understanding of current issues and debates (i.e. the teaching of phonics and phonemic awareness) (GA4, GA8; APST 1.2)
LO3 - Critically evaluate a range of approaches to monitoring and assessing young children’s composing and comprehending of spoken and written language, drawing on discipline knowledge developed in previous and the current unit (GA4; APST 5.1, 5.4)
LO4 - Discuss the pedagogic consequences of linguistic and cultural differences and how to use the cultural and linguistic knowledge that children bring to the classroom to appropriately differentiate teaching practices and resources to effectively support their literacy learning (GA5; APST 1.3, 1.5, 3.3, 4.1)
LO5 - Ethically use appropriate technologies to facilitate and enhance emergent and early literacy learning, with a particular focus on developing and extending children’s responses to literary, factual and multimodal texts (GA9, GA10; APST 2.6, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 7.3)
LO6 - Investigate the three strands of the Australian Curriculum: English and implement pedagogical practices in classrooms (GA5, GA8; APST 2.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1).
Graduate attributes
GA4 - Think critically and reflectively
GA5 - Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession
GA8 - Locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information
GA9 - Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media
GA10 - Utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:
1.2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching. |
1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
1.5 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities. |
2.1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area. |
2.5 Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas. |
2.6 Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students. |
3.3 Include a range of teaching strategies. |
3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning. |
4.1 Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities. |
5.1 Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning. |
5.4 Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice. |
7.3 Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers. |
Content
Topics will include:
- Developing foundational knowledge and skills such as concepts about print, knowledge about language including grapho-phonic, morphemic, syntactic and pragmatic understandings, comprehending strategies, spelling and handwriting; Literary, factual, media and multi-modal texts, especially those intended for young children who are learning the processes of reading, writing and viewing
- The importance of understanding the pedagogy of reading with a range of models including instruction on how to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary knowledge, grammar and text comprehension and the range of skills fluent readers draw on when reading for meaning
- Developing reading strategies to facilitate shared reading, guided reading and independent reading processes
- The theories and processes of early and emergent reading and writing development, spelling, handwriting, listening, speaking and the implications for practice
- A focus on aspects of writing, spelling, handwriting, listening and speaking and related issues of child development and inclusiveness
- Research on contemporary issues such as teaching of phonics and phonemic awareness
- Recognition and acceptance of different language patterns, and different socio-cultural experiences, together with strategies and resources for addressing the emergent and early literacy needs of these students including a focus on Indigenous learners and English as a second or other language
- Strategies for effectively establishing links between home and school, and working with parents/carers and families to encourage children’s literacy learning
- Strategies for organising and managing groups of children in the literacy block, ensuring catering for diverse needs
- Strategies including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess for literacy development in early, emergent and continuing literacy
- Assessment strategies commonly used in primary classrooms, eg running records – how to use, record, analyse and track student progress and learning outcomes
- The rationale for using children’s literature and strategies to develop children’s literary enjoyment, understandings, reflections, and responses
- Ways of integrating technologies in the literacy context
- International, national and state/territory documents for planning, implementing and evaluating the literacy program.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Pre-service teachers will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to progress and demonstrate their understandings in this unit. Participants will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to support learning, including: online engagement, lectures, tutorials, seminar presentations and group discussions, both online and face-to-face, self-directed study activities and assessment tasks. Some participation in appropriate educational settings may be required.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total. This may involve a combination of face to face, online and blended delivery, on a weekly basis across a 12-week semester or in intensive mode. There is a normal expectation of 36 hours of directed study and the total contact hours should not exceed 36 hours. Directed study might include lectures, tutorials, webinars, podcasts etc. The balance of the hours then become private study.
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment tasks and their weighting for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. In order to pass this unit, students are required to participate in all assessment tasks.
The total assessment tasks will amount to the equivalent of 4,000 words.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment 1: Designing teaching and learning activities for K-2 based on children’s books Part A: Shared Book Reading: Identify a year level on which to focus (K-2) and select a highly quality children’s book for use in the classroom. Justify the book choice with reference to its linguistic features and the opportunities it offers for developing code breaking and meaning making AND either (1) or (2) Option (1): Write approximately 600 words on why reading to children is important and how it promotes language and literacy skills. Option (2): Prepare a script OR a video demonstration showing how to introduce the selected text in a classroom lesson. Part B: Design of learning activities: Design TWO teaching and learning activities based on the selected book for developing listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing, with reference to language and literacy theory and the national OR state curriculum. ONE teaching and learning activity must address phonics OR phonological awareness and the other should address any of the following: comprehension, vocabulary, visual literacy, spelling, reading fluency, word recognition. At least one activity should include a digital resource. | 50% | LO1, LO2, LO5, LO6 | GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9, GA10 |
Assessment Task 2: Implementing the Gradual Release of Responsibility model for teaching reading and writing
Students demonstrate their understanding of the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model and its implementation in the classroom for teaching READING and WRITING, with consideration for the needs of EAL/D learners. The model, together with its theoretical rationale and its application, should be explained and accompanied by a discussion of strategies and considerations for assessing learners’ abilities in selected aspects of reading and/or writing. Format may include essay, report or PowerPoint presentation. | 50% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6 | GA4, GA5, GA8 |
Representative texts and references
Burke, A., & Marsh, J. (2013). Children’s virtual play worlds. New York, NY: Peter Lang.
Emmitt, M., Zabaracki, M., Komesaroff, L., & Pollock, J. (2014). Language and learning: An introduction for teaching (6th ed.). South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.
Fellowes, J., & Oakley G. (2010). Language, literacy and early childhood education. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.
Fleer, M., & Williams-Kennedy, D. (2002). Building bridges: Literacy development in young indigenous children. Watson, ACT: AECA
Gibbons, P. (2002). Scaffolding language, scaffolding learning: Teaching second language learners in the mainstream classroom. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Gibbons, P. (2009). Challenging expectations: Literacy, intellectual quality and English language learners in the middle years. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Hill, S. (2012). Developing early literacy: Assessment and teaching (2nd ed.). South Yarra, Vic: Eleanor Curtain Publishing.
Kalantzis, M., & Cope. B. (2012). Literacies. Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press.
Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2007). The continuum of literacy learning grades K-8: Behaviors and understandings to notice, teach and support. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann
Winch, G., Johnston, R.R., March, P., Ljungdahl, L., & Holliday, M. (2014). Literacy: Reading, writing and children’s literature (5th ed.). South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.