The Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy

A Teacher's Story: Literacy Through The Arts

Episode Summary

Literacy expert Sharon Callen is joined by an early years teacher to talk about how the arts can be a springboard for literacy learning.

Episode Notes

Good teachers are always looking for ways to teach effectively so all students feel included and nurtured. Lucy, a Year 1 teacher in Australia, says the arts can do just that.

Lucy joins literacy expert Sharon Callen to talk about the impact of the arts on literacy learning, and how the arts can be a springboard for the four key capabilities discussed by Robyn Ewing - curiosity, compassion, connection and courage.

Lucy also talks about:

How she developed her interest in the arts and how she integrates it with the curriculum
How she uses the art form of literature to strengthen her teaching
How teachers can make the arts more meaningfully integrated into their literacy teaching
How the arts motivate and engage students in literacy (and other subjects)
How art forms enhance deeper meaning and understanding
How imaginative texts help students become more compassionate people
How her personal experiences in the arts transform her teaching
How to assess in different ways
Improvements she has noticed in her students through use of literature/the arts

And much more!

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Find upcoming events here and previous webinars (online video courses) here.

Other matching PDF resources can be found at Teachific.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

TEACHIFIC

BOOKTOPIA

Elma by David McKee
Mrs Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley and Elizabeth Fuller
The Wrong Stone by Russell Deal and Ray Bowler
Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blaby
Stanley Paste by Aaron Blaby
Pearly Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blaby
My Grandpa Marches on Anzac Day by Catriona Hoy and Benjamin Johnson
Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
I Am a Robot by Jill Eggleton
Grug books by Ted Prior
Oh! The Places You’ll Go! By Dr Seuss
Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
The Children Who Loved Books by Peter Carnavas
Look! A Book by Libby Gleeson
Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blaby
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Rabbit and Rooster’s Ride by Jill Eggleton
My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Do Your Ears Hang Low? By jenny Cooper (illustrator)
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
The School Drama Book: Drama, Literature and Literacy in the Creative Classroom, by Ewing, R. & Saunders, J. N. (2016).
- The book is a resource for teachers who want to educate confidently with drama. It uses drama as a critical pedagogy, and encourages learning through activities, rather than teaching ‘about’ the texts. This approach has been shown to develop rich imaginations and creative capacities for the future. It includes;
  - a summary of how drama and literature enhance literacy
  - An explanation of the School Drama approach and methodology
  - Exploration of the art and pedagogy of drama (via elements, devices, and roles)
  - 22 classroom units of work: each comprised of a series of workshops using drama with literary texts

DRAMA DEVICES USED BY LUCY

Walking in Role - adopt a character and move about the room.
Create a Scene - students are frozen in a scene (as people or objects)
Sculpting Clay - one student molds the other into a character
Hot Seat - you are a character, and interviewed by the class
Meta Language - discuss the effect of the devices
Completely re-enact a story

MUSIC DEVICES USED BY LUCY

Do Your Ears Hang Low? By Jenny Cooper (illustrator)
Quiet music used in writing (not reading)
Forrest Gump theme:
Play music with fingers on the carpet
Schindler’s List theme

TEACHER TOOLS USED BY LUCY

Curiosity chart
Head, heart and hands writing
Traffic Light system
Big chart paper
Drawing scrapbooks
Focus on ‘You’re a writer’ from day one
Told Stories - e.g. The Seed by Donna Jacob Sife
Brian Cambourne’s Conditions For Learning
Making sure these 4 things are operating in lessons:
- Explicit teaching
- Being systematic but flexible
- Mindful - metalanguage
- Contextualised

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Got any questions? Feedback? Thoughts? Email admin@cuelearning.com.au

The Teacher’s Tool Kit For Literacy is the free podcast for motivated teachers and school leaders who want the latest tips, tricks and tools to inspire their students and school community in literacy learning.

Hear from literacy expert and founder of Cue Learning, Sharon Callen, and special guests.

At Cue Learning, our literacy specialists draw on over 30 years of teaching and international consulting experience to deliver world-class learning solutions. We equip, empower and support teachers to become their authentic selves.

To find out about upcoming events, and about how Cue can help you and your school, visit the Cue Learning website http://www.cuelearning.com.au/ and sign up to our newsletter https://cuelearning.com.au/contact/

And you can get even more amazing teaching resources, right now, at Teachific https://www.teachific.com.au/.

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MORE INFORMATION AT A GLANCE:

Visit cuelearning.com.au
Subscribe to the Teacher’s Tool Kit For Literacy podcasts or join on Apple Podcasts here
Contact Phil admin@cuelearning.com.au
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Find connected resources on Teachific
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See our online video courses here
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