NAPLAN shows that Queensland is still the WORST state in Australia for literacy (and numeracy) achievement

[Parents-Aboard]

This is an email I recently sent to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
What do you think of the recent NAPLAN results?

Em:-)

Several US prisons predict future intake based on Yr 3 and 4 reading
scores. The links between poor literacy achievement and delinquency
are well documented worldwide- and 'Behaviour Management' and also
'Literacy' (teaching reading, writing and spelling) in the Early Years
are the two top subjects that newly qualified teachers often speak
about - ie that they do not feel they have received adequate training
within these areas, or experience- before being let loose with our
children!

As you will have read this week, NAPLAN results show that Queensland
is still the WORST state in the country for literacy achievement- see
Yr 3 and Yr 5 results. Not feeling confident will affect their self-
esteem as well as capabilities across the curriculum. And it doesnt
have to happen.

I am a former UK Education Department (Office for Standards in
Education) Inspector of Childcare and Early Years Education and was
really surprised - and shocked- by what I saw - or rather what I didnt
see - happening in Queensland when I arrived in 2007. We KNOW why so
many children fail- and can prevent it- and yet this isnt happening
within all schools in Queensland. It is pot luck for children as to
who will receive quality literacy teaching- and who won't. We cant
dispute this- or NAPLAN results would be very different. Children need
to be taught to read and spell directly- and explicitly. It isnt
something that just happens for all children; reading with children,
talking and sharing stories isnt enough.

I have asked the Education Department about the free training for
parents- included in the Queensland Ready Reader Program - to ask if
parents are actually going to be given specific training- and have
received no response. I doubt it. If even teachers arent receiving
this information and training I can't believe parents will receive it.
It will be another 'fluff' training program- that doesnt actually help
parents to help children in the ways they need, in order to teach them
to read, write and spell with confidence as early as possible.
Especially children who are likely to find literacy difficult.

As a reaction to what I observed during a short spell working for
Education Queensland when I first arrived on the Gold Coast I created
the web site called 'Read Australia™' (www.ReadAustralia.com ).
I had been frustrated when I spoke directly with at least one Head
Teacher in the Woodridge area- asking her is she realised that the
children in the early years didnt appear to be receiving teaching in
line with government reports and worldwide recommendations- and that
if she wanted to change behaviour further up the school one of the
ways would be to change that. I was looked at blankly- she wasnt at
all interested. I am sure this cant be the approach taken by the
majority of schools- however it didnt leave me particularly
enthusiastic about working for the government- and I decided instead
to help children in other ways.

As my 'title' (The Child Listener) indicates- I am passionate about
listening to children, and finding out what they need. The Read
Australia™ website was mainly created therefore to help parents find
the information they need, and to more effectively help their
children. There is a free chat forum and free information sent to
those who would like it called 'Parents Aboard' (this one lol) We
cannot as parents and teachers wait for the government to bring about
changes and offer more effective training- in the meantime too many
children are failing - through no fault of their own. We can identify
which children are likely to fail within Prep- so why are we not doing
this- and taking a preventative approach?

Many Queensland parents tell me they dont even know there are
difficulties until the child is 7 or 8! Many teachers tell me they
simply arent getting the training required- and classroom support. If
we train parents many would happily volunteer- not just to 'listen to
readers' -but to know how to teach children to read, and work more
effectively with the teachers. Many 'readers' in Queensland schools
are actually detrimental - they make the process even harder for
children- something I talk about online and during my workshsops.

Parents - ALL parents- can start helping their children as soon as
they begin speaking -if given the knowledge of what children need in
order to succeed within literacy. I have personally taught hundreds of
children to read, write and spell BEFORE they start school. Ordinary
children from a range of backgrounds and even those for whom English
is a second language. They love it! It isnt a secret of how to do
this- nor is it my own special method- we know how to prevent reading
and spelling difficulties worldwide- there is now decades of research
and clinical studies. In the UK we start children earlier- and teach
them the sounds in words- and how to represent them on paper. We lay
the foundations much earlier- and as a result we prevent difficulties.
There is no reason that this can't happen in Queensland.

In response to these recent NAPLAN results- showing that our children
in Queensland are STILL not receiving the teaching they need-
especially in the early years- I will be offering a workshop at the
Coomera Anglican College on Saturday October 2nd and urge parents (and
teachers) to attend- especially those working with and caring for
children aged 2 year plus. This problem isnt because teachers (or
parents) do not want their children to suceed- often they do not have
the support, classroom help- and training- required.

Costs are already subsidised- just $87 per place- and I would invite
the Education Department to send a representative- they can have a
free place!- to see that this really doesnt have to be difficult. A 3
hour workshop for parents across the State would work wonders for our
children- and create a more effective partnership between parents and
teachers.

The workshop will be led by myself- 'The Child Listener™' - a highly
experienced professional with a passion for helping children develop
to their potential and to love learning. This workshop is for anyone-
participants don't even need to have confidence within reading,
writing and spelling themselves. I dont care about 'reading' debates-
I just want our children reading, writing and spelling with confidence
as quickly as possible. Full details can be seen on the Read
Australia™ web site.

I believe that if we empower parents we can change what is happening
within Queensland. There are around 1 in 5 of our 10 year olds still
not reading to the expected level- parents who join the free 'Parents
Aboard' group on the Read Australia™ web site- and who attend my
workshops can help to change this- and make sure their child or
children arent 1 of those children who are failing- and who are likely
to also face difficulties with other subjects, and poor self-esteem.
So if readers want to help- take 3 hours out of your busy week to find
out what you can do to be a part of creating change.

I think this is a story that needs to be told- and is topical- as seen
in the Brisbane Bulletin earlier this week and other papers- and
because NAPLAN have just released their results. We can't argue with
those! And they show that we need to be much more proactive. I make
no apologies in saying that I believe the government are not doing
enough- and urge parents to step up and join me in helping ALL of our
children experience literacy success.

Thank you for reading this,

Emma

Emma Hartnell-Baker BEd Hons. MA Special Educational Needs. Cert Life
Coaching
Developing the 'Triple L' Approach- 'Listen, Learn and Lead'
www.The-Child-Listener.com
'Empowering Parents as a Way to Raise Standards of Literacy within
Australia'
www.ReadAustralia.com