A teacher had always allowed 20 minutes for silent reading in her classroom. But when she looked at her Year 3/4 composite class, she noticed that although some students were reading, some were not. She decided to explore why they might not be reading. She focused on three students--a boy with severe learning difficulties and an auditory…

Evaluates five basal reading series used in Australia according to the criteria set forth by R. Brimble in the preceding article. (HTH)

This paper looks at recent debates about text selection and censorship in Australia. Its aim is to point beyond the terms in which the censorship debate has been conducted in the mass media, and to prompt reflection on how texts are used in English classrooms. The paper raises questions of language and cultural identity in secondary English…

The Children's Book Council of Australia Awards contain several categories for the best books published for children in 2002. This PETA guide looks at all categories, with the exception of Older Readers. The purpose of the guide is to suggest ways of exploring each shortlisted book, focusing on its significant aspects. It points out that children…

Lists the data and responses to the 12 questions in the study. Provides some general observations about the results. (RL)

Reports on a study that surveyed upper primary class children to determine how widely they read, who their favorite authors are, how they choose the books they read, where they obtain them, and who they talk to about them. (HOD)

Suggests that some Australian schools in the 1980s took up too enthusiastically what may be called the Effortless Theory of Learning to Read. Describes how Paired Reading can work and what can go wrong with such instruction. (RS)

This resource book is intended to help parents identify good books for their children by offering a list of the best contemporary Australian books for children and by explaining ways to recognize what qualities to look for in new and unfamiliar books. The first section of the book answers some common questions about why books and reading aloud are…

This book presents practical ideas, procedures, and activities which can help parents improve children's reading. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "Reading and Your Child"; (2) "Living with and Helping Your Child"; (3) "Getting Ready to Teach Your Child"; (4) "The Teaching Session"; (5)…

Offers suggestions for improving beginning teachers' abilities to teach reading, noting the need for greater cooperation between colleges and practicing schools in providing teachers with the proper training in subject matter and teaching skills. Discusses teacher-developed reading and readiness programs, attitudes, and material selection. (FL)

Outlines outcomes of a survey which invited Australian Head Teachers of English to identify the major strengths and challenges of new Stage 6 Higher School Certificate courses. Reveals that teachers see the great potential for their students to be challenged and enthused by the courses. Notes significant anxiety and lack of assurance among…

Because the teacher librarian has an important educational role to play in assisting students to become independent learners by applying the inquiry process to library research, this booklet has been designed to assist teacher librarians in teaching students the information skills appropriate to stage three of the inquiry process, i.e., analyzing…

Enthusiasm for and a commitment to literature are the essential tools needed to successfully promote the enriching, challenging, and thought-provoking world of books. This paper focuses on the promotion of literature inside the classroom, inside the library, and in the wider community. Programs at Methodist Ladies' College (Australia), a boarding…

This guide to the best books for children published in Australia in 2001 represents the choice of the judges of the Children's Book Council of Australia. The guide presents a shortlist of books in all award categories except that of Older Readers. It provides discussion points for exploring each book, enabling teachers and learners to focus on…

The Talk to a Literacy Learner (TTALL) program was developed in response to a New South Wales (Australia) government initiative, and is designed to focus on parents and the strategies they use to interact with their children as they read and write. An 8-week parent workshop on literacy development and a community tutor program trained selected…