Brain imaging studies have found that the brains of people with dyslexia function differently to the brains of people who are good readers. For example, areas of the brain that deal with processing individual sounds are less developed in people with dyslexia. Theories on the … [Read more...] about Reading, Dyslexia and Brain Plasticity
phonics
Basic Skills Test in Australia – 2012 Update – the Results are Disappointing
Australian school students now have their basic skill levels tested regularly - but what good does it do? Not much good for the students or the teachers it seems as I will show below. All this testing has not led to any substantial improvements in teaching or learning - the … [Read more...] about Basic Skills Test in Australia – 2012 Update – the Results are Disappointing
Computers and Literacy
We now have as many computers in schools as we have students, BUT . . . Do Computers Actually Improve Educational Outcomes? The short answer is: there is no conclusive scientific proof either way. Some studies find positive impacts, and others find negative impacts. … [Read more...] about Computers and Literacy
Government Guidelines for Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics
International Research into Methods of Teaching Reading Because of generally poor levels of literacy among school students despite many years at school, governments of all the major English-speaking countries (including USA, UK, Canada and Australia) have recently conducted … [Read more...] about Government Guidelines for Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics
Bringing Stories and Novels Alive for Reluctant Readers
Everybody loves stories - but only a small percentage of the population have good enough reading skills to find reading a novel an easy and enjoyable experience. It is not that these people cannot read, but reading more than a page or two is not a relaxing experience. This is … [Read more...] about Bringing Stories and Novels Alive for Reluctant Readers