Fremantle Speech Pathology

We have the pleasure of hosting two students from the University of Alberta (Canada) - Rebecca and Claire.

They are currently working with Christine Lewis at a local primary school - conducting kindy screens and running language groups.

Today, Jenny worked with them to establish how to teach language through a narrative lens.

The session focussed on moving away from just teaching macrostructure (character, setting, problem etc etc) within a narrative context to teaching microstructures that are salient to different stages of the narrative hill.

We took it in turns to develop a model text (based on established language goals for the kindy group - causal connection, adverbs of time and place + adjectives) and then teach the language goals EXPLICITLY using 5 distinct strategies for learning new words and concepts:

1. Define the word
2. Use it in context
3. Provide multiple examples
4. Say what it is "not"
5. Establish the phonological representation

We also applied the four highest-impact strategies emerging from cognitive science:

1. Retrieval Practice - Recall information from memory
2. Spaced Practice - Revisit learning over time
3. Interleaving - Mix different skills and concepts
4. Dual Coding - Combine words and visuals

Now to put it all into practice.....!

Good luck girls....X

We are excited to be working with the ReadingDoctor® Team this year to trial this exemplary program with some of our students. We are particularly buoyed by the research conducted by the team at Flinders University who found that, "Children who used ReadingDoctor® made strong improvements in their letter-sound knowledge. The program had a large positive effect on learning, beyond natural development over time.”

We will keep you updated.....!