Literacy experts have released a “groundbreaking” document that provides evidence-informed guidance for educators to ensure the highest standards of English teaching and learning in primary schools across Australia.
The position statement, released by the Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) on Wednesday, emphasises the importance of enhancing teacher knowledge across language levels and contexts, recognising literature's crucial role in the curriculum and cultural practices, and understanding literacy as a multi-modal practice critical throughout primary education, systematically developing key foundational skills for diverse contexts.
“All teachers need access not just to the latest research, but to trusted associations that will provide the strategies, instructional practices and guidelines that will allow them to teach explicitly, meaningfully, and thoughtfully,” incoming PETAA President Helen Adam, Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University, said.
“PETAA’s role in this process is vital: we give support and ongoing training to teachers as they work within the rapidly changing environment that is the 21st century classroom.”
The Association’s CEO, Megan Edwards said PETAA provides teachers at all stages of their careers with the knowledge and resources to enable them to make informed decisions to support their students’ learning.
“Teachers are experts who select and sequence content and learning activities in order to support learning that develops cumulatively over time,” Edwards said.
“These sequences are initiated through teacher-directed explicit teaching of knowledge and skills, followed by guided practice that develops knowledge and skills so that students can operate independently. We are here to support them every step of the way.”