Connecting the Pieces - Scholastic Education

Literacy programmes require a variety of approaches where pupils are encouraged to explore new ideas and think critically, creatively and reflectively. They need to encourage pupils to actively participate in their own learning.

Literacy programmes need to be ones that will ‘light the fire’ for pupils and create a lifelong love of learning. Connecting the pieces will demonstrate two approaches in reading:

• the ‘Shared Reading’ approach using the music and magic of poetry. Poetry is the ‘soul,’ the ‘heart beat’ of a reading programme where the rhythm of words and power of language is caught

• small group ‘Independent Reading’ approach, based on the reciprocal teaching method, where oral language and comprehension strategies are the focus, in a peer learning situation.

This method of teaching has been shown by research to increase both reading and listening comprehension and has demonstrated that pupils transfer this knowledge into other contexts.

Reciprocal teaching also requires pupils to work co-operatively with their peers. Peer learning is one of the most effective and natural forms of learning.  When pupils work together, interacting and motivating each other to interpret, analyse, evaluate and make connections, it can truly be a most powerful learning experience.

It was Jill’s passion for literacy, her understanding of how today’s students learn and her desire to share this with others, that led to her work as a lecturer in the University of Technology, where she trained New Zealand Maori teacher trainees in reading and writing programmes.

Jill became a consultant in a large city multi cultural school with students for whom most; English was their second language. Here Jill trained teachers and implemented literacy programs that gained international recognition with visits from Educators and administrators from the USA, Australia, Europe and Canada as well as educators from other schools in New Zealand

Jill believes that the keys to learning are practice, success and enjoyment and that what children learn with pleasure they will not forget.

Her passion is to provide resources for teachers and children that will motivate them, and excite and enrich their lives. This has led Jill to write for children and she is a published author of several poetry books and over 700 children’s books.

She has also developed a series of books based on the reciprocal teaching process, with a focus on group independent reading for students at the fluency stage of reading.

In Jill’s extensive work with teachers, observing them implement reading programmes, she has been concerned with importance of moving students beyond being decoders of texts to possessing greater skills in comprehension and providing teachers with every assistance she can to help them implement the skills necessary at each stage of reading development, without compromising her philosophy that ‘education is not about filling the pail but lighting the fire!’  Currently therefore, Jill is developing a modern series of shared and guided reading books which offer support to teachers no matter what their experience or ability is. These books also are aimed at providing a home school link.

Jill has a real interest in the children of today and providing help for teachers  with resources for students that are current, cutting edge, humorous and motivating. Her work with classroom teachers and her five grandchildren fuel the flame and passion for rewarding and enriching literacy programmes.

Scholastic Education

For 25 years, Scholastic Education has been publishing inspirational, affordable, time-saving resources to help you

teach.

Scholastic magazines are available in print and online. Visit www.scholastic.co.uk/magazines for more information.

See our full range of resources on our new and improved website www.scholastic.co.uk.