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01Mar2010
In an age of testing, assessment and accountability how can we, as a nation, make literacy fun, inspiring and irresistible to everyone?
Posted by Jonathan Douglas
Motivation sits at the heart of all learning and research over the past decade has increasingly indicated that pupils in schools in particular don’t see reading and writing as exciting, enjoyable or inspiring. So it is not surprising that the subject of this viewpoint blog came as number one when we asked for the content of the NLT’s first viewpoint blog published on the launch of our new website.
The challenge to motivate and inspire sits at the heart of the mission of the NLT. A key focus of our Manifesto for Literacy is the enjoyment of reading which we believe is crucial to supporting the development of literacy. As an independent charity we think we’re in a good place to address this head on. Agencies of government working on their own, be they strategies, quangos or development agencies, find it hard to address changing public attitudes as their mechanisms can be unwieldy and their motives can be regarded with suspicion. You cannot legislate for fun. However a charity like the NLT exists to be the advocate of our beneficiaries. Our only motive is changing lives for the better through literacy.
The approach which our research and projects suggest can prove effective is built on three approaches:
Relevance
At the start of this week I went to Derbyshire’s Partners in Literacy Conference – the NLT project supporting literacy in the home. Derbyshire has undertaken some significant consultation with families with low literacy levels about the suitability of literacy support within their communities. One of the main findings was that provision needs to be explicitly relevant to people’s aspirations and immediate requirements. Embedding literacy in courses which help people get jobs is infinitely more attractive than pure reading and writing support. The message behind this challenges all of us who work with learners – literacy support will only be irresistible when it speaks to the needs and culture of learners. This means understanding the needs of learners far more clearly and addressing them directly as well as validating the cultural interests of learners (be it football, fly fishing, Strictly Come Dancing or T S Eliot) in provision.
Professional practice
You might not be able to legislate for fun but you can for the effectiveness of supporting professionals in adopting strategies which can inspire learners. UKLA’s Teachers As Readers programme has demonstrated the power of the dynamic relationship between inspired teachers and inspiring readers. The NLT’s own Reading Connects works with 5,000 schools to motivate readers. As we move into a new educational landscape following the end of the national strategies, we have an important opportunity to position mechanisms for inspiration in support for schools. Perhaps SIP (School Improvement Partners) could also stand for a School’s Inspiration Partner?
Freedom and creativity
Increasing the freedom of schools and supporting the creativity of teachers whilst ensuring effectiveness is a common theme of the rhetoric of all three parties. Creative teaching of literacy – risk taking, synthesising concepts, the use of drama and the arts – has the potential to inspire both teachers and learners. The NLT has spent some time studying the approach adopted by Rochdale: an authority whose ongoing increases in literacy levels buck national trends. A key characteristic of literacy provision in Rochdale is community arts activity. Creativity is seen as a vital ingredient in the development of approaches to supporting literacy which will capture the imagination of families and learners.
The aim of the new NLT website is to inspire and support all those who work to promote literacy. We hope that professionals will contribute to as well as draw from the content of our site and Wikireadia, our best practice case study database. The fact is that learners are being inspired and motivated to improve their literacy skills. So the answers are out there. The new website is an opportunity to renew our mission to work in partnership with librarians, teachers, early years practitioners and all professionals who work to promote literacy skills, to identify and promote what works.
This World Book Day we are launching our Vote for Literacy campaign which calls on politicians to prioritise literacy and to adopt policies from our Manifesto for Literacy, including making the link between enjoyment and learning. Pledge your support and find out how you can take action here.
Jonathan Douglas, March 2010
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2 Comments
John Kerins replied on 22 Mar 2010 at 14:08
We are seeing major transformations in the delivery of reading materials; texting, internet, tweets, feeds, Kindles, iPads, iPods and many more new transmissions of reading materials.
I hope personally that the written word will persist. To me there is nothing like the satisfaction of a good book. But I recognise that our children don't have the same connection with paper, newspaper sales are down, book sales are slower.
Children are embracing the new technologies. Reading blends with videos, blogs and becomes very interactive. Visual and creative information augments the written word.
The sooner we can bring this excitement kids have with technology into the classroom the better. What odds every child will have access to a laptop (or a better version) in the classroom within 5 years?
Hopefully we can leverage technology to motivate students, improve reading standards and prepare our children for the 21st century.
Good luck with your blog.
Izzy replied on 22 Mar 2010 at 14:08
We can make literacy more fun by..... not teaching it as if it were a logical science in the way we do numeracy. I am a TA of 12 years standing, and pride myself in my work. BUT its gone far enough! Allow the many enthusiastic people with a love of literacy to inspire. Reward schools who have allowed creative freedoms to teachers and students to flourish, instead of penalising them if they have not taught causal connectives to 8 year olds perfectly. Embrace the modern ICT media and not be frightened by it. Literacy is as art, and can evolve as language evolves, but if the government are listening to 'experts' who are afraid of the future and are wedged like driftwood in an exciting, turbulent and fast flowing river of literature and language we will all become stuck, and the river will be dammed and stagnant. Rebels are needed.