Developing Literacy in the Primary Classroom

Dr Gary Woolley is senior lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

What is literacy in today's world? Language learning: The foundation for literacy Reading Listening, speaking, viewing, and acting Writing, designing, filming and Web 2.0 tools Children's literature Reading comprehension Information texts, inquiry and ICT Diverse learners and literacy Planning, organisation and literacy engagement Assessment Home and school literacy partnerships

'Gary Woolley's new book gives us a comprehensive overview of what we mean by both literacy and literacies in our modern world. It is thoroughly researched and offers student and practising teachers, and those working in Higher Education, a balanced and informed overview of the theory behind our present teaching practices.' -- Howard Cotton 'This important book is highly relevant for an international audience. What makes Gary Woolley a 'must read' author is his unique ability to combine a socio-cultural perspective on literacy with extremely sound practical advice on how to actually intervene and teach reading beyond the beginning stages.' Peter Westwood, Education Consultant and Author 'It is not easy to marry the basic tenets of the socio-cultural view of literacy with the implementation of research-based teaching methods ... but Woolley has managed to do this very successfully. This book is an important and comprehensive contribution to the field.' Peter Westwood, Education Consultant and Author 'Highly recommended. The author has left no stone unturned in this extremely comprehensive exploration of how best to develop students' literacy skills. Beginning teachers, and those with experience, will find much here to influence their positive thinking and their classroom practices. A truly 21st century perspective.' Peter Westwood, Education Consultant and Author -- Peter Westwood 'Highly recommended. The author has left no stone unturned in this extremely comprehensive exploration of how best to develop students' literacy skills. Beginning teachers, and those with experience, will find much here to influence their positive thinking and their classroom practices. A truly 21st century perspective.' -- Peter Westwood 'Dr Gary Woolley is a leading contemporary writer and researcher in the domain of literacy education. His new book Developing Literacy in the Primary Classroom is a comprehensive overview on the critical topics all teachers need to understand and apply to be effective literacy educators. Effective literacy practices are multidimensional and require classroom teachers to have both the content knowledge associated with literacy and the pedagogical knowledge about how to teach literacy. That is, teachers need to know and understand what is literacy, how students' learn and advance in their literacy skills, and how to direct, structure, monitor and adapt their literacy instructions and practices, as required for different purposes. Dr Woolley's book Developing Literacy in the Primary Classroom is strongly focussed on developing teachers' pedagogical knowledge across the different elements of literacy and across the changing demands of students' literacy enhancement across the school years.' -- Professor Ian Hay 'Developing Literacy in the Primary Classroom is a comprehensive overview of the critical topics all teachers need to understand and apply to be effective literacy educators. Teachers need to know and understand what literacy is, how students learn and advance in their literacy skills, and how to direct, structure, monitor and adapt their literacy instructions and practices, as required for different purposes. This book is strongly focussed on developing teachers' pedagogical knowledge across the different elements of literacy and across the changing demands of students' literacy enhancement across the school years.' -- Professor Ian Hay