Professional Development Opportunities

Workshop 1: ‘Writing right: improving student literacy results’

Workshop 2: ‘Building key grammatical knowledge’

Workshop 3: ‘Using grammar to help students’

Brush up on key teaching knowledge to ensure your students'  success at school, in National testing and in life.

Register now and learn more

Come back soon for more seminars:

1. Secondary English Teaching: Survive and thrive
2. Technology temptations for English teachers

Welcome to Wordsmart Consulting

Lindsay Williams

Our company is devoted to assisting the education community with its English and curriculum literacy needs.

How we can help:

1. The Smart Word: The eZine that makes it easy to keep up to date with what's happening in English
2. Secondary English Teaching: A Survival Manual Volumes 1 and 2: practical guides to teaching English in the Twenty-first Century
3. Seminars, workshops, on-site coaching
4. Curriculum writing: programs, units, lessons and worksheets

This site is for you, so we hope that you find plenty of practical ideas and resources. If you have a specific request for the site or if you want specific help in your own school community contact us.

Finally, come back regularly and see what’s new.

Secondary English Teaching:
A Survival Manual Volume 2

Now available, the final part of a book that has already made the lives of English teachers easier. Packed full of helpful information and practical, creative ideas, the second volume of Secondary English Teaching: A Survival Manual was launched on Monday 10 July at the National Conference of the Australian Association for Teachers of English in Canberra.

Aimed at providing more advice for new English teachers and further new ideas for the experienced, the book includes:

1. a new version of the Writing Process with lots of practical ideas for helping students succeed in writing
2. advice on communicating task requirements clearly and plainly to students
3. advice on getting group work to work
4. practical ideas for helping students with language difficulties and extending the gifted

and two indices - one for content, the other for strategies.

More information

What’s in the current edition of The Smart Word eZine?

Editorial

1. One door closes, another opens

News

1. English revolution on its way
2. Practical professional development in English on the way
3. Subscribing to The Smart Word
4. Myths about Critical Literacy - Part 2
5. Wordsmart consulting activities

Grammar Grouch

1. Eyres and graces

Research, Theory and Reports

1. The Rudd victory: what does it mean for English?

Literary Postcard

1. Old and new parliament houses, Canberra

Reviews

1. ymi Australia - a youth magazine
2. The Great Gatsby: a graphic adaptation
3. The boy, the bear, the baron and the bard
4. By hook or by crook
5. The Prime Ministers' National Treasures
6. Prefect Christmas gifts for English teachers

Practical teaching and learning tips

1. More tips for wide reading programs: RIB-IT

Subscribe now.

Calendar of Wordsmart events

April- May 08 :
Writing project for Middle and Senior school, Logan.

17 May 08 :
Workshop on Lockie Leonard television series at ETAQ seminar, All Hallows, Brisbane (for the Australian Children's Television Foundation)

May 08:
Unit writing for English Communications course at Brisbane High School.

May 08:
Production of on-line genre guides, bayside high school, Brisbane.

16 June 08 :
'Writing right: improving student literacy results' - full day workshop at Rockhampton Golf Club.

17 June 08 :
'Writing right: improving student literacy results' - full day workshop at Burnett Riverside Hotel.

19 June 08 :
'Writing right: improving student literacy results' - full day workshop at Claoundra Powerboat Club.

14 July 08:
'Building key grammatical knowledge' - full day workshop at Springwood Hotel.

14 August 08:
'Building key grammatical knowledge' - full day workshop at Kedron RSL (TBC).

20 October 08 :
'Building key grammatical knowledge' - full day workshop at Gold Coast (venue TBA).