Slaying the dragons: discovering English

Wednesday February 21 2007:
Guest speaker for Darling Downs Head of English Department network.

Abstract:
Dragons and sea monsters were once believed to inhabit unexplored regions of the globe. According to misleading media coverage and popularist posturings of politicians, the Years 1 to 10 English Syllabus is full of similar threats to students and teachers. In this presentation, explore some units of work and discover the fundamental principles of planning, teaching, learning and assessment that lie at the heart of English – whatever final form the Syllabus and Essential Learning Statements take.

Timing: approximately one and a half hours

PDF version of PowerPoint

Don’t laugh – this is Critical Literacy

Wednesday February 21 2007:
Guest speaker at Annual General Meeting for the Toowoomba branch of the English Teachers Association of Queensland (ETAQ).

Abstract:
As Critical approaches to text have gone mainstream, English seems to have become more serious and more demanding, yet less engaging for many students. Activities that were once a staple of literature studies, including role play, literary passport, socio-gram and plot profile, have given way to ethical questions related to foregrounding, privileging, silencing, representation and textual construction.

In this practical presentation, discover how you can ‘have your cake and eat it too’ – that is, how you can use good, ‘old fashioned’ learning activities in new ways to teach Critical concepts and tools. Critical Literacy does not mean re-learning how to teach; it does not require Middle and Primary School students to tackle abstract terminology. However, with a bit of imagination, Critical Literacy can be engaging and fun.

Timing: approximately 45 minutes

PDF version of PowerPoint

Session 1: Slaying the dragons: Discovering the real English syllabus

Monday February 26 2007:
Literacy conference at Hervey Bay.

Abstract:
Dragons and sea monsters were once believed to inhabit unexplored regions of the globe. According to misleading media coverage and popularist posturings of politicians, the Years 1 to 10 English Syllabus is full of similar threats to students and teachers. In this address, discover the fundamental principles of planning, teaching, learning and assessment that lie at the heart of English – whatever final form the syllabus takes.

Timing: 55 minutes

PDF version of PowerPoint

Session 2: Grammar with Grunt

Abstract:
Tired of having linguistic muscle men (and women) kick sand in your face? In just one hour, acquire the knowledge and skills to stand tall and proud. You too will know the difference between a Participant, Process and Circumstance; impress your partner with a superior command of Mood and Modality, Cohesion and Theme. In this workshop, learn the basics of Functional Systemic Grammar and never be afraid again.

Timing: 55 minutes

PDF version of PowerPoint

Navigating without a compass in the Middle School

Saturday March 17 2007:
Presentation of workshop at ETAQ seminar. See abstract of Wordsmart session.

Abstract:
According to Ray Misson (2004),

filling out …(generic structure) remains an empty exercise as long as the student has no sense of why a person in a particular situation might want to write this text, of the driving expressive purpose that in a good piece of writing fills out (indeed seemingly generates) the form’.

However, it became clear recently when reviewing Primary and Middle School units of work for Education Queensland and QCAR that all too many teachers ignore (or grossly downplay) the importance of purpose and audience – akin to asking students to navigate without a compass.

In exploring and teasing out these concepts, the workshop will focus on a much-abused and misused learning activity – the production of a website. By the end of the session, participants should have a renewed passion for purpose and audience, and be better prepared to tackle the multimodal nature of the Internet.

Timing: 1 hour

PDF version of PowerPoint

Don’t laugh – this is Critical Literacy

Sunday 8 July-Wednesday 11 July:
Presentation of workshop and Trade stand at the national conference for the Australian Association for Teachers of English and the Australian Literacy Educator’s Association (Australian National University, Canberra). See abstract of Wordsmart session.

Abstract:
As Critical approaches to text have gone mainstream, English seems to have become more serious and more demanding, yet less engaging for many students. Activities that were once a staple of literature studies, including role play, literary passport, socio-gram and plot profile, have given way to ethical questions related to foregrounding, privileging, silencing, representation and textual construction.

In this practical presentation, discover how you can ‘have your cake and eat it too’ – that is, how you can use good, ‘old fashioned’ learning activities in new ways to teach Critical concepts and tools. Critical Literacy does not mean re-learning how to teach; it does not require Middle and Primary School students to tackle abstract terminology. However, with a bit of imagination, Critical Literacy can be engaging and fun.

January 2008: Launch of new Wordsmart book for English teachers – title to be announced.

Timing: approximately 55 minutes

PDF version of PowerPoint