Event Calendar 2009

Meanjin Local Council of the Australian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA)
ABN: 28 637 317 066
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SEMESTER ONE  2009

 
Half Day PD (February)
Sat 21 February 2009
"Literacy Assessment: In Testing Times." Ipswich Junior Grammar School.
 
Half Day PD (March)
Sat 21 March 2009
“Literacy Outcomes & Digitalisation: Competing Tensions?” Holland Park State School
 
Half Day PD (May)
Saturday 16 May 2009
“Becoming Literacy Teachers: Saturday Workshops for early years, middle years and secondary school teachers”  
 
Annual General Meeting
Wed 27 May 2009
Toscani's Function Cafe Bar and Restaurant
 
Full Day Workshops
Sat 30 May and Sat 13 June 2009
"Coming to grips with Grammar in the Classroom"
 

SEMESTER TWO  2009

 
ALEA/AATE National Conference
9 - 12 July 2009 Hobart
 
Nat. Literacy and Numeracy Week
30 Aug - 05 September 2009
 
International Literacy Day
8 September 2009
 
ASFLA Conference
28 September - 02 October 2009
Brisbane
 
29th Annual Writers' Camp
Thu 5 - Sun 8 Nov 2009
Meanjin will proudly host its 29th Annual writers’ camp for talented middle years students.
 
Annual End of Year Breakfast
An occasion where passionate literacy educators come together to thank the hard working Meanjin team.
 
 

 

 

29th Annual Meanjin Writers' Camp 2009
Information and Application Forms available here.
Focus: Meanjin conducts the writers' camp annually to encourage and develop talented young writers by having them work with established authors.
Target Audience: Students in Years 6, 7 and 8 from both state and non-state schools. Preference will be given to students who have not previously attended a Meanjin Writers’ Camp.
When: 4.00 pm Thursday, 5 November 2009 to
9.00 am Sunday, 8 November 2009
Where: Queensland Conference and Camping Centre (QCCC) Brookfield
179 Gold Creek Road,
Brookfield QLD 4069
Authors:

and two more to be advised.

Cost: Anticipated cost is $200. This includes all meals (Thursday Dinner to Sunday Breakfast) accommodation and contributes to part of the cost of conducting the program.

Meanjin will be offering ten scholarships (free attendance) this year for young writers who fulfil the writing requirements but who would be unable to attend because of financial difficulties.  If schools have any students who are outstanding writers and who would be unable to apply due to their economic situation, please feel free to submit an application and writing samples for consideration. Such applications need to be signed by your school’s principal.

Applications: Information and Application Forms available here.

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Full-Day Workshops
Saturday 30 May 2009 at Springwood Road State School
Saturday 13 June 2009 at Holy Family School, Indooroopilly

  Register here
Title: "Coming to Grips with Grammar in the Classroom"
Target Audience: Classroom Teachers P-7
  • Small Group Instruction.
  • Limited to 20 places at each workshop.

Presented by Marianne Schubert

Dates/Venues: Saturday 30 May 2009 - 9:00am to 4:00pm
Springwood Road State School
Registrations from 8:30am.

Saturday 13 June 2009 - 9:00am to 4:00pm
Holy Family School, Indooroopilly
Registrations from 8:30am.

Program:
Same at each venue ...
   
8:30 - 9:00am Registration and welcome tea/coffee
   
9:00 - 11:00am Session 1
   
11:00 - 11:30am Morning Tea
   
11:30 - 1:30pm Session 2
   
1:30 - 2:00pm Lunch
   
2:00 - 4:00pm Session 3
   
4:00pm Finish
  This series of four workshops presents a guided walk through grammar as a tools for children to read and write. The activities in the workshops will unpack much of the framework and terminology used in the QSA Essential Learnings Grammar Scope and Sequence using frequently used classroom texts.

Teachers will learn grammar through doing activities designed for classroom use. Teachers will try activities that explore how grammar can be used as a tools to identify main ideas, summarise paragraphs, draw inferences and critically analyse ideas presented in texts. The activities in the workshops will also provide ideas for improving children’s writing through extending teacher knowledge of how grammar is used in the texts of different Key Learning Areas.

These workshops have been very popular with teachers because of the practical nature of the activities and the strong relationship to their curriculum materials. Most of the text examples used in the workshops are appropriate for years 1-4 teachers.

Marianne currently works for Education Queensland as a Regional Literacy Manager in Greater Brisbane.  She has been a panel reviewer for State and National literacy test for several years. One of her projects this year is to work with selected schools to improve student reading comprehension. She has extensive primary classroom experience.  She has presented at local, state and national conferences and professional development activities.

Cost: $180 - ALEA Member (individual or institutional)

$230 - Non-member   (Join and save)

  Register here

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Saturday Half Day Professional Development (16 May)

Register here
Title: “Becoming Literacy Teachers: Saturday Workshops for early years, middle years and secondary school teachers”  
Target Audience: Classroom teachers and administrators from Education Queensland, Catholic Education & ISQ and pre-service teachers from universities.
Date & Venue: Saturday 16 May 2009

Holy Family School
Cnr Ward St and Central Avenue
Indooroopilly 4068

map 

Street parking only available. Enter via the main entrance beside the church in Ward Street. Follow the signs to registration.

Program:
8:30 - 9:00am Registration and welcome tea/coffee
9:00 - 11:00am

 

Session 1

Pat Edgar: "Shared Reading and Interactive Writing- immersing students in the reading and writing process in the Early Years P-2" (Focus: Years P-2)
This workshop is now full. It has been decided, however, to offer it again in the second session. See below.

OR

Joy Lawn: "The Forgotten L –Literature. Books for the Early Years."
(Focus: Birth - 8 years)

This workshop is now full but is not being offered again in Session 2.

OR

Pat Hipwell: "The Literacy/Assessment Nexus in Secondary School Curriculum Areas."  (Focus: Years 8-12)
more ...

OR

Val Warwick: "Drama holds the key. Why not unlock the ‘tool box’?"
(Focus: Pre-Prep to Year 3)
more ...

OR

Deb Tyson: "Explicit Teaching of Comprehension Strategies Yrs 4-9" (Focus: Years 4-9)
more ...

 

11:00 - 11:30am Meanjin morning tea, trade displays, prize draws and networking.
11:30 - 1:30pm

Session 2

Linda Tate: "Writers Writing Right" (Focus: Years 3–7)
more ...

OR

Deb Tyson: "Explicit Teaching of Comprehension Strategies Yrs 4-9" (Focus: Years 4-9)
This workshop is now full but is being offered again in Session 1. See above.
more ...

OR

Val Warwick: "Drama holds the key. Why not unlock the ‘tool box’?"
(Focus:
Pre-Prep to Year 3)
more ...

OR

Pat Edgar: "Shared Reading and Interactive Writing- immersing students in the reading and writing process in the Early Years P-2" (Focus: Years P-2)
more ...

 

1:30pm Finish
Cost:
  • $50 ALEA Members (Institutional or Individual)
  • $75 Non-member ALEA
  • $30 Student member of ALEA
  • $40 Student non-member of ALEA

Join ALEA and save.

Register here

About the Sessions:

Pat Edgar: "Shared Reading and Interactive Writing- immersing students in the reading and writing process in the Early Years P-2" (Focus: Years P-2)

Abstract:
Shared Reading and Interactive writing provide a vehicle for an expert reader and writer (the teacher) to engage, instruct and support early literacy learners. This workshop defines these two instructional approaches with models of their practical application in P-2 classrooms.

  • The reading/writing connection
  • The three cueing systems
  • Shared Reading
  • Interactive Writing

Biography:
Pat has provided very successful literacy coaching/mentoring to many primary and high schools in Qld across all sectors for the past 8 years. She delivers practical and stimulating workshops for teachers and teacher aides. Pat’s practical approach to professional development stems from her previous fifteen years teaching in classrooms from Years 1-7, Reading Recovery teacher training, Literacy Coordinator roles and University studies. She is passionate about the need for teachers to continue to be lifelong learners.

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Joy Lawn: "The Forgotten L –Literature. Books for the Early Years." (Focus: Birth - 8 years)

Abstract:
As this question is considered, I propose to take you on a journey through some of the best new and recent literary texts for children from birth to eight years. A number of these books are Children’s Book Council of Australia 2009 shortlisted and notable books. Others are quality books from beyond Australian shores. Ways of using these books in line with the National Curriculum, where possible, with young children before school and in Stage One at school will be explored.

Biography:
Joy Lawn, MA Children’s Literature & Literacy
CBCA 2009/10 Judge
Children’s Literature Consultant Coaldrake’s Bookshop

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Pat Hipwell: "The Literacy/Assessment Nexus in Secondary School Curriculum Areas."  (Focus: Years 8-12)

Abstract:
Assessment is a powerful tool for learning and authentic assessment can encourage the development of the very skills it is trying to measure (Stobart, 2008). Pat will explore the link between assessment for learning and the improvement of literacy skills and practices for students in secondary school curriculum areas. Any assessment task tests both knowledges and literacies. Sometimes the literacy demands of assessment remain hidden from view because of the very nature of literacy as a socially embedded set of skills and practices. The literacies are the silent assessors. In this workshop, teachers will be shown: 

  • A number of tools for identifying the literacy demands of an assessment task
  • A framework, which is compactable with the QCAR Framework, for embedding these literacies in a unit of work
  •  Some practical ideas for teaching some of the literacies that are being assessed.

 NB Please bring an assessment task to this session.

Biography:
Pat is an independent literacy consultant and works for her own company, Logonliteracy. She trained as a high school teacher and taught Geography and Social Science in England and Australia for many years. Since starting a consultancy business four years ago, Pat has provided professional development to primary and high schools who are developing whole school approaches to literacy teaching and learning. She has particular interest in designing quality assessment tasks and the literacy demands of school based assessment in Queensland and National Testing. Her workshops are extremely practical and teachers leave with ideas to implement in content area classrooms.

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Linda Tate: "Writers Writing Right" (Focus: Years 3–7)

Abstract:
This workshop offers classroom teachers the opportunity to extend their knowledge and understanding of the writing process and the instructional approaches in teaching writing. Participants will review the generic structure, purpose and language features of narrative and report text types. Strategies will be discussed to develop student success and achieve improved outcomes in assessed unit writing tasks and personal student writing.

  • The instructional approaches of Writing – modelled, shared, guided, independent.
  • The aspects of the writing process – planning, composing, recording, revising, publishing.
  • The authorial and secretarial roles of the writer.
    The purpose, structure and language features of narrative & report texts.
  • Scaffolding students’ learning experiences in narrative and report text types.
  • Using the instructional approaches within the aspects of the writing process to achieve improved student outcomes in narrative and report text types.
     

Biography:
Linda has had a full and varied teaching career in Australia and New Zealand. She has been a year 1-7 classroom teacher, a Learning Support teacher, a Literacy Support teacher, an ESL teacher and a literacy coordinator . Her experience and expertise is currently shared in many schools throughout Qld in her consultancy work with the Pat Edgar Consultancy. Linda is a literacy coach/mentor to many teachers and administrators in schools assisting them with the implementation of explicit instructional approaches to the teaching and learning of literacy. Linda enjoys the challenge of new educational directions and the new learning involved and has a natural ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical implementation in the classroom.

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Deb Tyson: "Explicit Teaching of Comprehension Strategies Yrs 4-9" (Focus: Years 4-9)

Abstract:
The ultimate goal of any reading instruction is to create confident, fluent, independent students who understand what they read. To achieve this, readers need to know how to use a range of skills to enhance their understanding, acquire information and remember what they read. This workshop is designed to enhance teachers’ understanding of these skills and  the teaching of them within the context of a balanced reading program.

  • Three cueing systems
  • Three levels of comprehension
  • Repertoire of comprehension strategies
  • Demonstrations using Shared and Guided Reading as the vehicle for the
  • explicit teaching of the strategies

Biography:
Deb Tyson has been teaching in Queensland schools for the past 30 years. Her experience and expertise as a classroom teacher, support teacher and literacy coordinator led her to consultancy work with the Pat Edgar Consultancy. Deb is a literacy coach/mentor to many teachers and administrators in Qld schools assisting them with the implementation of explicit instructional approaches to the teaching and learning of literacy. She shares her passion and skill for developing good learners with all who are keen to see students succeed.
 

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Val Warwick: "Drama holds the key. Why not unlock
the ‘tool box’?" (Focus: Pre-Prep to Year 3)

Abstract:
Developing confidence and self esteem through the performing arts is not only a pathway to positive self worth, it is also an exciting journey of discovery into words, effective speech,
creative imagination, self expression and fun.

The ‘tool box’ of speech and drama is crammed to the brim with magical skills. By making children aware of its contents, we are opening the door to easier interaction, improved group
communication, integrity and trust, team work and a multitude of life skills. Unlocking the ‘tool box’ for our early learners is a very natural way to extend the vocabulary,
improve listening skills, problem solving and creative thinking.

Workshop outcome: Participants will have an increased understanding of the benefits of  bringing speech and drama into the classroom, and how to involve even the most reticent child into drama activities.

Biography:
Valerie has been involved with the performing arts since early childhood in the United Kingdom. She has written plays, scripts and innumerable performance works. As a founder member of the Redland Academy of Dramatic Art, she developed a drama program for students with Downs Syndrome. She has produced many major musical productions. Valerie is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Ormiston College (Queensland) and Principal of Playtime Productions.

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Register here

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Meanjin Annual General Meeting 2009

When: Wednesday 27 May 2009

Toscani's Function Cafe Bar & Restaurant
 South Bank

Toscani's website

Little Stanley Street
164 Grey Street 
South Brisbane QLD 4101
map

Ph: (07) 3846 1000
Fax: (07) 3846 6677

Schedule

5.30pm - Pre-meeting drinks and nibbles provided by Meanjin.
6:00pm - Annual General Meeting including nomination of new members of
Meanjin Executive and short regular Meanjin meeting.
7.00pm - Dinner as per menu below (user pays). $30.00 per person plus cost of drinks.

---------------------------------------------
Entree
Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
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Main
Chicken Risotto or
Vegie Patch Pizza or
Gnocchi Marchigiano
---------------------------------------------
Dessert
Chocolate Brownie or
Apple Crumble Slice
---------------------------------------------
Coffee or Tea
---------------------------------------------

Please register your intention to attend below
Registration essential for catering purposes!

 

We need numbers!  Please register your intention to attend the AGM
1. Your First Name ...............
2. Your Last Name ...............
3. Your Email Address ..........
     for updates and reminders
6. I plan to attend ................

    


 

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Saturday Half Day Professional Development (HDPD)

  Registrations closed.
Title: “Literacy Outcomes & Digitalisation: Competing Tensions?”. flyer
Target Audience: Classroom teachers and administrators from Education Queensland, Catholic Education & ISQ and pre-service teachers from universities.
Date & Venue: Saturday 21st March 2009

Holland Park State School
59 Abbotsleigh Street
Holland Park

Street map
School map

Registration will be in the hall between the tennis courts and the pool. (Not shown on map.)

PLEASE NOTE Parking will be at a premium. Please park on the street (59 Abbottsleigh St, Holland Park) and be prepared for a short walk. It’s also Election Day and HPSS runs an Election Day booth. There will be significant people traffic on the day. Just look for the big new hall. The pool side entry will be barricaded off as the landscaping has not been completed, but you can enter from the school side.

Program:
8:30 - 9:00am Registration and welcome tea/coffee
   
9:00 - 10:00am Keynote Address
Professor Allan Luke: "Digitalisation of Finnish Schools: The Anomaly of New Technologies in Highly Effective Print Literacy School Systems."
 more ...
   
10:00 - 10:45am Fabulous Meanjin morning tea, trade displays, prize draws and networking
   
10:45 - 12:45pm

Workshop 1 (P - 3 focus)
This workshop is now full.
Valerie Rogers & Lynelle Whittaker:
"Keeping Kids Keen – Nurturing Multi - Literacies in the Early Years Using ICTs, investigation and play to support the development of literacy skills"
more ...

OR

Workshop 2 (Years 4-7 focus)
This workshop is now full.
Gail Young & Neil Adams:

"Media Mayhem in the Middle School: Enhancing Literacy essentials across the KLAs in the Middle Years."
more ...

OR

Workshop 3 (Years 8-12 focus)
This workshop is now full.
Lee Rossow
"Broadcast This: Digital Storytelling and Reflective Practice Via Blogs in Secondary Schooling."
more ...
 

   
12:45pm Finish
Cost:
  • $50 ALEA Members (Institutional or Individual)
  • $75 Non-member ALEA
  • $30 Student member of ALEA
  • $40 Student non-member of ALEA

Join ALEA and save.

Registrations closed

About the Sessions:

Professor Allan Luke (Keynote):
Digitalisation of Finnish Schools: The Anomaly of New Technologies in Highly Effective Print Literacy School Systems.

This presentation is based on an OECD study review of Finnish schools (Luke, Ayres & Johannson, 2008) undertaken for the Nordic Ministries of Education.
Finland is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful 'print literacy' systems internationally. Over the last 15 years, Finland, as well as Norway, Sweden and Denmark,
have invested in successive waves of digitalisation of schooling, with a strong emphasis on the development of digital learning objects. This presentation reviews the Finnish experience and outcomes. It raises key issues facing Australian schools regarding the implementation and evaluation of school digitalisation - arguing for a more 'outside-in' approach to digitalisation that de-emphasises educationally engineered learning tools and  objects, and focuses on youth digital culture and media production.

Allan Luke Biography:
Professor Allan Luke is currently developing new research projects in early literacy, accountability and assessment, and comparative pedagogies. He is co-editor of: Teaching Education (Routledge), Review of Research in Education (American Educational Research Association), Asia Pacific Journal of Education (Routledge) and Pedagogies: An International Journal (Erlbaum) and is a senior editor of The International Encyclopaedia of Education (Kluwer), The Handbook of Urban Education (Kluwer), and the Handbook of Curriculum (Sage).

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Valerie Rogers & Lynelle Whittaker (Workshop 1):
Keeping Kids Keen – Nurturing multi-literacies in the Early Years using ICTs, investigation and play to support the development of literacy skills."

(Focus - Years P-3)

Participants attending this 2 hour workshop will have the opportunity to:

  • hear and see digital examples of projects undertaken in the early years in 2008 including ways of recording children’s language and thinking
  • explore ways of using ICTs to promote and support literacy development
  • focus on the purposes and values of investigation
  • consider how the classroom environment can be a resource for nurturing wondering and investigation
  • pose questions and link ideas to their own setting.
     

Biographies:
This workshop will be presented by Valerie Rogers and Lynelle Whittaker who are currently teaching Prep and Year 1 at Seven Hills State School. Both teachers are experienced early childhood educators who are continually exploring and discovering ways to deepen their understandings to build a community of learners who are challenged and engaged.
Valerie and Lynelle have attended workshops and conferences in Australia and New Zealand on play and literacy. Both have supported teachers by presenting at other conferences and are happy to share ideas, experiences and practices from their current Prep/Year1 multi-age setting.

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Gail Young & Neil Adams (Workshop 2):
Media Mayhem in the Middle School: Enhancing Literacy essentials across the KLAs in the Middle Years
(Focus - Years 4-7)

In the Middle Phase of Learning students begin to think more about the larger world beyond home and school. They begin to think abstractly about important ideas and start to investigate the world around them. They need to develop as autonomous learners. Students in the Middle Phase of learning need to be challenged intellectually to remain engaged. In addition, profound changes in society mean that students in the Middle Phase of learning are engaging with diverse technologies and a far more complex and uncertain world outside school.

To become multi literate, students at Holland Park State School need to be adept with using emerging digital technologies and be able to use them appropriately to access, manage and evaluate information and develop new understandings and communicate with others in order to participate effectively in society.

By implementing emerging digital technologies as effective necessary tools for learning students at Holland Park state School engage with Literacy Essentials across the KLAs demonstrating their learning as competent, discriminating, creative and productive communicators.

In this interactive workshop participants will hear and view successful student intellectual engagement in purposeful multi- media projects connected to the real world and to their own experiences . The purposeful ways students access literacy essentials across the KLA ‘s will be clarified.

Attention will be given to the capacities students require to use digital technologies in the construction of texts and the capacities required by the students to interpret and critically analyse texts created and published through digital technologies.

The following multi media projects that students engaged in as authentic and challenging tasks will be celebrated :
Castle Capers, Nudgee Beach Environmental Issues, Energy TV Show, Global Warning Campaign.

The focus at Holland Park State School on success for each student in the implementation of digital technologies will be evidenced by practical ideas that signal transition from the early foundation years as a whole school approach to implementing digital technologies to enhance literacy essentials for all students. .

Biographies:
Gail is an experienced early phase teacher who is currently teaching Prep at Holland Park State School. Gail is the Literacy Contact at the school and is chairperson of the Gifted Education Committee. Gail is also a Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Gail has a Masters Degree in Special Education specialising in Gifted and Talented Students. Gail acknowledges and facilitates whole school programs for gifted students that support and celebrate their unique needs , interests and cognitive abilities through the formation of an Acceleration Committee Gail has a particular interest in new emerging digital technologies and accepts challenges and positively responds to supporting her colleagues in bringing together and enhancing literacy essentials across the key learning areas using digital technologies.

Neil is an experienced middle phase teacher who is currently teaching year six and a member of Holland Park’s State school Gifted Education committee. He has a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Education. Neil has obtained a pedagogical licence and is a State Moderator for accessing applicants to obtain their pedagogical licence. Neil has had extensive teaching experience throughout Queensland and has been involved with programs for indigenous students. Neil is a successful receiving teacher and mentor for accelerated gifted students .Neil manages ICT programs at Holland Park State School.

He is a strong advocate for engaging students in using digital technologies as effective tools for learning to support student achievement and enhance literacy essentials across the KLAs.
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Lee Rossow (Workshop 3):
Broadcast This: Digital Storytelling and Reflective Practice Via Blogs in Secondary Schooling
(Focus - Years 8-12)

This workshop is based on providing opportunities for students across the curriculum to participate in literacy-based activities whereby they can then publish their work and receive immediate feedback from online viewers.  It is an excellent opportunity for students to respond to stimulus (an interesting practice task for improving creativity or for the extended writing task in the QCS ... or even as a task in the middle school).  You will be provided access to numerous units written for different subjects and year levels, ranging from 8 to 12.  It is more important now than ever to connect our students using the familiar social networking tools with which they are already familiar to keep them engaged and to enhance their literacy skills. 

Biography:
Mr Lee Rossow is currently teaching on the Gold Coast in English and the Social Sciences.  He has taught and implemented units of work focusing on making ICT integral in numerous subjects over the past nine years, including Mathematics, Science and Business Studies.  He has worked for Griffith University and as a Smart Classrooms Mentor for Education Queensland, presenting at many conferences and running professional development in this field for the past three years throughout the state.

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Saturday Half Day Professional Development (HDPD)

  Register here
Title: "Literacy Assessment: In Testing Times"     flyer
Target Audience: Classroom teachers and administrators from Education Queensland, Catholic Education & ISQ and pre-service teachers from universities.
Date & Venue: Saturday 21st February 2009

Ipswich Grammar School 
(Junior School Precinct - Woodend Road)
map and directions

Program:
8:30 - 9:00am Registration and welcome tea/coffee
   
9:00 - 10:00am Keynote Address
Professor Val Klenowski
The Changing Climate of Assessment: Addressing the Changing Demands of Assessment Policy  more ...
   
10:00 - 10:45am Legendary Meanjin morning tea, trade displays, prize draws and networking
   
10:45 - 12:45pm

There is a limit of 30 for each workshop. When you register, you will be asked to choose one. First come first served.

Workshop 1( Years P-5)
Marianne Schubert: "The Literacy Crisis and Teaching Reading: It’s Not Rocket Science."
more ...

OR

Workshop 2 (Years 6-9)
Pat Hipwell: "NAPLAN TESTING in the middle years : Is it testing what it claims to test?"
more ...

OR

Workshop 3 (Years 8-12)
Matthew Rigby: "The literacy demands of the Year 12 Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test subtests:  The Writing Task (WT) and Short-Response (SR) subtests."
more ...

   
12:45pm Finish
Cost:
  • $50 ALEA Members (Institutional or Individual)
  • $75 Non-member ALEA
  • $30 Student member of ALEA
  • $40 Student non-member of ALEA

Join ALEA and save.

Register here

About the Sessions:

Professor Val Klenowski’s Keynote:
The Changing Climate of Assessment: Addressing the Changing Demands of Assessment Policy


With the global shift towards standards-driven reform tied to reporting, assessment issues related to public and teacher accountability take prominence.  The changing policy climate in assessment, internationally and nationally, has witnessed assessment reforms that have focused on improving teachers’ assessment capacity to support learning.  In accountability contexts standards are used as a lever to improve the dependability and reliability of teacher judgment.  Classroom evidence is used by education systems internationally for reporting and tracking achievement over time.  There is a threat, however, that the use of standards could too easily lead to ‘standardization’ and the ‘uses and abuses’ of assessment.  It is for this reason that we need to sustain confidence in teacher assessment and honour teacher professionalism through supporting communities of judgment practice.  This keynote presentation will draw on international and national developments in assessment theory, policy and practice.  Current research will be used to argue for more ‘intelligent accountability’ policies and a trust in teacher assessment practice.  Research evidence from local studies of teacher judgment practice will be used to demonstrate these developments and in so doing illuminate the complex issues of engaging the demands of policy while sustaining confidence in teacher assessment.

Val Klenowski Biography:
Val Klenowski is Professor of Education in the School of Learning and Professional Studies and co-ordinator of the Professional Doctorate in Education program. She has researched curriculum development and assessment practice internationally at all levels from early childhood through to higher education. She is particularly interested in teachers` classroom assessment practices and the interrelationship with learning, curriculum and pedagogy. Her diverse range of teaching and learning experiences and roles include: teacher, researcher, evaluator, academic advisor, policy officer and professional developer. For the past two years she has worked as academic advisor to Education Queensland and continues to engage in policy related research.

Her research has focused on the development and improvement of teachers` assessment, curriculum and pedagogic practices for all learners. She has studied classroom assessment practices that support learning and that provide insights into how we can support students in their own learning and assessment. She has supervised 25 research masters and 8 doctoral students to completion and is currently supervising a number of part-time doctoral students who have a research interest in assessment and curriculum reform.

Prof Klenowski is currently joint Chief Investigator on an ARC Linkage Grant exploring standards-driven reform in assessment in the middle years of schooling. She is an editor of the Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy and Practice journal.

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Marianne Schubert (Workshop One - 10.45-12.45)

Title: The Literacy Crisis and Teaching Reading: It’s Not Rocket Science.
(Years P-5)

Abstract: In the light of the media coverage of Australia’s National Testing Program, Marianne will explore what we need to be teaching to improve our children’s reading comprehension.  The focus of the workshop will be on improving reading pedagogy rather than data analysis or practice tests and cheat sheets. Come along on a journey of rediscovery as we explore what is needed to improve the reading classroom.  Teaching reading has circled the Earth many times with band aide solutions to our media reported “Literacy Crisis”.   Teachers from the early years to Year 5 can come to this workshop and work with a well researched model of reading that gets to the heart of what our students need on their learning to read mission. Have a blast with several tried and true strategies to improve student reading comprehension. 

Biographical Information:

Marianne currently works for Education Queensland as a Regional Literacy Manager in Greater Brisbane.  She has been a panel reviewer for State and National literacy test for several years. One of her projects this year is to work with selected schools to improve student reading comprehension. She has extensive primary classroom experience.  She has presented at local, state and national conferences and professional development activities.

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Pat Hipwell (Workshop 2 – 10.45-12.45)

Title: NAPLAN TESTING in the middle years: Is it testing what it claims to test?
(Years 6-9)

Abstract: In this workshop, Pat hones in on the NAPLAN testing for middle years students. She considers what NAPLAN is really assessing, then explores ways in which middle years students can be prepared for NAPLAN Testing. These strategies include designing subject-based assessment with the NAPLAN literacies in mind and explicit teaching of the literacies within authentic assessment tasks. Importantly, Pat will show how the literacies of national testing can be taught in all areas of the curriculum by all teachers, rather than just by English and Maths teachers. This workshop is for all middle years teachers, including those working in upper primary or in specialised subjects in Years 8 & 9.

Biography:

Pat is an independent literacy consultant and works for her own company, Logonliteracy. She trained as a high school teacher and taught Geography and Social Science in England and Australia for many years. Since starting a consultancy business four years ago, Pat has provided professional development to primary and high schools who are developing whole school approaches to literacy teaching and learning. She has particular interest in designing quality assessment tasks and the literacy demands of school based assessment in Queensland and National Testing. Her workshops are extremely practical and teachers leave with ideas to implement in content area classrooms.

back

 

Matthew Rigby (Workshop 3 – 10.45-12.45)

Title: The literacy demands of the Year 12 Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test subtests:  The Writing Task (WT) and Short-Response (SR) subtests.
(Years 8-12)

Abstract:

In this workshop, Matthew focuses on the literacy demands of the Writing Task and Short-Response subtests of the Year 12 Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test for Years 8 to 11 teachers of all KLAs.  These strategies include visual literacy and expository writing with an explicit emphasis on the literacy requirements of the WT and SR subtests.  Importantly, Matthew will show how the literacies mandated by this high stakes test can be taught in all KLAs rather than just in English and the social sciences. This workshop is for Years 8 to 11 teachers of all KLAs.

Biography:

Matthew Rigby is a tutor in secondary English curriculum studies, functional grammar and sociology of education at QUT Kelvin Grove. He trained originally at James Cook University with Prof. Allan Luke in secondary English and SOSE. He has taught in Education Queensland and independent schools in Queensland for 19 years in English, Modern History and Geography and was a member of the QSA Senior Modern History panels in Mackay, Rockhampton and the Gold Coast.  He has been a member of the Years 11 and 12 QCS Test preparation teams at three Queensland independent schools and has marked the SR subtest since 1992. He has presented workshops for Year 12 students and also for Heads of Departments and all KLA teachers on embedding the teaching of the common curriculum elements (CCEs) of the QCS Test in Years 8 to 11 KLA assessment tasks at Independent Schools in Queensland.

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Map and Directions

This event is being held at
Ipswich Grammar School
(Junior School precinct - Woodend Road)

Map

The entrance to Ipswich Grammar's Junior School precinct is along Woodend Rd, Ipswich. The Junior school buildings are the new colonial style double-storey brick buildings located at the Eastern end of the school grounds. Adjacent to these buildings is a small teachers’ car park which you can use. Street parking is also available.

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ALEA/AATE National Conference
Hobart 9-12 July 2008

It’s time to commit to some professional rejuvenation, a stroll around the wonderful Tasmanian eateries, a cocktail party at Government House and catching a ferry to market. You can do all of this at the 2009 ALEA/AATE National conference, to be held in the second week of the July school holidays.

This means you don’t need your school’s permission to attend! And schools don’t have to fund TRS costs, so they might be willing to share in the registration cost! This year, there are three one day pre-conference institutes (available for extra cost), plus three days of conference. There will also be a range of concurrent practical workshops & research papers.

More programming information is available on the website, www.alea.edu.au. ALEA members receive a substantial discount if registration is completed by the earlybird deadline of 30 April.

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ASFLA Grammar Pre-conference Institute and Research Conference for Teachers

It is with great excitement Meanjin advises the 2009 ASFLA (Australian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association) Conference is coming to Brisbane in the second week of the September school holidays (Monday 28 September 2009 – Friday 2 October 2009). The theme is Practising Theory: Expanding Understandings of Language, Literature and Literacy. The inclusion of ‘Language, Literature and Literacy’ is a deliberate reference to the three elements proposed for the National English Curriculum.

Situated at QUT Kelvin Grove, the two major events of the conference will be:

  • two day (Monday 28 & Tuesday 29th September) small group (<20) interactive workshops for teachers/literacy coordinators on the application of grammar to early years, primary and secondary key learning areas. These workshops will cater for teachers on the basis of grammar knowledge, including those new to functional grammar and its application in classrooms, through to those with an already comprehensive knowledge base who want to extend their knowledge.
  • a three day research conference (Wednesday 30th September – Friday 2nd October) that will include Professor Jim Martin (University of Sydney), Dr David Rose (University of Sydney) and Professor Len Unsworth (University of New England) as keynotes. These already confirmed interstate speakers are considered to be expert contributors to a functional theorisation of language and have undertaken substantial research of its use in classrooms, in particular, in contexts catering for diversity as well as digital learning environments. Another feature of the research conference will be a ‘Teachers’ Research Day’ on Wednesday 30 September. This day will showcase Queensland and interstate teachers’ application of grammar in their key learning areas.

 Given the import of grammar to our work as teachers, Meanjin urges you to make a commitment to the pre-conference institutes and research conference. Please send expressions of interest to be a presenter or register directly with Garry Collins <gazco48.bigpond.net.au>. Garry will email you the call for papers and registration details as soon as they become available. ALEA members receive a discount on registration.   

First call for papers now available here.

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Event Template

  Register here
Focus:  
Target Audience:  
Date & Venue  
Program
8:30 - 9:00am Registration and welcome tea/coffee
   
9:00 - 10:00am Keynote Address
   
10:00 - 11:00am Morning tea, trade displays, prize draws and networking
   
11:00 - 12:00am Session 1
   
12:05 - 1:00pm Session 2
   
   
1:00pm Finish
   
   
   
 

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