The new national literacy project ‘FIVE from FIVE’ aimed at having all Australian children learn to read properly will be launched by The Centre for Independent Studies at NSW Parliament House from 5.30pm, Tuesday March 8.
The project aims to improve literacy levels of Australian children by bridging the long-standing gap between classroom teaching and the evidence on effective reading instruction. It will be led by CIS research fellow Dr Jennifer Buckingham.
“Extensive research over 40 years has shown that children require 5 key skills for literacy – phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension – from the first year of school when most children turn five years old, which is why the project is called FIVE from FIVE,” Dr Buckingham said.
“The research also shows that the most effective way to teach reading is explicitly, not through whole language methods.
CIS has released a new research report outlining the scientific evidence base for effective teaching, written by Dr Kerry Hempenstall.
Access the research summary Snapshot : https://www.cis.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rr11-snapshot.pdf
Access the full research report: https://www.cis.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rr11.pdf
The report estimates that around one million (one in four) Australian children are at risk of reading failure.
“This problem is largely avoidable if children receive the most effective, evidence-based reading instruction,” Dr Buckingham said. “Unfortunately, this is not happening in every classroom.”
The FIVE from FIVE launch will be chaired by the Chair of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz.
Speakers will include
- NSW Education Minister the Hon. Adrian Piccoli MP
- Senator Bridget McKenzie
- Author, historian and Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French,
- Stronger Smarter Institute CEO Darren Godwell
- Education researcher Dr Kerry Hempenstall
- CIS Research Fellow Dr Jennifer Buckingham
- Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has recorded a video message in support of the project.
FIVE from FIVE is not another new teaching program for schools to implement. Rather, it is a project to provide principals, teachers, parents and policy makers with the best and most up-to-date research on reading instruction so they can make informed decisions about teaching practice.
FIVE from FIVE will provide this information through a website, seminars, roundtables, publications, and traditional and social media.
“Literacy underpins all educational achievement and has profound effects on employment, health, and general quality of life. FIVE from FIVE aims for every child to receive the most effective reading instruction in every classroom, every day,” Dr Buckingham said
To attend the FIVE from FIVE launch, please register by 5pm on Monday 7 March by emailing kpincott@cis.org.au