Kids PlusLiteracy Modules

Initial Level

Kids PlusLiteracy Modules

Initial Level

Your 1 to 1 CoachMike Whiteman

Your 1 to 1 CoachMike Whiteman

Being Literate in Today’s World

LiteracyAt Kids Plus Literacy Coach we take a broad view of what it means to be literate today.

Creating Meaning, writing, speaking and presenting and Making Meaning, reading, listening andviewing, are the key communication aspects we focus on.

These aspects are seen as interwoven. Every ‘module,’ (a personalised sequence within a literacytheme, over a number of weeks), involves speaking and listening, by default. Written language andreading also feature in all modules, but they may not be the initial focus - they emerge from yourchild’s exploration through a variety of carefully developed literacy experiences.

Each module has an overall theme, but the way your child experiences this will be different to the paththat another takes - children are unique!

Many literacy researchers report the importance of knowing the differences between recognizingwords as a listener (oral word recognition) and recognizing words as a reader (print word recognition).That is why we use your child’s experiences to motivate and engage in authentic literacy, all of whichlead to, and sometimes initiate, a variety of writing forms. Such writing leads to purposeful reading.

The Changing Nature of PrintMany of our concepts about print, reading, writing and even instruction have not kept pace with thechanging nature of print.

Because of this, it is essential to prepare pupils to be able to read and understand electronic as well asconventional text if they are to be regarded as literate in the modern world.

Concepts about literacy are changing. Increasingly a screen is now the site of the text and the logic ofthe image is shaping the order and the arrangements of the screen. Combined text and imagecommunication means that design becomes an important aspect of reading.

We no longer have the top left of a page as our ‘entry point’ for reading. As readers we make our own‘reading path,’ through physical interaction with the screen, using more than just our eyes.

Literacy ModulesCurrently we have 8 literacy concepts modules. Each of these generally has 3 levels of concept and skill development. This document describes these 8 concepts at the initial skills level.

At Kids Plus Literacy Coach, ‘module’ does not mean ‘worksheets,’ ‘exercises,’ ‘drill,’ or similarmethods of having your child ‘work.’ A module represents an important aspect of literacy andprovides a framework for your child to explore within using both their own experiences and those wedevelop for them personally.

Because of this individualised approach the time to experience a module can vary, but a range of from5 - 10 weeks is typical.

All content and literacy module concepts are © Mike Whiteman

Creating Meaning through Static Images and Text

You have a digital camera, but what can be done with the pictures, once they have been taken?More importantly, what can be done before and after they are taken?

The emphasis in this module is on the thinking involved when taking a photo or series of photos.

The concept of written text adding meaning to a graphic is important here because two forms oflanguage are involved, visual and written. The outcomes are presentations to be viewed and read.

• digital stills camera basics• seeing the world as a photographer• landscape photos• theme based (explore, plan, shoot, select)• text that adds value to the images (poetic)• fonts - which attributes best suit the purpose?

• font family• font style• font colour• font size

• layout of the text and graphics• create a presentation for sharing

Software Possibilities (iMovie, Photo Story 3, PowerPoint, Umajin, Word, Pages)

Subject Matter Starters• a suitable theme/s is chosen to meet the interests of your child• we also have some interesting theme opportunities near the studio

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through Animation: A ~ (PowerPoint Path Animation)

Animation is a controlled process that provides an authentic context for creative language exploration,thinking and processing.

Making an animation process transparent to children can unlock the creativity of many pupils and helpraise the literacy level of those who have met with little success in reading and writing.

This module explores little used features of PowerPoint to draw and animate objects. Free, reliableopen source equivalents to PowerPoint are available for PC and Mac platforms.

No camera is required.

PowerPoint Path Animation

• stage area• simple path animation• using drawing tools to create objects• simple custom animation of objects• static image backgrounds as the stage - moving on and off stage• write a simple procedure to explain an aspect of this work• present and view

Software Possibilities (PowerPoint, NeoOffice or OpenOffice with KidPix, Paint or Paintbrush)

Subject Matter Starters• with animation the subject matter can be anything that your child is interested in but we can make

suggestions if required• create an animation around a number or alphabet theme suitable for audience of under 5’s

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through Animation: B ~ (Animation-ish)

Animation is a controlled process that provides an authentic context for creative language exploration,thinking and processing.

Making an animation process transparent to children can unlock the creativity of many pupils and helpraise the literacy level of those who have met with little success in reading and writing.

In this module the concept of frame by frame animation is explored by using a very child-centredprogram, Animation-ish. All the tools for painting and animating are contained within the program.

This software is provided for your child during the coaching. Animation-ish is available for PC or aMac if your family wants to purchase a copy from the makers after using this module.

No video camera is required.

Animation-ish (A creative child centred animation program)• stage area• basic computer frame animation with Animation-ish• using paint tools to create objects• decide on a concept to animate• create presentation (explore, plan, make)• present and view

Subject Matter Starters• with animation the subject matter can be anything that your child is interested in, but we can make

suggestions if required• view aspects of the kinetic artist Len Lye and explore movement possibilities using a similar style

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through Moving Images (Filming)

The moving image can often be more appropriate than written texts or still images as a way ofpresenting ideas or processes. For some children it offers a new way of succeeding.

Editing is an important part of the film-making process but the thought component this requires is often ignored. I have developed the concept of ‘mental editing,’ a unique and key concept in the approach to this module.

Emphasis is on purpose rather than technology and as such provides a large range of opportunities tocreatively employ all the language modes.

• the concept of ‘mental editing’ - planning to film - oral connections• basic video camera skills• storyboarding• filming projects (explore, plan, film, narration, mix)• plan a narration and record it• create presentation/s for presenting and viewing

Software Possibilities (iMovie, MovieMaker)

Subject Matter Starters• with filming at this level it is best to have contexts that are close at hand• we have 100’s of such contexts that we can discuss with you child

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through a Non-Linear Narrative: A ~ (Photographs and Text)

Most of the writing that primary students are exposed to is linear in nature. That is, the sequence is predetermined by the writer. A second reading will not alter any of the events.

In this module, the setting is established through photographs taken by your child. These help tovisualise the narrative. Text elements add to the story.

The reader chooses the ‘path’ of the story by making simple decisions based on what they see andread. ‘Reader path’ is a fairly new concept in writing because typically there has only been the linearmethod of writing used in schools.

Every time we use the web today we are actually creating our own ‘reading path.’ This module helpschildren begin to understand what this means and employ the concept in their writing.

• digital stills camera basics• planning a micro-world• graphic organisers• engaging the user• plan and make a simple non-linear narrative• create a presentation for sharing

Software Possibilities (PowerPoint, NeoOffice, OpenOffice or Umajin)

Subject Matter Starters• using a setting close at hand or at your home is useful - the narrative can be developed around this

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through DVD’s

In this module your child creates their own special DVD of memories, using photographs. These caninclude photos that have been taken previously, (from birth) and those created especially.

Important aspects are the selection of those images to be used, their sequence and the text that willaccompany them.

This module provides a very motivating literacy context and after completing their DVD your childcan send out invitations for it’s launch party.

• basics of the program• gather and select materials (photos, jpgs)• scan if necessary (photos)• sequence the materials• prepare the text• add the text to the graphics• make a DVD menu page with buttons• create the DVD for sharing• design, create and print a DVD label

Software (iDVD)• iDVD is used because it is very suitable for children at this beginning level

Subject Matter Starters• child’s own “This is my Life”• my pet/s

Special Note• a web version of the DVD can be created for your family website

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through a Non-Linear Narrative: B ~ (Text and Painted Graphics)

Most of the writing that primary students are exposed to is linear in nature. That is, the sequence is predetermined by the writer. A second reading will not alter any of the events. This module moves beyond the typical 1 ‘problem’ 1 ‘resolution’ type of narrative writing.

New language genres have resulted from the impact of technology on communication. A narrative can now be self-pacing and self-paging.

Encouraging interaction with, and the development of non-linear narratives can help students think carefully about choices, and possible consequences that might follow, according to decisions made.

One engaging aspect of non-linear narratives is that they contain secrets which are not revealed by turning to the last page. The sequence of the narrative takes on a different manner to that with traditional text. It proceeds by the reader interacting with the screen to make choices. Each reader creates their own ‘reading path.’

•thinking and planning for this style of writing•brainstorming and creating a narrative•graphic organisers used to assist visualising the narrative•planing a creating suitable graphics (painted)•laying out the text and graphics•creating user choice interaction buttons•testing and preparing for presentation

Software Possibilities (PowerPoint, NeoOffice, OpenOffice or Umajin with KidPix, Paint or Paintbrush)

Subject Matter Starters• the setting for this narrative can be anywhere

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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Creating Meaning through Oral Language and Sound

Sound is one of the most underused modes in curriculum experiences. It is easy to ‘turn off’ to thesounds of everyday life, but considered use of sound can enhance many presentations and also be themain medium.

Oral language is not always fully developed in schools. This modules provides a real opportunity notonly to create text but to read it with appropriate expression for an audience.

• basic sound recording• vocal recording basics• creating sound effects• simple sound mixing (from 2 pre-recorded sources)• soundscapes (explore, plan, record, mix)

Software Possibilities (GarageBand for Mac’s and Sound Recorder or Audacity for PC’s)•GarageBand is by far the best program for children to use but PC users have the free open source program Audacity that is good for recording sound but far less flexible for beginners

•note that studio coaching will use GarageBand - home software options for follow up activities can be discussed

Subject Matter Starters• describe a real or imagined event• make responses to starter images• select a familiar story and read it with planned expression - add suitable sound effects if appropriate• create a talking graphic (using PowerPoint’s sound tool)• create a photographic sequence with narration (using Photo Story 3 for PC)

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

Creating Meaning through Viewing Moving Images

Being able to critically understand film, video and TV is an integral part of literacy. The rapid spread ofdigital technologies and the ability to make and manipulate moving images makes ‘viewing’ an evenmore important skill today.

Film is often referred to as the newest of the art forms. But over the last 20 years or so, and especiallythrough television, the skill of viewing, (‘looking with thinking”) has declined. The 20 second videobyte and an emphasis on effects rather than substance have helped make children unfocused consumersas their attention span decreases.

This module is especially designed to create awareness of the thinking that can go on when looking atmoving images and how improved viewing skills can lead to better literacy.

• simple film makers vocabulary• learning to view, “looking with thinking”• responding to films• using film clips to stimulate imaginative writing• editing text to improve its effectiveness• presenting the writing through recorded audio

Software Possibilities (Word, or any word processing program and GarageBand or Audacity)

Subject Matter Starters• a carefully selected number of short films for your child, (such as animated, clips from cinema’s

history, inquiry based, extracts from features…), that will challenge and create opportunities for oral and written language

• some of the writing from this module will also be recorded for presentation as an audio file

Major Aspects of Literacy Involved

writing speaking presenting

reading listening viewing

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We Guarantee To• develop and deliver your child’s coaching programme that we have discussed with you• provide weekly 1 to 1 studio coaching• provide weekly electronic support• establish your family communication website• provide quality service for your child - we acknowledge that to guarantee absolute success is

impossible, however we will always communicate with you professionally and honestly about progress and achievement

About your Coach Mike Whiteman• extensive and successful background of working with many children in a large number of schools• professional development facilitation of several MOE ICT clusters• successfully directed and delivered a unique two year MOE Visual Language contract• director and editor of MOE moving image and exemplars DVD resource

http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/exemplars/eng/teachers_notes/tn_resources_e.php - visual• English Exemplars development national team member

http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/exemplars/eng/• primary teaching background at all levels - successful experience as rural and urban principal• adviser to rural schools• ICT, social studies, assessment and management advisory background• editor and producer of MOE oral language exemplars video

http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/exemplars/eng/teachers_notes/tn_resources_e.php - visual• developer of interactive inquiry based teaching and learning resources

http://inquiryteachingandlearning.com/http://digitalreadingresources.com/

To Discuss and Arrange 1 to 1 Coaching

• phone: 0274 803088

• email: literacycoach@kidsplusliteracycoach.com

All content and literacy module concepts are © Mike Whiteman