Teaching Reading

Topic 3 - Indigenous students and the teaching of English

Presented byAndrew WebbMichael Hoskin

By the end of this topic, you should be able to

• Articulate a range of linguistic, social and cultural factors pertaining to Indigenous students and school English

• Outline some current approaches to English for Indigenous students in a variety of contexts.

• Relate approaches to own knowledge and skills of literacy learning

The following Information was taken from the Readings:

• Merridy Malin: The visibility and invisibility of Aboriginal students in an urban classroom (1994) and

• Munns, Lawson & Mootz Aboriginal literacy research project (2000)

Our aim is to

• Facilitate meaningful engagement with the key ideas from these readings via activities, discussion and questions

• Provide information about the theory, ideas and principles of the readings, and how they relate to the teaching of reading

• Present and describe some resources which you can use

The take home Key ideas from the readings

• Aboriginal people have different ways of living and learning

• Language difference presents linguistic, conceptual and relationship problems

• Curriculums have lacked culturally appropriate material • Many teachers have a deep-rooted deficit view of

literacy abilities of Aboriginal students• A set of four social practices were designed specifically

to suit literacy teaching to Aboriginal students

Set the context of differing cultural upbringing

• Pictures of whit and ab

Aboriginal people have different ways of living and learning- start with a quote

• In the early years, Aboriginal children’s learned behaviours are autonomous compared to Anglo children who possess more learned behaviours geared toward adult awareness

• This behaviour is often misinterpreted by teachers• They learn best when lessons are more related to

real-life context-specific situations characterised by observation, imagination, imitation and personal trial and error.

Language difference presents linguistic, conceptual and relationship problems

• There has been research around bilingual speakers and introduction of bilingual programs or two way schooling.

• After early studies into this encouraged teachers to value AE at school more and since emphasised the importance of AE in classroom situations.

• It is now considered essential to the relationship between teachers and Aboriginal students, it is central to their literacy relationship.

Historically, curriculums have lacked culturally appropriate material

• In the past, teachers drew on the state curriculum which failed to consider culturally appropriate content

• Attempts have been made to promote natural language development, literacy content and resources that were culturally appropriate and meaningful to them.

• There has been a push to make a more inclusive and socially just syllabus/curriculum, with an aim for students to become designers of their own futures.

• Visible meaning the lessons /programs were explicitly explained and reinforced with structure and feedback.

Many teachers have a deep-rooted deficit view of literacy abilities of Aboriginal students-start with a quote

• Studies showed that teachers deficit view & low expectations compromised classroom expectations

• Many teachers still hold this view and it is reflected in reduced instructional time, lower order questioning combined with limited and unhelpful feedback

• This can be changed with a relationship with student, parent and teacher, to shape mutually shaped expectations.

• Teachers need to raise their expectations.

A set of four social practices were designed specifically to suit literacy teaching to Aboriginal students

How do these key points relate to the teaching of reading to indigenous students?

• Do we discuss this as we go?

Resourceswhich you can use in a reading session

• A good place to start could be introducing to the whole class the concept of Dreamtime http://australianmuseum.net.au/Stories-of-the-Dreaming

• Another great site is the 8 Aboriginal ways of learning

http://8ways.wikispaces.com/