Snapshot of feedback from the school:
We had the pleasure of participating in the literacy workshop by Priyamvada Taneja consulting, and it was an incredibly enriching experience. We came away from the workshop with a newfound understanding of diverse pedagogies for literacy learning, and how literacy can be integrated into a unit of inquiry. Our workshop leader helped to understand ways of deconstructing texts, enabling us to grasp the layers of meaning within them. It also assisted in recognising literacy progressions and interpreting the developmental stages that students go through when learning to read and write.
One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the importance of providing authentic opportunities to practice literacy skills and emphasising the value of increasing the stakes which can motivate and inspire students to put in their best effort. We applied this in the classroom and saw an increased engagement with students. Another important takeaway was understanding ways to facilitate deliberate discussions to enhance oracy skills and use discussion guidelines effectively to create a safe and inclusive space for students to share their ideas and perspectives. The technique of Dictogloss also aided in helping students to develop their comprehension skills and to become more confident readers and writers. Applying the understanding from the workshop, we also attempted to imbibe inquiry into language by scaffolding their learning of the genre, using the step-by-step approach, in the classroom.
We highly recommend the literacy workshop to anyone interested in improving their teaching practice. The insights and strategies for teaching literacy are invaluable, and we feel more confident and prepared to support our students’ literacy development after attending the workshop.