10 cp

This unit focuses on the literacy development of children in the preschool and early years of schooling. The teaching of reading and how children learn to read will be developed through knowledge of the processes of reading, as well as through a range of pedagogical approaches. The teaching of writing will be developed through knowledge of text structures, English grammar, drafting and editing processes, and spelling awareness. These approaches include the ability to motivate, develop and extend children’s responses to literary, factual and multimodal texts; to introduce higher-order thinking strategies through critical and analytical tasks appropriate for K–2 children; and to understand graphological and phonological knowledge. Literacy teaching and assessment practices will be developed from this strong basis of understanding current literacy research and will draw on the discipline knowledge developed in previous units. The unit will introduce the notion of teaching and learning as socially embedded, together with recognition of the complex contexts of teaching practice and curriculum design. Underpinning the learning in the unit is a fundamental concern for justice and equity, and the dignity of all human beings.