PEN157 Reading (and writing) to learn in the middle years of schooling

by Claire Acevedo and David Rose

This PEN describes an approach to literacy learing that closes the gap for learners considered 'at risk' in years 5-9, while at the same time accelerating the learning of all students regardless of their starting point. The approach, known as Reading to Learng, has been implemented over three years in the Middle Years Literacy Project of the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne (CEOM). Data has been collected on the progress of over 1000 students in this program and results include average literacy gains that are consistently twice to four times expected rates of development.