How CET's Insight project will support Literate Learners for Life

The Literate Learners for Life initiative has been working under the guidelines of the Science of Reading since it began in 2022. Teaching literacy, and key components of learning to read and write are integral to helping students reach greater achievement.

Catholic Education Tasmania’s Insight into Learning project was launched at the beginning of February. It is based on the Science of Learning, and encompasses a method of teaching that our teachers will use to enhance student learning. Insight into Learning is set to become the umbrella that will support how our educators teach, while Literate Learners for Life will continue to utilise this teaching practice in the literacy space.

Lisa Fenning, the Literacy Project Lead Advisor at Catholic Education Tasmania discussed how Literate Learners for Life has drawn upon the Science of Learning and Reading. “We’ve come from a place in Literate Learners for Life following the Science of Reading -  Insight into Learning is embracing that and going deeper into the Science of Learning,” said Lisa. We are not born with the skill of being able to read or write, so we must teach using explicit and direct instruction to develop these skills in the brain. “This is essentially what the Science of Reading teaches us,” said Lisa. 

It is important that students are placed in an environment that gives them the best possible opportunity to succeed. Explicit teaching removes distractions for students and allows them to focus on the most important information. It uses a highly structured environment that is focused on producing specific learning outcomes, and breaks down topics and content individually. Literate Learners for Life follows this structure and uses a Science of Reading approach to teaching in classrooms. The initiative ensures that the content within literacy teaching and learning is knowledge-rich.  This creates better understanding for students and ensures that what they are learning is full of relevant and essential information.

Speaking personally from her own experiences as an educator in Catholic schools throughout Tasmania, Lisa discussed how teaching explicitly can impact students and also how it impacted her. She believed at the time that her own grammar improved through exposure to text, rather than being taught literacy and grammar skills explicitly. This was the same throughout her teaching degree, where there was very little taught about grammar. Educators relied heavily on learning on the job and talking to other practitioners. “The Science of Reading and Science of Learning has impacted teachers of my era and beyond because we did not have this knowledge ourselves, so understanding how the brain learns and what is best practice is key.” Lisa said, “When teachers know better, we do better because all we care about is our student’s well being and our students learning.” 

There are several resources available for educators to use to be informed on the importance of the Science of Learning (see list of recommended texts below). Why Knowledge Matters by E. D. Hirsch is a crucial text that explains to readers why they need to focus on the knowledge within their curriculum and different subjects, rather than just the specific skills that a student learns. It is imperative that a student learns literacy skills, but it is equally as important that a student understands the ‘why’ they need to learn that skill, which will help them succeed. The work of Louisa Moats also provides insight into the Science of Reading, with her text Teaching Reading Really is Rocket Science. This report was released over twenty years ago and was re-released in recent years since the Science of Learning has become part of the mainstream conversation in education circles.

As Insight into Learning begins to influence our schools and Literate Learners for Life continues to play an important role in creating better outcomes for Tasmania’s young people, the Science of Learning and Reading will help build stronger learning foundations for Catholic Education Tasmania students. 

If you are looking to learn more about the Science of Learning and help develop your own high impact teaching practices, please register for the Teaching Matters: Science of Learning National Summit here, from 2 - 4 of April 2023 at the Wrest Point Casino in Hobart. 

Recommended texts for more information on the Science of Learning and Science of Reading:

• Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories –  E. D. Hirsch
• Teaching Reading is Rocket Science, Louisa Moats
• Proust and the Squid (The Story and Science of the Brain) – Maryanne Wolf
• Reading Reconsidered: A Practical Guide to Rigorous Literacy Instruction – Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, Erica Woolway
• How the Brain Learns to Read – Stanislas Dehaene (YouTube Link) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25GI3-kiLdo