Old Dog, New Trick.

Old Dog, New Trick.

Notes to accompany the Conference Presentation entitled:

Reading for Pleasure. A group of children’s self identified perceptions and concept of power reading.

Who first said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks?"

Somebody dead, no doubt.

200 edits on Literacy in one year alone. Anyone trying to keep up with this would not only feel tired, dated and perhaps confused, but most properly more like an old dog chasing its tale after these endless streams of “New Tricks” to be learnt.

my focus is not one on phonic uptake, phonemes, sight word recognition, sounding out skills or any of the other important decoding skills, but one on the study of how a child can redevelop their reading identity. How by embracing childhood culture and voice, we as facilitators of learning, can provide unique and innovative learning experiences, set within a strong central philosophy aside from convention, so developing a pleasurable path to literacy attainment.

I personally feel that a focus by political powers on the termed, “Phonic War” (debates between synthetic and whole word phonic teaching) have in fact stifled in some cases school creative, innovative and nurturing approaches towards reading, a love for reading and the development of young children identifying themselves as readers. This leaves, in its place a polarized set of two camps, synthetic phonics verses, analytical phonics, no middle ground,

Clark and Rumbold continue to point out that through their paper it is important that they pressure policy makers to promote reading motivation, creativity and pleasure. Over the past two years, the most important discovery made in the case study was the impact of reading for pleasure.

mirco blogging.

As one child proclaimed, “We should call ourselves Power Readers now.” (Frank, 6)

By no way did I mean Old Dogs as a derogatory term, as earlier mentioned, this collection of elderly educators I hold in the highest of esteems. However, I do think, that within a radically changing world, which at times moves at seemingly lightning pace, few old tricks could be redeveloped and held onto.

“I do not like proper novels. In proper novels people say things like, “I am veined with iron, with silver and with streaks of common mud. I cannot contract into the firm fist which those clench who do not depend on stimulus” What does this mean? I do not know. Nor does Father. Nor does Siobhan or Mr Jeavons. I have asked them. But I do like murder mystery novels.”

Christopher John Francis Boone.

, “Phonic War” (debates between synthetic and whole word phonic teaching) have in fact stifled in some cases school creative, innovative and nurturing approaches towards reading, a love for reading and the development of young children identifying themselves as readers.