Explicit language teaching

A teacher in her second year of teaching, uses individual learning plans to cater for students in her year 1 classroom. She uses a lesson on 'What is happening in the story?' to explicitly teach comprehension, chronological understanding, phonological awareness and pragmatics (ie social language use). The teacher uses differentiated teaching and personal feedback to reinforce learning and behaviour to students.

Peel Language Development School opened in 2002 and is a purpose built specialist facility for early language intervention in Western Australia. The main campus is co located with Rockingham Lakes Primary School, with satellite classes co located at Mandurah, Glencoe, Pinjarra and Bungaree Primary Schools. The school places students K–3 who meet the entrance criteria, set by the Department of Education. Teachers participate in on-going professional development to keep abreast of current research and educational practice.