Overview
We will focus on oral language development as the basis for developing literacy through the cyclical use of a range of strategies. This will be achieved through consideration of how students need to make meaning in curriculum contexts with a particular emphasis on developing knowledge about language, particularly grammar and vocabulary.
The focus of this three day course presented by Kathy Rushton and Joanne Rossbridge is to develop understandings and strategies for participants who support EAL/D students in both small groups and mainstream classrooms.
Practical strategies will be provided to foster the use of English Language (L2) while encouraging students to use all the linguistic resources that they bring to school, including the use of their first language (L1). Consideration will be given to the wellbeing framework and supporting students in an inclusive environment which honours and confirms their identity, language, and culture.
Open All
- Day 1 – Friday 24 July 2026
- Day 2 – Friday 7 August 2026
- Day 3 – Friday 21 August 2026
At NSW Teachers Federation, Surry Hills
All CPL courses run from 9am to 3pm.
Day 1 – Speaking and Listening
- Principles of second language learning
- Lexical density and grammatical intricacy: The relationship between grammar and vocabulary development
- The Mode Continuum
- Elaborated and restricted codes and the relationship between L1 and L2
- Strategies for developing oral language through planning and the cyclical use of range of activities, e.g. communicative activities, group work, drama, rhymes, chants, poems. Link back to the mode continuum.
- Select a picture book and, based on today’s session, prepare strategies. Explanation of task for Session 2.
Day 2 – Reading
- Introduction of Field, Tenor and Mode.
- Before, during and after reading and in preparation for writing with a focus on:
– field building activities to acknowledge and build on cultural knowledge (before)
– intonation, pronunciation, punctuation and spelling (during)
– inferential comprehension (after) - Strategies for categorising vocabulary and working with language features
- Share strategies for selected picture book with a small group
- Explanation of task for Session 3.
Day 3 – Writing
- The teaching and learning cycle
- Identifying strategies for developing writing through a joint construction.
- Strategies for supporting written like text, eg Readers Theatre, Dictogloss, Running dictation, Advance /Detail
- Making links to the community through writing for a purpose
- Prepare notes for the joint construction of a Literary Recount and an Exposition using selected text.
Joanne Rossbridge
Joanne Rossbridge is an independent language and literacy consultant working in both primary and secondary schools and with teachers across Australia. She has worked as a classroom teacher and literacy consultant with the DET (NSW). Her expertise and much of her experience is in working with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Joanne is particularly interested in student and teacher talk and how talk about language can assist the development of language and literacy.
Kathy Rushton
Kathy Rushton is interested in the development of language and literacy especially in disadvantaged communities. She has worked as a classroom teacher and literacy consultant and provides professional learning for teachers in the areas of language and literacy development. Her current research projects include a study of multilingual pre-service teachers and the impact that teacher professional learning has on the development of a creative pedagogical stance which supports translanguaging and student identity and wellbeing.
Primary and Secondary teachers who support EAL/D students in both small groups and mainstream classrooms.
$660 for 3 days
Please note, payment for courses is taken after the course takes place.
Three whole day workshops with participants actively engaged in each session and undertaking reading and assignments between sessions.
“Perfect balance of theory vs practical strategies. The theories and strategies will be impossible to forget – putting it into practice between session was great.”
“Loved the depth of knowledge on all aspects of literacy in the context of EAL/D learners.”
“So glad I attended – have learnt so much and feel inspired to share what I have learnt.”
“Presenters are absolutely fabulous! The perfect amount of banter and professionalism. They are experts in their field, and it shows. They invite the learner in – whatever level of knowledge they are coming with.”
