Learning Log p.9

• the meaning/s of literacy:  literacy has extended beyond traditional literacy of reading, writing, talking and listening as within the subject specific English teaching. There are many multimodal literacies that include these areas but extend beyond them to incorporate information literacy, critical literacy (ability to critically read and evaluate), digital literacy (being knowledgeable about digital formats),and visual literacy (reading beyond the written text, to what and how the image extends ), ethical literacy et al. 
• There is also a move to consider a transliteracy http://nlabnetworks.typepad.com/transliteracy/
• this ties in with the need for the term multiliteracies... we can no longer be confined to "traditional" concepts of literacy. The changes in the form and function of texts due to technological changes in our information society has moved us beyond to a need to understand the many different aspects of literacy.
• the meaning of discourse: communication through language - written, spoken, visual....
• ideologies that underpin the teaching of English: philosophical, theoretical, pedagogical

Grammar Check

• current defintion: includes traditional grammar (formal language of the written text - the what, the rules of structure) and functional grammar which looks at social purposes of text including cultural context - ie the how and why a text is constructed
• grammatical terms: noun (object,) proper noun (person, place),verb (action), adjective (descriptive), adverb (modifies adjective e..g moved slowly, usually ends in -ly),preposition (links, indicates location e.g. in, at),
• sentence type
• clauses

Quickwrites p.7

Some important facets of an English teacher's role:

• bringing literature and language alive for our students - engagement & enjoyment
• critical thinking skills
• developing literacy skills - writing, reading, oral, visual
• making English relevant to the students - transfer of knowledge to their daily lives
• assessment

Qualities and abilities that are strengths:

• experience as teacher (working 20 years), i love working with students of all ages
• my experience as teacher librarian - strong background in literature already there
• prior knowledge of language acquisition/nature of language as part of my TESOL course 
• critical thinking
• love reading!
• always keen to learn new skills especially ICT

Knowledge & skills to learn:

• greater depth & understanding of English at higher level (my background is Primary)
• knowledge of NSW English syllabus/curriculum
• creating, teaching & assessing

Learning all the time...

Just found out, after many attempts last night to post in the learning log tab that:
"It's not possible publishing more than one text to a static page. Static pages are not supposed for regular posts. They are created to be used for topics like 'About Us', 'General Terms and Conditions' and other information which should not look like a blog-post. Regular posts always will be  published on the main site resp. later on the archive sites of your blog.".
Thank you Blogger Help Forum. Job tonight, is to revise the layout of this blog :)

A new beginning...

Well I am continuing my journey as a lifelong learner. I must admit I am excited to be studying a subject that I majored in at university, and which really started me on the path to my career as a teacher librarian. The two, English and libraries are so intertwined, that I feel I will benefit from knowledge of both.

I am also on the nervous side, wondering how I will keep up, with my study, a family and a full time job as Head Librarian & Primary Curriculum Coordinator  for an international school here in Osaka, Japan.

I have received the module books and have ordered the Charged with Meaning (Gannon et al) book from Australia. I am thinking that I may come up with a 30 things about me rather than a digital biography as such -  I have not created a digital story yet, and I feel daunted that it may take up alot of time to create. I will go and watch Beverley's :)