JCPSLP Vol 22 No 1 2020

Expanding possibilities: Foci on reading and interdisciplinary practices

Top 10 literacy tips and resources Jenny Baker

J enny Baker is a speech pathologist who operates a busy private practice called Fremantle Speech Pathology Services in Hamilton Hill, WA, where there is a strong focus on language and learning difficulties. She sees only a handful of clients these days, so the majority of her time is devoted to liaising with others to navigate complex client presentations and establish goals for best outcomes. Jenny (along with Jaimi-Lee Jefferies) runs a training organisation, Bespoke Education and Training, as she has a strong desire to provide speech pathologists with evidence-based professional development across a range of clinical areas. She has established a student-operated clinic at FSPS for final-year speech pathology students so that they can experience teaching young children how to read, write and spell. Here are her Top 10 literacy tips and resources. 1 Theorists and researchers In order to drive best practice in assessment and intervention, it is vital that we understand the science of learning to read, write and spell. We must base our assessment protocols and intervention procedures upon rigorous scientific research. Some seminal works and books to guide your thinking include: • Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the brain: The new science of how we read . New York, NY: Penguin Books. • Ehri, L. (2014). Orthographic mapping in the acquisition of sight word reading, spelling memory, and vocabulary learning. Scientific Studies of Reading , 18 , 5–21. • Kilpatrick, D. A. (2015). Essentials of assessing, preventing, and overcoming reading difficulties . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. • Kilpatrick, D. A., Joshi, R. M. & Wagner, R.K. (2019). Reading development and difficulties: Bridging the gap between research and practice . New York, NY: Springer Publishing. • Seidenberg, M. (2017). Reading at the speed of sight: How we read, why so many can’t and what can be done about it . New York, NY: Basic Books. 2 Assessments of spelling, reading and writing We have established “Guidelines for assessment” in the clinic to assist us with selecting good quality assessment

Reading • Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (3rd ed.; WIAT-III) • York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension • Woodcock Reading Mastery Test • Test of Word Reading Efficiency Spelling • Diagnostic Spelling Test: Irregular Words (DiSTi) (Years 1 to 7) https://www.motif.org.au/home/tests • Diagnostic Spelling Test: Non Words (DiSTn) (Years 1 to 7) https://www.motif.org.au/home/tests • Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (3rd ed.; WIAT-III): Spelling • Test of Written Spelling (5th ed.) • MOTIF Test of Orthographic Choice https://www.motif. org.au/home/tests Written expression • Oral and Written Language Scales (OWLS): Written Expression Phonological processing Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing 2 • Phonological Awareness • Phonological Memory • Rapid Symbolic Naming Phonological awareness • The Phonological Awareness Screening Test https:// www.thepasttest.com • Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test • Foundations of Early Literacy Assessment Letter: Sound Awareness • Letter Sound Test https://www.motif.org.au/home/tests 3 Sequence pictures and wordless books These resources are so useful, and if they adhere to the principles of narrative macro-structure, they can be used over and over for both for oral and written narratives. • Papa Moll sequence cards are lively and interesting with some very humorous plots https://www.schubi.com/at/ de/artikel/Papa-Moll-Bilderbox/L12050 • The Good Dog Carl series by Alexandra Day depicts the adventures of a Rottweiler who is left in charge of a baby for the day – with hilarious consequences. Widely available online and in book stores. • A Boy, a Dog and a Frog series by Mercer Mayer is beautifully drawn and takes children on terrific adventure. Widely available online and in book stores.

Jenny Baker

tools to investigate and profile students’ literacy development. (Note: the tools with a link are free).

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JCPSLP Volume 22, Number 1 2020

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au