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Course Outline

EDU776 Teaching Reading and Writing

Course Coordinator:Michelle Ocriciano (mocriciano@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access

2025Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The course introduces you to reading and writing models, theories, and approaches in Australian contexts. The teaching of reading and writing is adapted according to developmental needs, giving consideration to phonics, fluency, whole language approaches, neuroscience, and critical literacy. Developmental progressions in oracy, reading and writing are explored, and effective instruction techniques are practiced, including auditory and visual processing strategies. Systems for meaning making are studied alongside strategies for differentiation. Students learn how to assess a Year One student’s reading and writing competence, evaluate the recorded evidence and propose ways to improve the student’s reading and writing at text, word, and letter level.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – You are required to engage with a weekly 2 hour Learning Materials, associated activities and required/recommended course reading materials accessed through Canvas and using the required text. 2hrs Week 1 9 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – A blended learning approach is used to deliver this course, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous materials and activities accessed through Canvas. This course will be supported by technology-enabled learning and teaching including zoom. 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Models, theories, and approaches, including the science of reading, that impact teaching reading and writing

Developmental progressions in oracy, reading and writing

Teaching reading and writing in an effective manner

Systematic and explicit teaching practices

Phonemic awareness, phonics, phonological awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, oral language

Auditory and visual processing strategies that include attending, searching, confirming, self-correcting.

Cueing systems - grapho-phonic (phonics, phonemic and phonological awareness), syntactic (grammar), semantic (meaning, vocabulary, comprehension) pragmatic (Standard and non-Standard English), and paralinguistic (punctuation, layout, captions).

Matching teaching strategies to children’s developmental needs

Assessment practices in reading and writing

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the diverse range of language learning theories (including science of reading) and their connections to the Australian Curriculum: English and reading, writing, and speaking teaching practices. Knowledgeable
Ethical
Information literacy 
1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 6.2
2 Produce a portfolio of proven language teaching strategies that can be used to teach reading, writing, and speaking across a range of year levels, and accounts for processing strategies, cueing systems and English curriculum learning outcomes. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Communication
Organisation
Information literacy 
1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3.3, 3.4, 6.4
3 Evaluate a student's responses to reading and writing assessment tasks, and plan appropriate future instruction at text, word, and letter level by using the Australian Curriculum: English, explicit teaching strategies and drawing upon research-based literature. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.3, 3.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
4 Demonstrate mastery of pedagogy, formative and summative assessment, reporting and record keeping aligned with the Australian Curriculum English. Knowledgeable
Ethical 
1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
1.2 Understand how students learn: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds: Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background on the education of students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
1.6 Strategies to support full participation of students with disability: Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
2.2 Content selection and organisation: Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting: Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies: Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals: Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
3.3 Use teaching strategies: Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4 Select and use resources: Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs: Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning.
5.1 Assess student learning: Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
5.2 Provide feedback to students on their learning: Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to students about their learning
5.3 Make consistent and comparable judgements: Demonstrate understanding of assessment moderation and its application to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
5.4 Interpret student data: Demonstrate the capacity to interpret student assessment data to evaluate student learning and modify teaching practice.
5.5 Report on student achievement: Demonstrate understanding of a range of strategies for reporting to students and parents/ carers and the purpose of keeping accurate and reliable records of student achievement
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice: Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning: Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

EDU767 and enrolled in Program ED707

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Early feedback will be provided on preservice teachers' personal language skills following a written task completed in Week 1 and a practice quiz in Week 2.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 20% 
100 mins
 Week 4 In Class
All 2 Portfolio Individual 35% 
2500 words
 Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Report Individual 45% 
2500 words
 Week 10 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All - Assessment Task 1:Curriculum and theoretical knowledge
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to have you demonstrate from research and the curriculum your knowledge, of the factors which contribute to current influences on the teaching of reading, writing, and speaking.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format: 
The test comprises multiple-choice and short answer questions.
You are encouraged to bring one page of single-sided notes to class.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Knowledge and understanding of language theories, including science of reading, that inform the teaching of reading and writing
 1
2 
Content knowledge of Australian curriculum documents is evident.
 1
3 
Academic literacies at text, word, and letter level and APA 7 referencing conventions are noted.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:Portfolio of Teaching Strategies
Goal: 
The goal of this task is for you to produce a portfolio of reading and writing teaching strategies that can be used to advance children's reading, writing, and oral language skills at a nominated year level.
Product: Portfolio
Format: 
At the completion of this task, you can demonstrate to a School Principal your thinking on ‘how’ to teach reading, writing and oral language systematically and explicitly, in a year level of your choice (F-6).
• You will choose a range of teaching strategies (12 in total) to effectively teach reading, writing, and oral language.
• On CANVAS, a range of teaching strategies is provided, choose 12 strategies from what is given and describe how each strategy can be used to address the Content Descriptors/Elaborations in ACARA: English in Early, Middle, and Upper Primary.
• When assembling the portfolio (one strategy per page), remember to: include four (4) strategies each for reading and writing and oral language, explain the purpose of each strategy, the procedure to be adopted, provide a justification for choice that relates to how it can develop student’s use of cueing systems, and processing strategies (brain research) in relation to the Australian Curriculum: English Learning Outcomes. A comment is required on modifications for use with a range of learners.
• You are required to support each teaching strategy with references and research.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Explanation and synthesis of teaching strategies, theories of how children learn to read and write, and the Australian Curriculum; English.
 1 2
2 
Organisation and presentation of the portfolio for a professional audience (ie. Principal ready).
 2 4
3 
Academic literacies at text, word and letter level and APA 7 referencing conventions are observed.​
 2
4 
Rationalisation for each teaching strategy,including the procedure to be adopted for its implementation.​ An appropriate range of teaching strategies is chosen for nominated year levels.
 1 2 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Report
Goal: 
The goal of this task is for you to analyse one child's responses to a range of English assessment tasks.
Product: Report
Format: 
The final assessment piece requires you to analyse a Year 1 child’s responses to a range of English assessment tasks in reading and writing and write a report to communicate your findings.
• You will assess the child's strengths and weaknesses according to the specific assessment tasks and then apply your understanding of research, language learning theory (which includes neuroscience research) and teaching strategies (Tasks 1 & 2) to propose a future teaching plan for the student.
• You are required to link the proposed teaching to the Australian Curriculum: English year level learning outcomes.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrated understanding of how to assess and analyse one child’s responses to a range of Year One reading and writing tasks.
 2 4
2 
Synthesises research literature, information from Australian Curriculum: English documents, and knowledge of teaching strategies to plan for the student’s future language development
 1 3
3 
Provides detailed analysis of the child’s strengths and weaknesses in reading and writing.
 1 3 4
4 
Academic literacies at text, word and letter level and APAA 7 referencing conventions are evident.​
 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
2020 Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
All delivery modes Portfolio Portfolio of Teaching Strategies 1.3 Practiced
1.5 Practiced
1.6 Practiced
2.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
2.2 Practiced
2.3 Practiced
2.5 Practiced, Assessed
3.3 Practiced, Assessed
3.4 Practiced, Assessed
Quiz/zes Curriculum and theoretical knowledge 2.1 Taught, Practiced
2.3 Taught
2.5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Report Report 2.1 Practiced
2.3 Practiced, Assessed
2.5 Practiced, Assessed
3.2 Taught
3.3 Taught
3.6 Practiced
5.1 Practiced
5.4 Taught, Practiced

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic Activities 
n/a
 
n/a

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Gail E. Tompkins 2016 Literacy for the 21st Century n/a Pearson

Specific requirements

Lap tops

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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