Professional learning
Improve the teaching of comprehension across your school.
To be successful in the 21st century students must become proficient communicators, able to comprehend texts of all types. Being literate in society means that we can read, write, speak, listen, view and represent with confidence. Our students need to understand that the skills, strategies and behaviours they develop as proficient communicators are transferable to all content areas within school and beyond.
This webcast explores key messages related to effective instruction in reading comprehension.
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Conclusion
Comprehension is central to effective communication. It does not happen after reading or viewing, but rather throughout the process; before, during and after. In order to make meaning, students need to know how language and words work and what strategies they as communicators need to utilise in order to critically analyse, make or convey meaning. The challenge for the teaching professional is to inspire dialogue and exploration to improve comprehension instruction and to work with students and colleagues to embark on a new teaching and learning journey.
Professional Development events
Download details from a selection of our past Professional Development events
Melbourne, Friday 13 March 2009, Victoria University, Flinders Street
Smart Thinking: Developing skills in reflection and metacognition
Adelaide, Friday 20 March 2009, AAMI Stadium, Westlake
Improving Student Achievement through Assessment for Learning
Melbourne, Friday 27 March 2009, Victoria University, Flinders Street
Improving Student Achievement through Assessment for Learning
Gold Coast, Friday 17 April 2009, 137 Reserve Rd, Upper Coomera
Successful Students Think: Engaging students in Mathematics learning
Melbourne, Friday 15 May 2009, Beau Monde Hotel, Doncaster
Sydney, Friday 22 May 2009, Citigate Central, Thomas Street, Haymarket
Gold Coast, Upper Coomera State College, Upper Coomera
Gold Coast, Friday 22 August 2008, Upper Coomera State College, Upper Coomera
Teaching Comprehension
A multimedia CD-ROM program that gives you the strategies you need to improve your students' reading comprehension.
Teaching Comprehension outlines six research- based strategies:
- Prediction/prior knowledge
- Questions and questioning
- Think-aloud
- Text structure and features
- Visualising
- Summarisation.
Active Readers: Tools and strategies for comprehension
Active Readers is a three-book series which celebrates students as individuals, embracing the unique way in which they connect with text, share their understandings and explore unfamiliar territory.
Each book employs six key comprehension strategies:
- Prediction/prior knowledge
- Think aloud
- Text structure
- Visualising
- Questioning
- Summarising

