22 Recommendations for 2022- Part 4: The Websites

This is the fourth post in a series designed to kick 2022 with some resources that can help you. I started with some books, then listed a few of my favourite podcasts, and the most recent post featured webinars. 

Now it's time to turn our attention to some fantastic websites (although, some of you might have noticed that I have already squeezed in quite a few website suggestions along the way).
These are six of websites that are a mixture of informative, enlightening, pragmatic, educational and useful. I hope that you get as much out of them as I do!

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

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 17. No Nonsense Educator by Jocelyn Seamer
A few years back I attended my first Principal's forum. I remember meeting a friendly Teaching Principal who was wonderfully encouraging and full of great advice. It came as no surprise when I discovered Jocelyn's blog that she was still providing encouragement and lots of practical tips!
The No Nonsense Educator blog focuses on the Science of Reading and Change Management. The posts are easy to understand, thought-provoking, motivating and inspiring. A great example of this is her post on the What, Why and How long of the Literacy Blog. Jocelyn also provides free guides on how to teach reading and writing. But wait: there's more! She has some "Teach-Along" courses that support educators in their day-to-day teaching and there's also a brand new app as well! 

18. SPELD SA
When I first wanted to use decodable texts in classroom, I didn't have much of a budget. Combined with a global pandemic and the introduction of remote learning I was looking for books that wouldn't matter too much if they never made it back to school. That's when I discovered the Specific Learning Difficulties SA website. They provide free decodable books that can be printed or viewed on an electronic device. Following the Jolly Phonics sequence, they have added a new series in consultation with First Nations peoples who live and work in Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. This website also provides other valuable resources including information sheets about learning difficulties and an intensive literacy program.

19. Shanahan On Literacy by Prof. Timothy Shanahan
To say that Timothy Shanahan knows a bit about literacy is like saying that Bill Gates knows a bit about computers. Timothy Shanahan was one of the leaders of the pivotal National Reading Panel in the US. His blog synthesises the research around literacy and communicates this clearly and effectively to teachers. I think his Top 10 Pet Peeves about Reading (part 1 and part 2) is a pretty good place to start.

20. The Science of Math
There are a lot of resources around the importance of explicit teaching in literacy. However, Mathematics education seems to be fascinated with mindsets and inquiry. It was a relief when I noticed The Science of Math* emerging this past year. This movement aims to help ensure that evidence-informed approaches are used in Mathematics education. The website has a range of articles on teaching Mathematics, as well as a great section on common misconceptions that are rampant in Mathematics education, such as 'productive struggle'  or that timed tests cause 'math anxiety'.
*It is a US-based site, hence the spelling of 'Math'. Maybe one day they'll be able to afford an 's'...

21. The Snow Report by Prof. Pamela Snow
Pamela Snow is a powerhouse in literacy education. Her blog, The Snow Report, demonstrates her ability to tirelessly advocate for effective evidence-based instruction (see here). Pam's comparison between masks and decodable texts is also a fantastic read. Pam is also known for raising other people up, as shown by passing the mic to Sue Knight here.
Pam is a professor at Latrobe University and, together with Tanya Serry, leads the Science of Language and Reading Lab short courses.

22. Core Knowledge
​I have spent a lot of time planning units of work. A LOT OF TIME! And often I have felt that I'm just reinventing what someone else has already created. It turns out that someone has- and they've done a better job of it!
The Core Knowledge Foundation has put together complete K-8** curriculum for Language Arts, Science, and History & Geography. These content-rich units are carefully sequenced so that students build knowledge throughout their education. I used Core Knowledge units last year and will be doing so again this year. I have seen how my prep students were capable of learning more than even I expected. The more I use Core Knowledge, the more I see how cleverly designed the curriculum is.
This is starting to sound like a sales pitch- so, the final thing is the price: FREE! That's right: you can download the entire curriculum without paying a cent!
(Obviously, there are some units that aren't appropriate in an Australian context and others need some adapting.)
**The K refers to Kindergarten in the US & NSW sense. We'd call it foundation, prep, reception, pre-primary, transition...