Curriculum

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made it over the fence! Of course, as a mum, I now find myself in that other scenario – my daughters are best mates, don’t know me (I’m embarrassing even though eldest tripped me) and are sticking together like super glue entertaining themselves by pressing my buttons (Port lost so they are easy to press and don’t they know it)! Wanting no part in the embarressment, Kristy asks me ‘if I’d be climbing over fences long’ while I’m getting a bit hot under the collar that she won’t admit she tripped me (to this day she claims she played no part in the fall). Needless to say, we got back on the bus like we entered only this time I’m having the double seat and even eldest knows not to mess with a crazy Port fan, who is battered and bruised (literally) and in no mood for ‘toasted sandwiches’!

I’ve certainly passed on my passion and love of football to my girls. Eldest hates statistics and is not keen on numbers yet will happily analyse player cards and will compare data between players across the league! My youngest is not a natural mathematician (she probably knew her six times tables before she could walk – goal!) yet will happily add scores as Port kicks more and more goals (go the Power!), and can quickly work out what the difference in score is between us and our opposition! Middle child is always researching favourite players and being a text analyst of the bias when other teams get a better write up than us! I could not get the girls to think this clearly, be so self-motivated over the weekend and sustain lengthy conversations using higher-order thinking skills, if we did not share this passion! We all love the game and can ‘talk footy’ all day! I am mindful of the endless learning opportunities here and am very well aware  of the higher order thinking skills going on (yes, even during the ‘mad rants’ at the umpires I can clean it up for learning’s sake).

What’s your child’s passion? What consumes them? Over the school holidays follow their interests and think about which ones you authentically share! Reading about what you love is infectious (Christmas stocking fillers like trading cards and magazines are literacy heaven when you are mindful of their value). Instructions and manuals are procedures. Reading the sports section can be critical literacy. My girls and I have quite intellectual conversations about the footy. We have analysed the correlation between Port’s rise up the ladder and space they receive in the paper – a research report, without even trying!  This is also a terrific time to understand that articles are rarely neutral and are written with bias (go the Power!).

Be aware that 93% of text in high school and beyond is non-fiction. Children need to experience a range of text and what better way to get them reading and analysing than books, magazines, articles, game instructions, recipes and so on about their passion. This Christmas throw in some reading material with some higher order thinking skills! Debate, quarrel, argue and team up to find evidence as to why your team, sport and hobbies are the best or most hard done by in the media. 

Happy reading and arguing families!

Think! Reflect! Act

Leanne Winning

Literacy Improvement Co-ordinator