This event took place on 15th February 2006
Berrill Lecture Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall Campus, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
This inaugural lecture provides Professor Kathy Hall with a timely opportunity to examine the current controversy about how to teach reading in our schools. It is a lecture in two parts. The first part considers the evidence for the most recent official recommendation to Government that an approach known as synthetic phonics should be adopted as an exclusive pedagogic model for the development of the alphabetic principle. On the basis of her analysis very different conclusions and recommendations are offered for the way forward. The last part of the lecture considers possible explanations for the current, misguided recommendation which would, if finally endorsed, constitute a more prescriptive shift in literacy policy in England. Here the analysis also shifts from one of literacy policy to policy literacy.
This inaugural lecture provides Professor Kathy Hall with a timely opportunity to examine the current controversy about how to teach reading in our schools. It is a lecture in two parts. The first part considers the evidence for the most recent official recommendation to Government that an approach known as synthetic phonics should be adopted as an exclusive pedagogic model for the development of the alphabetic principle. On the basis of her analysis very different conclusions and recommendations are offered for the way forward. The last part of the lecture considers possible explanations for the current, misguided recommendation which would, if finally endorsed, constitute a more prescriptive shift in literacy policy in England. Here the analysis also shifts from one of literacy policy to policy literacy.
Click below to play the event (60 minutes)