Welcome to the September News for the Literacy Foundation for Children
The Foundation helps families by providing financial support to offset some of the costs associated with support services needed to help children with dyslexia learn to read and write.
If you or anyone you know needs financial help to undertake an assessment (to reach a diagnosis) or intervention (following diagnosis) in relation to dyslexia or other diganosable learning disability, then please visit our website for how to access support.
Did you know that we have given away over almost $50,000 to 31 different applicants since we started in 2017? Our fledgling organisation is growing in it’s reach and impact each year.
News Article
Poor Reading and Writing Skills are Dooming Students to Failure in High School and University, Eminent Scientist Warns
Natasha Bita, The Australian 11 September, 2023
One of Australia’s most eminent scientists has blasted a lack of basic literacy for sabotaging students’ success in high school and university, as damning new data reveals that failed teaching methods could cost a generation of children $12 billion in lifetime earnings.
High school science teachers have blamed low literacy for students’ struggles in the high-stakes STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Australia’s former chief scientist, Alan Finkel, is demanding more focus on the phonics-based teaching of reading and writing in primary school, as well as the basics of mathematics, to stop students failing in high school.
Common Sayings with a Sinister Background
Idioms are commonly used phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally
and can be found in most languages.
Pulling a leg
Pulling someone’s leg means deceiving someone playfully or teasing someone. However, this originated as something far more sinister years ago. Thieves in 18th and 19th Century London would drag their victims to the ground by their legs in order to rob them.
2023 AGM – SAVE THE DATE !!!
This year we’ll be holding our Annual Speaker Event and AGM on Thursday, 30th November 2023. The location is the same as in the past … at the meeting room of Radio 4E, Kangaroo Point. We expect proceedings to get underway at 6:30 pm and finish by 8:00 pm. More information will be provided towards the end of October (via email). Please save the date so you can join us for this event.
Professional Development for Teachers
Would your child’s school be interested in holding a seminar about literacy and learning disabilities while at the same time helping the Foundation? To find out more, see our School Seminars brochure.
Important Literacy Word Definitions
These two terms are often confused:
‘Phonemic Awareness’
Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is a subcategory of phonological awareness, which is the broader ability to hear and manipulate the sound structure of language. Phonemic awareness skills include rhyming, segmenting, blending, isolating sounds, adding or deleting sounds.
‘Phonics’
Phonics is a method of teaching children how to read and write by teaching them the relationship between the sounds of spoken language (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent those sounds.
In other words, phonemic awareness is about the sounds of words, while phonics is about the relationship between sounds and letters
Wise Words for Children with Learning Challenges
Find your strengths. Everyone has strengths, even if they have learning challenges. Find what you are good at and focus on those things.
“”Do not judge me by my success,
judge me by how many times I fell
down and got back up again.”
– NELSON MANDELA
Did you know that donations to the Foundation are tax deductible?
Consider making a donation to help a child with a learning disability. As the Foundation is run solely by volunteers the administrative costs are very minimal, so we are glad to say that the vast majority of all donations and funds raised are distributed to the families of children requiring support. Make a donation at GIVENOW.
Containers for Change
The Foundation is listed with Containers for Change. You can be a creator of positive change by donating your unwanted bottles and cans to the Literacy Foundation for Children. Scroll down to ‘FIND A CHARITY OR CAUSE TO SUPPORT’ and enter the code C10240836 when you drop off your bottles and cans at your local recycle location.
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