ThatReadingThing

Why Explicit Language?

• This book is an attempt to make explicit what good readers and spellers implicitly know about the English language. It’s about helping both teachers and students to discover the relationship between what they say and what they write.

• “I can’t _____ing read. I’m thick.” That’s the kind of explicit language I hear all the time from young people. It’s not enough to give them lots of language and hope they pick up how to read. It’s time to get explicit about how the English code works.

• I imagine that I can hear shockingly similar language from school staffrooms (or a least very deep sighs) when it’s announced that all teachers, regardless of specialty subject will be responsible for improving literacy. I hear you and I’ll do my best to unburden rather than burden already stressed teachers. This is not meant to increase your workload—just shift your thinking and give you some new tools.

• Finally, this little book is intended to be a quick read and a handy resource. If you want more detailed lessons with scripts and teaching materials—a properly constructed programme for teaching reading—then please go to my website and look at ThatReadingThing.