Many teachers are yet to unlock the full potential of the arts as a powerful way to unlock literacy learning in students.

So how do we fully utilise the arts in the teaching of reading and writing? One of Australia's leading educators joins us to share her insights.

Robyn Ewing AM is Professor Emerita, Teacher Education and the Arts and Co-Director of the Creativity in Research, Engaging the Arts, Transforming Education, Health and Wellbeing (CREATE) Centre. Her teaching areas include primary curriculum, especially English, literature, drama and early literacy development. Robyn is passionate about the Arts and education and the role quality arts experiences and processes can and should play in creative pedagogy and transforming the curriculum at all levels of education.

In the areas of English, literacy and the arts, Robyn's research has particularly focused on the use of educational or process drama with authentic literary texts to develop students' imaginations and critical literacies. She has been published widely in this area. She has worked in partnership with Sydney Theatre Company on the teacher professional learning program 'School Drama' since 2009.

Robyn is an Honorary Associate with Sydney Theatre, Principal Fellow of the Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA), Board member of WestWords and Dirt Lane Press and a Visiting Scholar at Barking Gecko Children's Theatre. She was a Council member of AFTRS from 2013-8, president of the Primary English Teachers Association Australia (2001-2006) and president of ALEA (2011-15). She is a former vice president of Sydney Story Factory.

Within the faculty, Robyn was inaugural co-director of the innovative Master of Teaching degree and has also been Acting Dean; ProDean, Associate Dean, Academic Programs; Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning; Director, Program Director BEd(Primary); and Director, Division of Professional Learning.

An experienced primary teacher and teacher educator, Robyn has a commitment to quality teaching and learning at all levels of education. She enjoys working collaboratively with classroom teachers interested in innovative curriculum practices. She has worked as an academic mentor with teachers at a range of Sydney primary and secondary schools with the major focus on transforming the curriculum using the Arts as critical, quality pedagogy.

In this interview, Robyn talks about:

• Why it is important to consider the way we teach literacy through the arts
• How to enhance student engagement and skill level
• How we can teach literacy through the arts or the arts through literacy
• The connection to the Australian Curriculum
• What to do at K,1,2,3,4,5,6 levels
• How to evaluate in a coordinated way across the school

And much more!

JOIN SHARON CALLEN'S NEXT WEBINAR!

'Reading Like a Writer: Teaching Information Writing' - Yrs 2-6, with Sharon Callen

14 August 2021, 10-11.30am Adelaide time (One 1.5 hour workshop)

Find our more and register here.

Missed it? Find upcoming events here and previous webinars and other resources can be found at Teachific.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

TEACHIFIC 

• Poems to dramatise: Explore a special group of poems that have been selected for you on Teachific for  good dramatising potential.
• See the whole Teachific poetry collection

PODCAST

• Interview with Unity, Principal of Anzac Park School in North Sydney.

BOOKTOPIA

• How Texts Teach What Readers Learn by Margaret Meek
• Aristotle’s Children by Richard E. Rubenstein
• The Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children: Play, Imagination, Learning, by Ewing, R. (Ed.).(2012)
• The School Drama Book: Drama, Literature and Literacy in the Creative Classroom, by Ewing, R. & Saunders, J. N. (2016)
• Beyond the Script: Drama in the English and Literacy Classroom. 3rd edn. Newtown: Primary English Teaching Association Australia, by Ewing, R., Simons, J. with Hertzberg, M & Campbell, V. (2016).
• Transforming the Curriculum Through the Arts, by Gibson, R. & Ewing, R. (2020) 2ne edn. London: Palgrave Macmillan

MORE ARTS RESOURCES

• School Drama
• The School Drama Companion
  • Designed as a companion text to The School Drama Book
• Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) On Demand Plus:
  • https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTheatreforYoungPeople/videos/atyp-on-demand-plus-is-here/495616228342292/
• Why Make-Believe Play is an Important Part of Childhood Development: Robyn Ewing in The Conversation
• The Arts and Education: Realising Potential by Robyn Ewing

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The Teacher’s Tool Kit For Literacy is the free podcast for motivated teachers and school leaders who want the latest tips, tricks and tools to inspire their students and school community in literacy learning. 

Hear from literacy expert and founder of Cue Learning, Sharon Callen, and special guests.

At Cue Learning, our literacy specialists draw on over 30 years of teaching and international consulting experience to deliver world-class learning solutions. We equip, empower and support teachers to become their authentic selves. 

To find out about upcoming events, and about how Cue can help you and your school, visit the Cue Learning website http://www.cuelearning.com.au/ and sign up to our newsletter https://cuelearning.com.au/contact/

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