A Charles Sturt University lecturer who has witnessed the challenges faced by students who enter higher education with poor literacy skills has published a book she hopes will help address the issue by encouraging reading at a young age.
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Charles Sturt University’s Doctor Lisa Limbrick believes kids should grow up having fun with reading and hopes her book ‘Tom Topp and the Great Adventure Swap’ will do that just that.
“Students may have tremendous subject knowledge but if they can’t master the demands of writing and reading they will definitely struggle,” Dr Limbrick said.
Good reading practices are essential in high school, as well as university.
“Students may have the knowledge to answer an assessment task but if they don’t have the literacy skills necessary to present an argument in essay form, or to write an academic report, this could all go to waste. It is a serious issue,” she said.
“We could be missing out on some of the great nurses, teachers, or paramedics the community will need in coming years.”
The education faculty associate lecturer is passionate in her belief that good reading habits underpin strong literacy and learning skills.
“In Australia, up to 20 per cent of children can struggle with reading, and recent NAPLAN results also underline the poor literacy skills that exist, particularly in regional areas,” Dr Limbrick said.
“While effective instruction is critical to raising literacy standards, the motivation to read is also important. And nothing motivates a child more than humour.”