Reading test for six-year-olds to include made-up words - Emphasis

Reading test for six-year-olds to include made-up words Reading test for six-year-olds to include made-up words The latest plan to boost childrens literacy levels involves a reading test for six-year-olds, which includes made-up words like mip, fack, zort, koob and glimp. The Government scheme is intended to provide a light touch phonics-based check, to either reassure parents of their childs ability, or to identify the pupils falling behind. It would entail reading back a list of both real and made-up words, to ensure that none was just recited by rote. Some of the words may be nonsensical, but the idea may not be quite as crazy as it sounds. Teaching with phonics where words are deduced by recognising the sounds associated with letters or groups of letters has been shown to help with individual word identification and spelling. Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, quotes academic research from Australia and the US that points to synthetic phonics being the most effective method for teaching literacy for all children, especially those aged five to seven. And one can hardly fault the Government on their stated goals. Too many children leave primary school unable to read and write properly, says Gibb. We are determined to raise standards and the new phonics-based reading check for six-year-olds will ensure that children who need extra help are given it before it is too late. But it is the prospect of a test based solely on phonics that is causing consternation among education and literacy experts in the UK. Many think it is more likely to actually put kids off reading, by isolating the act from its own rewards: understanding and enjoyment. The test is trying to control all the different variables so that things like meaning dont get in the way, says president of the UK Literacy Association (UKLA), David Reedy. We think this seems a bit bonkers when the whole purpose of reading is to understand words. And children cannot learn through phonics alone: There is the context, the sentence itself, and whether they have that word in their spoken lexicon, Reedy points out. Professor Greg Brooks, from the University of Sheffield, has also questioned the term light-touch, saying the exam will inevitably become high-stakes, with all the educational deformations that are known to attend high-stakes tests, including teaching to the test and needless anxiety for children. And, if the UKLA are to be believed, it would be needless. They assert that the results wouldnt be a good indicator of how well pupils would read connected text, or pick up meaning. Perhaps the theory is sound enough, but the test itself is just a case of too much, too early. Most children at that age are not ready to learn phonics, never mind be tested on them, says Professor Janet Moyles, an early years and play consultant from Anglia Ruskin University. Children do not have formal teaching of reading in Scandinavian countries, for example, until they are six to seven years of age and do much better than our children in formal testing later.

FeedHenry - Innovating in the cloud Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FeedHenry - Innovating in the cloud - Case Study Example The strategy is to satisfy the clients’ needs across the world in order to enjoy maximum earnings (Cunningham and Gately 670). This implies that the cloud technology shall enhance value to clients, which establishes a competitive advantage through the exploitation of the market. The FeedHenry’s current business level comprises of enterprises adopting mobile applications for their marketing mix programs with an extensive base across the world. This is through the introduction of a latest cloud connectivity technology that uses centralized servers. Alternatively, the platform technology innovation enabled firms to establish their own mobile applications through the operating systems of various gadgets. The current business level focuses on conquering the market by developing distinctive advantages through their innovations (Cunningham and Gately 671). The platform technology project attracted many firms because this was an emerging aspect in the promotion of commodities. Another way of ensuring the success of the business level was through supervision of their innovations to ensure that the clients received value from the cloud technology. The corporate level strategy adopted by FeedHenry was the transformation of their operations from the web technology for media to the cloud innovation. This aspect affected their financial capacity because it requires a high investment outlay that could accommodate the new technology and modalities. It also concerned the allocation of resources to various stations for easy development of mobile apps by all the firms (Cunningham and Gately 673). Considering this change in operations, the company embraced the value-creating tactic that emphasized on gaining more market share and counting competition. The innovation of the mobile app was to capture the new opportunities evident in the telecommunication industry. The technology focus requires customers to register with them in order to have

Quiz on Nathanial Hawthornes Scarlet Lettet Assignment - 1

Quiz on Nathanial Hawthornes Scarlet Lettet - Assignment Example Pearl behaves as though she would remain a captive of the scarlet letter (Hawthorne, 2009). From the novel, Dimmesdale is male character that indicates weakness. His character as minister entertains transgressions in secrecy. Dimmesdale is conflicted by guilt and cannot express his sin. He signifies self-centeredness and duplicity (Hawthorne, 2009). Chillingworth is character that represents an inhuman and cold nature. He has the motive of revenge. He torments Dimmesdale for the truth while acting as a friend. Pearl symbolizes the product of inhibited desire that is redemption. The nature of the character provides salvation to others like Dimmsdale who seek confession for their transgression (Hawthorne, 2009). She is a reminder of her mother’s actions and source of happiness. Hester is a character that elaborates a culprit of incorrect moral decisions. She represents the suppression of feminism because of human nature and compassion. The novel describes the solitude and distress of female characters that want to express their feelings but are constricted by the expectations of society (Hawthorne, 2009). They must behave in correspondence to the standards of society even if it means suppressing the inner emotions. Female sexuality is treated with respect given it meet that expectations of