MUSEC In The Media

In the Media - PUBLICITY IN 2006

The STaR Project was referred to within an article on child care centres in general and Senator Kay Patterson’s involvement in the launch of the STaR Project. It included a brief description of the project at Macquarie University for “young children with disabilities in a child care setting”. Northern District Times, 11 January 2006.

Prof Kevin Wheldall and MULTILIT were the focus of an article on a local student’s progress in reading and his increase in confidence as a result of attending the MULTILIT Clinic. Manly Daily, 21 January 2006.

Dr Coral Kemp and the STaR project were the focus of an article in the Macquarie University newsletter for postgraduate study. The article explored the project’s objectives of inclusive childcare, success stories and research opportunities. “So far we have had nothing but enthusiasm and support”. Postgrad and beyond, Issue 1 (February 2006).

Prof Kevin Wheldall and Robyn Beaman were mentioned in an article on the MULTILIT program in Coen, in conjunction with Noel Pearson. The article describes the establishment of the program in 2005 and the encouraging results so far, as Wheldall states, “All that kids need in order to learn to read is good instruction.” Postgrad and beyond, Issue 1 (February 2006).

Robyn Beaman: manages the MULTILIT program, which is improving literacy levels in a Cape York School, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 November; visited Coen State School in Cape York to run a literacy program, Sun Herald, 20 November. In Macquarie University Staff News, 3 February 2006.

Dr Coral Kemp: said MUSEC research has demonstrated that inclusive childcare benefits children with and without disabilities, Weekly Times, 21 December. In Macquarie University Staff News, 3 February 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: is improving literacy levels in a Cape York school through the MULTILIT program, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 November; is working with Noel Pearson on literacy in Cape York, Sun Herald, 20 November; was among the signatories of an open letter which started the public debate on phonics last year, The Australian, 9 December; said MULTILIT’s methods have been shown to be very effective across a range of literacy problems, Manly Daily, 21 January. Macquarie University News, 3 February 2006.

Prof Kevin Wheldall and Robyn Beaman were mentioned in an article about MULTILIT’s success with Indigenous kids in Coen, Cape York. The project started in 2005 and will continue until the middle of 2006, though Wheldall is hopeful that the funding bodies will extend the program when they see the results. Research Active, March 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: thinks that some children will automatically learn to read, but at least 25 per cent won't, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 2006. In Macquarie University Staff News, 31 March 2006.

Robyn Beaman was interviewed about her PhD research into troublesome classroom behaviour. Postgrad and beyond, Issue 2 (March 2006).

Robyn Beaman described the main findings of the research presented in her PhD on troublesome classroom behaviour. Research Active, April 2006.

Prof Kevin Wheldall writes that teaching children phonics is powerfully liberating, equipping new readers with the skills to decode and learn new words independently. He argues that whole language exponents put the cart before the horse, “to become a critically literate member of society, you need first to be able to read fluently and with understanding”. Sydney Morning Herald, 10 April 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: wrote that rather than turning students into robots, the teaching method of teaching phonics is powerfully liberating, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 April. In Macquarie University Staff News, 13 April 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: was interviewed about the importance of phonics instruction, ABC Radio, Canberra, Tuesday 18 April 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: thinks the book Woolvs in the Sitee by Margaret Wild will be confusing for primary school students, Herald Sun, 18 April; said that most literacy experts have a lot more in common than that which divides them and discussed the benefits of phonics, ABC 666 Canberra, 18 April. In Macquarie University Staff News, 5 May 2006.

Robyn Beaman’s PhD research was the topic of this feature on managing classroom behaviour. Teachers report that the most troublesome behaviour of students is ‘talking out of turn’, and they respond to social behaviour with six times more disapproval than approval. While research shows that using positive attention to shape appropriate desirable behaviour is more effective, teachers are generally not equipped with the necessary training. Behaviour management in the classroom is a significant factor in both teacher stress and student disengagement. Macquarie University News, May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: was the focus of an article on her PhD research into troublesome classroom behaviour. The Sun Herald, 7 May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: was interviewed about her PhD research on classroom behaviour management and staff and student interactions, Garth Russell, ABC Radio Newcastle, Tuesday 9 May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: has found that kids talking out of turn is the greatest source of classroom stress for teachers, Sun Herald, 7 May; interviewed about her research into classroom behaviour and said a major problem is students talking out of turn rather than more violent behaviour, ABC Newcastle, 9 May. Macquarie University Staff News, May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: was interviewed about her PhD research on classroom behaviour management and teacher and student interactions, Terry Sara, ABC Radio North Coast, Friday 12 May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: was interviewed about her PhD research on managing classroom behaviour, Annie Warburton, ABC Radio Tasmania Statewide, Wednesday 17 May 2006.

This year MUSEC is offering a new Postgraduate Certificate in Special Education (Gifted Education). Course convenor, Dr Kerry Hodge, was interviewed about the importance of this new course, established in response to an increasing demand from schools for specialists in gifted education, and the range of issues in identifying giftedness. Postgrad and beyond, Issue 2 (May 2006).

Robyn Beaman: was interviewed about her research on managing classroom behaviour. Lou Southwell, Drive program, ABC Northern Tasmania, Wednesday 24 May 2006.

Robyn Beaman: discovered teachers are good at giving positive feedback for academic work but not so much for social behaviour, Daily Telegraph, 17 May; said there has not been widespread research on how teachers interact with students in classrooms and that teachers have explained their greatest difficulty is students interrupting their teaching, ABC Northern Tasmania, 24 May. In Macquarie University Staff News, 2 June 2006.

Robyn Beaman: discovered teachers are good at giving positive feedback for academic work but not so much for social behaviour, Daily Telegraph, 17 May 2006. Macquarie Staff News, 2 June 2006.

Robyn Beaman: Said there has not been widespread research on how teachers interact with students in classrooms and that teachers have explained their greatest difficulty is students interrupting their teaching, ABC Northern Tasmania, 24 May 2006. Macquarie Staff News, 2 June 2006.

Robyn Beaman: Interviewed by Julie McCrossin from ABC Radio National Life Matters on preliminary findings of PhD research. ABC Radio National, 8 June 2006.

Robyn Beaman: interviewed by David Myton of the Inquire MQ program (2SER 107.3FM) about her research about the interaction of high school students and their teachers. 2SER 107.3FM, Friday, 9th June 2006.

Robyn Beaman: interviewed about her research on managing classroom behaviour, ABC Radio Tasmania, 17 May; interviewed about her research on the interaction of high school students and their teachers, Radio 2SER 107.3FM, 9 June. Macquarie Staff News, 30 June 2006.

Coral Kemp: interviewed about the STaR program being implemented in the Kings Langley Childcare Centre in partnership with Blacktown City Council. Blacktown City Guardian, 14th July 2006.

Kevin Wheldall: wrote an article on the five key components of successful reading. Sydney’s Child, August 2006.

Kevin Wheldall: wrote an article on the five key components of successful reading. Melbourne’s Child, August 2006.

Kevin Wheldall: wrote that there’s more to learning to read than meets the eye, Melbourne’s Child, 1 August 2006. Macquarie Staff News, 18 August 2006.

The benefits of the STaR Program were the focus of this article on a child with muscular dystrophy who has been attending a child care centre involved with the program in Penrith. Penrith Press, 1 September 2006.

Kevin Wheldall and Robyn Beaman: interviewed about the success of the MULTILIT Program with Indigenous students in Cape York. The Sun-Herald, 24th September 2006.

Robyn Beaman: interviewed about her PhD research on teacher perceptions of troublesome student behaviour. Side by Side, Issue 4, September 2006.

Macquarie University Special Education Centre: mentioned in an article on Noel Pearson’s work in Cape York. Students in Coen Primary School were been given systematic instruction in the MULTILIT Program and gained an average 21.4 months in reading accuracy. The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September 2006.

Robyn Beaman: found that teachers who praise good social behaviour can shape a better classroom environment than those who reprimand misbehaving students, Side by Side, 1 September. In Macquarie Staff News, 6 October 2006.

Kevin Wheldall and Robyn Beaman: revealed the spectacular results of the pilot literacy program that Noel Pearson invited them to run at Coen State School, Sun Herald, 24 September. In Macquarie Staff News, 6 October 2006.

Making Up Lost Time In Literacy (MULTILIT): The 15 least proficient readers at Coen Primary School were given intensive, systematic instruction in phonics for a year by specialist teachers from Macquarie University’s MULTILIT program, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September. In Macquarie Staff News, 6 October 2006.

Making Up Lost Time In Literacy (MULTILIT): A forum held in Cairns last week heard how just 12 months of literacy work by the local community along with Education Queensland, Cape York Partnerships, and Macquarie University’s MULTILIT had shown a catch-up of nearly four years in some cases in age for literacy levels, Koori Mail, 27 September. In Macquarie Staff News, 6 October 2006.

Macquarie University Special Education Centre: Article on the work of the STaR Program, an early intervention program for children with disabilities. Postgrad and Beyond, October 2006.

Dr Kerry Hodge: mentioned in an article on eccentricity and how gifted children sometimes appear eccentric to others. Sydney’s Child, October 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: mentioned in an article on MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy). North Shore Times, 8 November 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: said that children who have failed to learn to read by the usual methods in the first few years of school need intensive, systematic and direct reading instruction, Northern District Times, 25 October. In Macquarie Staff News, 20 October 2006.

Dr Kerry Hodge: her doctoral thesis investigated the issue of identifying intellectual giftedness in young children, Adelaide’s Child, 1 October; Canberra’s Child, 1 October; Canberra’s Child, 1 October; Melbourne’s Child, 1 October; Perth’s Child, 1 October; Sydney’s Child, 1 October. In Macquarie Staff News, 17 November 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: leads a team of academic researchers and educators at the Macquarie University Special Education Centre and MULTILIT is a product of continuing research and development by this team, North Shore Times, 8 November 2006. In Macquarie Staff News, 17 November 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: quoted in an article on the success of the MULTILIT Program for Baulkham Hills North Primary School student Samuel Roberts. Hills Shire Times, 21 November 2006.

Dr Robyn Beaman: devised an Indigenous literacy program for Coen State Primary School with Kevin Wheldall, Sun Herald, 24 December. In Macquarie Staff News, November-December 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: said children who have failed to learn to read by the usual methods in the first few years of school need intensive, systematic and direct reading instruction, with an emphasis on phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, Hills Shire times, 21 November; devised a pilot Indigenous literacy program for Coen State Primary School with Robyn Beaman, Sun Herald, 24 December. In Macquarie Staff News, November-December 2006.

Professor Kevin Wheldall: the success of MULTILIT students can be attributed to the emphasis on phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, as well as a positive teaching environment. Northern District Times, 25 October 2006.

In the Media - PUBLICITY IN 2007

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): the MULTIIT program has solid foundations in literacy and reading research, and the experience of MULTILIT at Coen has shown it to be possible for low-progress Indigenous readers to significantly and quickly lift their literacy skills. Opinion, The Australian, 20 January 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): was elected as a Fellow of The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. Macquarie University News, February 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): is the director of MUSEC, which runs MULTILIT — a reading program which tackles literacy in young students by focusing on phonics, sight reading and supported one-to-one book reading, Inner Western Suburbs Courier, 13 February.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): interviewed about MULTILIT, saying that children who have failed to learn to read by the usual methods in the first few years of school need intensive, systematic and direct reading instruction, Northern District Times, 21 February 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy): a tutorial centre for Redfern’s Indigenous children was officially opened on 11th March 2007. The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 March 2007.

MUSEC: A caller to talkback radio, who works on MUSEC's MULTILIT program, said the program is starting at Redfern Public School, Radio 2UE Sydney, 28 February, 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy): One of the hallmarks of the Macquarie University-devised MULTILIT program is the transformation of fidgety, 'unteachable' children into model pupils, Sun Herald, 11 March, 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy): mentioned in a radio interview on the ‘no excuses’ approach to education for Indigenous students in Cape York. Perspective, ‘Every Child is Special’, ABC Radio National, 21 March 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): under his direction, the Reverend Bill Crews has run an intensive reading program for children for more than a decade, North Shore Times, 14 March.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy): The Federal Government overlooked the MULTILIT tender for the reading program extending the Tutorial Voucher Initiative launched in 2005. The Australian, 5th April 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): A new MULTILIT Clinic will open in Bondi Junction in Term 2. Wentworth Courier, 18th April 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): The Reading Assessment Kit fails to follow the principles of systematic instruction in reading, which was addressed in the submission to the Senate led by Professors Wheldall and Coltheart. The Australian, 30th April 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): Interviewed about the government's failure to implement the recommendations of the inquiry into the literacy needs of students. Radio Adelaide, 30th April 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): co-authored a letter to a Senate inquiry into the academic standards of school education expressing disappointment that Curriculum Corporation, which uses a whole reading technique, was given the tender for a reading assistance program, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May 2007.

Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC): offers specialised postgraduate courses available to international students. The Macquarie Globe, Edition 21, 24 May 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): interviewed about MULTILIT in Cape York. Radio 2SER 107.3FM, 30 May 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): said that Reading Recovery is widely used in state schools but is not effective enough. The Australian, 18 June 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): Indigenous students in Cape York are benefiting from the MULTILIT Program. Macquarie University News, May/June 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy (MUSEC): MULTILIT, a proven accelerated literacy catch-up program, will be rolled out across Cape York as part of the Cape York Welfare Reform Trials. Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 18 July 2007, http://www.facsia.gov.au/Internet/Minister3.nsf/content/cape_york_welfare_18jul07.htm.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): After the success of the MULTILIT program in Coen State School, the literacy program will be implemented in four Cape York communities next year as part of the Federal Government’s Welfare Reform Trials. Sydney Morning Herald, 22 July 2007.

Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): co-runs literacy program MULTILIT which will play a key role in the federal governments recently announced welfare reform trials, Weekly Times, 8 August 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): interviewed about literacy program MULTILIT which will play a key role in the federal governments recently announced welfare reform trials, Weekly Times, 8 August 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy) (MUSEC): The MULTILIT Program has been highly successful in Coen, and will soon be expanded to three other areas in Cape York. Cairns Post, 14 August 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): said that supporters of whole language didn’t believe in empirical evidence because it doesn’t fit with their view of the world. The Australian, 4 September 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): MULTILIT places a strong emphasis on phonics, and is part of the Federal Government’s welfare reform in Cape York. Australian Financial Review, 10 September 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Jennifer Stephenson (MUSEC): Teachers must make decisions about the teaching strategies they use. Side by Side, Issue 10, June 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): MULTILIT was named as a key feature of the education component of the Cape York Welfare Reform trials. Learning Difficulties Australia Bulletin, June/September 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): quoted in an article on the academic standards in teacher training. The Australian, 19 September 2007.

Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): said that male teachers provide more negative academic feedback than female teachers. Sun Herald, 16 September 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): MULTILIT will play a key role in the Federal Government’s welfare reform trials in Cape York. Macquarie University News, July/September 2007.

MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy) (MUSEC): focuses on teaching children skills to decode words based on phonemics, sight word recognition and assisted reading to a tutor or parent. The Australian, 14 September 2007.

Dr Coral Kemp (MUSEC): said that typical classroom teachers struggle to cope with children who have high support needs. Sydney’s Child, October 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MUSEC): forwarded the weblink FreeRice.com, which donates 10 grains of rice to a hungry person for every word you get right. Sun Herald, 21 October 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): Opening of MULTILIT clinic in Malaysia. New Straits Times (Malaysia), 12 December 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): said that low-progress readers, whether or not they were dyslexic, need explicit, systematic and intensive reading instruction. The Star (Malaysia), 16 December 2007.

Professor Kevin Wheldall and Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): Indigenous students at the Redfern MULTILIT Centre graduated at Redfern Town Hall. This was the first group of students to go through the Centre, producing excellent results. Sydney Morning Herald, 16 December 2007.

Dr Robyn Beaman (MUSEC): was interviewed about her life at Macquarie University. Macquarie University News, November/December 2007.

In the Media - PUBLICITY IN 2008

MULTILIT (MULTILIT): Teach for Australia aims to install 500 teachers in four years in remote schools. The 6-8 week training course for teachers will cover effective teaching practices and MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy). The Australian, 18th January 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): said that Reading Recovery is not effective for many low progress readers. Times Educational Supplement (UK), 18th January 2008.

Macquarie University (MULTILIT): Teach for Australia is a plan developed by Noel Pearson’s Cape York Institute and Macquarie University. The Australian, 19th January 2008.

MULTILIT (MULTILIT): A Year 4 student from Maroubra has shown marked [reading] improvement after attending the Bondi Junction clinic. Southern Courier, 22nd January 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): was praised for his research into the efficacy of Reading Recovery, in response to the article “Academic pours scorn on Reading Recovery gains”, Times Educational Supplement (UK), 18th January 2008. Times Educational Supplement (UK), 25th January 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): mentioned in an article in response to “Academic pours scorn on Reading Recovery gains”, Times Educational Supplement (UK), 18th January 2008. Times Educational Supplement (UK), 25th January 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): said that the current approach by Dr Snyder only privileges those who have [reading] help at home. The Australian, 2nd February 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): said that working-class white children, migrants and indigenous children lose most when reading standards are relaxed. The Weekend Australian, 2-3 February 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): a response by Stephen Kershaw to Professor Wheldall’s “barking mad” comment (The Australian, 2nd February 2008). The Australian, 4th February 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): has achieved great success with disadvantaged children using his MULTILIT program. The Australian, 7th February 2008. Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): said children need direct instruction in learning to read. Sydney Morning Herald, 20th March 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): said it was common for parents of low-progress readers to be told their children would “get it” and not to worry. Herald Sun, 15th April 2008.

MULTILIT (MULTILIT): A quarter of children struggle to read – a mother tells of the heartbreak. Herald Sun Melbourne, 15th April 2008.

MULTILIT (MULTILIT): programs such as MULTILIT in Cape York are implemented in line with Macquarie University’s commitment to social inclusion. The Australian, 6th May 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): Federal MP Tony Abbott is currently volunteering in Cape York as a literacy tutor using the MULTILIT program. The Australian, 7th August 2008.

Professor Kevin Wheldall (MULTILIT): Federal MP Tony Abbott said the MULTILIT Program, developed by Professor Kevin Wheldall, appeared to be good at helping slow readers improve their skills. The Manly Daily, 15th August 2008.