Welcome to Handy Resources, our website aimed at delivering "literacy tools for the busy classroom teacher".
Everything about Handy Resources has been created by us - the stories and nonfiction text, publication, resource design, website design, filming - everything because we know what it is we want to provide for teachers and we want to have control over how it comes across. With the addition of our video tutorials, we think that we are getting close to our goal of providing a complete package for online professional development in reading for schools, homeschoolers, and parents.
VIDEO TUTORIALS We understand the busy-ness of the classroom. We believe that there are some simple processes that teachers need to be effective teachers of reading and we want to present them quickly and without any fuss. In less than 5 minutes you can view a video clip outlining simple steps that deliver quality learning about reading strategies for your students. Have a go with your class and see what you think. Come back and have another look to check whether you are getting it right. When your students are ready, move on to the next stage.
Please let us know what you think. We need your feedback - suggestions, advice, requests, and we love to hear those anecdotes about the successes you are having with your students.
Hilton Ayrey and Brian Parker Handy Resources
HILTON AYREY Hilton taught in primary schools for 18 years before taking up a position as tutor with the New Zealand Graduate School of Education, a high profile private teacher training organisation in Christchurch, New Zealand. Over the last ten years he has developed his innovative literacy programmes for preservice and inservice teacher training. These have been extensively trialled by teaching interns as part of their training programme and have been part of whole school literacy development in a growing number of schools (recent examples - Elmwood Normal School, Christchurch, Medbury School, Christchurch, Shanghai Academy, Hong Kong). The most rewarding part of his day is going into schools to observe teachers at work and seeing students enjoying the stories and activities he has written.
BRIAN PARKER Brian trained as a Secondary teacher and then moved to Japan where he taught in language schools for 10 years. On his return to NZ he taught in a number of primary schools before joining NZGSE as a tutor. His background and interest in the arts and photography has sparked an interest in using technology to deliver simple, effective teaching strategies to the classroom. His colloboration on this Handy Resources video tutorial project is the first step towards achieving this goal.
