About

I am an experienced and passionate educator. I teach. I write. I create.

I have spent almost all my life thinking and learning about thinking and learning.

I have been involved in many educational roles, both in and out of formal schooling situations, always combining my love of teaching and writing by creating original materials to support children’s learning.

Now as I step away from the classroom again, I embark upon my latest iteration: sharing my thoughts about education by challenging what exists while asking what could be; and inviting early childhood educators to support children’s learning through use of my original teaching materials which are now available on my website www.readilearn.com.au

I look forward to our conversations.

Best wishes,

Norah

 

110 thoughts on “About”

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  5. K Morris Poet

    I was glad to find your blog as a consequence of your interview with Sally Cronin.

    Being registered blind (but with some useful residual mobility vision), I attended Saint Vincents School for the Blind and the Royal School for the Blind in the city of Liverpool. The classes where small, which was positive from the point of view of learning. However the downside was that (other than the teachers, most of whom where sighted), my contact with non-disabled peers was very limited until I went on to read history and politics at University College of Swansea.

    I never attended mainstream school so can not compare my experience of being educated at establishments for the visually impaired with what used to be termed as “normal” (not a word I like in this context) schools.

    Best wishes – Kevin

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Kevin, thank you very much for popping over from Sally’s to read and comment. I was interested to hear about your education situation. You have obviously done very well, despite any difficulties, or perhaps in spite of any difficulties you may have experienced. Reading history and politics is quite an achievement, I think. One of my cousins is considered legally blind, though he has some ability to see shapes and movement. He attended ‘normal’ school. I’m not sure how much extra help he received, but I know that in university he did receive extra assistance. He is now a qualified geophysicist. He was blind from birth as a result of a morning sickness tablet taken by his mother. You and he have both done very well.
      Best wishes to you, too.

      Liked by 1 person

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          1. K Morris Poet

            I possess some residual vision. This is better in my left eye than my right. I can discern outlines of objects but not detail. So, for example I can see a person in front of me, but I can’t recognise them. I also sometimes, particularly in poor light, mistake a lamp post or tree for a person! I can’t see print, but use Job Access with Speech (JAWS) software which converts text into speech and braille enabling me to use a Windows computer or laptop. I also use the text to speech facility on my Kindle and learned braille from a young age. Kevin

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    2. Luqman Michel

      Hello Norah Colvin,
      Like you, I have challenged what exists. Back in 2010, after 6 years of teaching kids classified as dyslexic, I challenged the more than 35 year theory that phonological awareness deficit is the cause of kids being unable to read in English.

      You may read my articles in 2010 by searching: Phonological awareness Luqman.

      Or, ‘Dr.Torgessen vs. Luqman Michel.

      Back then I also said that a majority of kids who are classified as dyslexic are in fact instructional casualties. I was asked for my credentials as well as scientific evidence and data.

      I then embarked on a search for corroborative evidence and have now published a book which I hope you will get a copy and read and hopefully together we may reduce illiteracy.

      My book is available on Amazon as well as on Barnes & Noble under the title ‘Shut Down Kids’.

      The main part of the book is Part 2. Part one is made of many similar evidence to back up part 2.

      Please grill me on any part of my book so that we may learn from each other.

      Wish you well.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. Norah Post author

        Hello Luqman Michel.
        Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts on dyslexia. I do believe there are far too many instructional categories, as you say, and that children will shut down when they are not taught appropriately. I will have a look at your book and Amazon.
        Thank you for contacting me.

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  13. ksbeth

    so nice to meet you, norah. thanks for following my blog. i love the look of your blog and look forward to following and learning from you. as an early childhood educator, i am always learning from others and appreciate others’ experiences – best, beth

    p.s. i have a girl in my class this year who is named, norah )

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you for following my blog too, Beth. I look forward to sharing many early childhood stories and ideas.
      I’m tickled you have a girl called Norah in your class this year. Just this week I heard of a little baby named Norah. It is such an old fashioned name, I have only ever known one or two other Norahs. I can’t imagine naming a child that. I used to tell my Mum I didn’t like it (which didn’t make her happy), but as an adult I came to like it because it was different from everyone else. 🙂

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    1. Norah Post author

      Hi Daal, Thank you for thinking of me and for the nomination. I’ll give it some thought, but I really don’t think I can fit it into my schedule at the moment. Apologies.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  16. jlfatgcs

    Glad I found your blog. As a fellow teacher, I feel the same passion in Early Childhood
    Education. I, too, love to write about the moments that happen in my classroom. Thank you for enjoying my blog, as well. -Jennie-

    Liked by 1 person

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  23. Bette A. Stevens

    I enjoyed getting to know you better, Norah. We do have a lot in common. Although I am now a retired teacher, I still love going into our local schools and library to read with the children and talk about books. It’s magical! Also, you blog header (children & butterflies) is delightful. Our little ones are indeed magical creatures too. How fortunate your students are to have you. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you so much for your lovely words , Bette. You have reminded me that I need to update this page. I am no longer in the classroom but am still just as passionate about education as ever I was. I must put an edit on the top of my to do list. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Bette A. Stevens

        I find that I need to update annually (usually after the holidays) and sometimes it’s hard to get to all of the profiles and stat posts that need to be revised, being we’re out there in so many places. Better mark my end of December now for a heads-up after the holidays. How the year(s) flies by… 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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  24. Norah Post author

    Thank you Antara. I have had a quick look at the (free) app and the demo videos. It does look interesting. I haven’t before reviewed a product on request, but am happy to to consider doing so. I would need to view the complete app so would appreciate it if you could supply a free copy please.

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  26. Rebecca Patajac

    Hello there,
    To help bring new faces past your wonderful work, especially after all of your 99 word Carrot Ranch pieces, I’ve nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award over here:
    http://loveliterarylife.com/2015/08/25/blogger-recognition-award/
    I hope it helps your audience grow.
    Please don’t feel pressured to follow through with Nominating others, we all have tight schedules, I understand. 🙂
    You’re an incredible person Norah, and I do hope I can help you after everything you’ve done for others.
    Keep writing!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  27. noelleg44

    I think there were days when I would have liked to swap teaching first year medical students for teaching first graders. It would be nice to start over, but I’m not sure where I got all that energy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      I think every day would be more fun teaching first graders than first year medical students! 🙂 But that’s just me. I’m sure that both roles require a lot of energy, and that both sets of students are very needy! 🙂

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  28. julespaige

    Teaching is a wonderful thing. We all learn new things everyday, if we are lucky we might even learn two new things 😉

    I am foremost a poet – I keep two; a short and long verse sites, separate from my fiction blog. But I think your Level One students could enjoy poetry with this form found on my friends’ site:
    https://simplyelfje.wordpress.com/
    It is a simple Dutch form that was invented just for the purposed of teaching children poetry.

    My friend and I have taken the form and transformed it for adults by making series, acrostic versions, reversing the form and combining it with other short forms to tell our poetic stories.

    All the best, Jules

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you for introducing me to the Elfie. It is a wonderful poetic form. It reminds me a little of another I have used for teaching children to write poetry. It appears to be such a simple form, but a lot of meaning can be packed into a tiny verse. I am interested in the ways that you and your friend have taken it and transformed it for writing adult poetry. That’s creativity in motion! Poetic! 🙂
      Thanks for sharing.

      Liked by 1 person

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  30. roweeee

    I like what you say about being a learner rather that an expert. I often wonder whether the moment we consider ourselves an expert, we stop growing? Am looking forward to reading more of your posts xx Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

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  32. Anjali

    Lovely to ‘meet’ you Norah! We often RT each other on #Mondayblogs 🙂 I too have had the avatar of a teacher in my life – as a primary, secondary and university level. And though I have moved on to other areas (I volunteered in the charity sector and now work there helping the disenfranchised) I think it was a very rewarding experience – I learnt more than I taught and I am very grateful for that!.

    Liked by 3 people

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  33. Marigold

    Wow, fellow Brisbanite, and you’re a teacher! I’m starting a postgrad in education at ACU this year so I can teach high school science. Not quite the same as grade 1, but I hope I enjoy it as much as you!

    Like

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    1. Norah Post author

      It’s great to connect with someone local. I wish you all the best with your studies. There is definitely a need for good science teaching, whether in year one or high school! What science is your specialty?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. Marigold

        Hey Norah. I’m a geologist. Not the most applicable for teaching, so I’m going to train as a biology teacher since I need two teaching areas: which will be biology and middle school science. Thanks for the well wishes 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓
  40. woodbeez48

    Hi, Norah and thanks for following my blog. Have been reading yours with interest for a while now. We should have done this sooner!

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  48. Charli Mills

    How wonderful that you discovered so early that you are a life-long learner. One could argue that you began your career in 5th-grade. I’ve had teachers like you who pulled out the best in me when I didn’t know it was there. Even today, I think back on how significant of an impact such teachers had.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Hi Charli,
      Thank you for your wonderful supportive comments. How fortunate you are to have teachers who helped you find more in yourself than you realised was there. I think that is a trait of a genuine educator – one who ‘draws out’ rather than fills (I’d like to say ‘stuffs up’).
      Thanks for visiting!

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  49. Karen

    Hi Norah,

    just visited your awesome blog for the first time – I will be back. 🙂
    Thank you very much for following my blog mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com – and for following me on Twitter (already following you back).

    Have a great day,
    Karen

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    Reply ↓
    1. Norah Post author

      Hi Karen,
      Thank you for visiting and following, as I have done for you also. Found your blog through Drew Chial and his 10 statements. You have lots of interesting things to follow on your blog also.
      Best wishes,
      Norah

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