Ms Lyn Tonkin

My previous experience as a classroom teacher in Junior Primary, Primary and Secondary schools, and as a Deputy Principal and Principal have supported the links between theory and practice in my tertiary teaching. I maintain close connections with the profession through the Australian Literacy Educators' Association, as State Director for South Australia for 5 years, Secretary for 2 years, and as a member of the Adelaide committee. Over the past 10 years I have been involved in developing and implementing a range of teacher professional development activities including mini-courses, summer schools and conferences. I have been a member of the editorial team of Practically Primary, an ALEA journal, and a co-researcher for funded literacy projects focusing on using curriculum frameworks and whole school approaches to assessment. My contribution to book chapters and articles have related to planning and assessment. My consultancies and writing have focused on early literacy and transition, using curriculum frameworks, developing a Listening and Speaking video and resource package, preparing curriculum materials to support teachers in Vietnam, and mentoring teachers in a QTP project. From 1999-2003 I participated in the South Australia Curriculum, Standards and Accountability Framework project as a co-writer for the English learning area. During 2003-7 I worked in 2 AusAid projects in PNG and the Philippines and participated as a member of a range of DECS committees including the Primary Years Reference Group, revising the SA Handwriting resource and the Early Childhood Reconceptualising Reception project. I am currently teaching Early Childhood literacy courses in the transnational program in Hong Kong and Singapore.

• English Langauge and Literacy
• Programming
• Assessment
• Practicum

Australian Literacy Educators' Association

Primary English Teachers' Association

Australian Teacher Education Association

Diploma in teaching (Junior Primary/Primary)

Bachelor of Education (Language and Literacy)

Master of Education (Language and Literacy)

• Student learning in English: reading, viewing, writing, listening & speaking
• Assessment
• Developing portfolios
• Early literacy

Tonkin, L (June 2005) 'Using Real World Texts in the Reading Program', in practically Primary, Vol 10, no 2, Australian Literacy Educators' Association, Adeladie

Sandstrom, R. & Tonkin, L. (1998) 'Curriculum Programming, Planning and Evaluation', in The Early Years of School: Teaching and Learning, Addison Wesley Longman, Chapter 12.

Tonkin, L., Moni, K. & van Kraayenoord, C. (1996) 'Practices in project schools', Volume 2, in Whole School Approaches to Assessing and Reporting Literacy. Children's Literacy Projects Final Report.

Tonkin, L., Hancock, J. & Roberts, D. (1995) 'Teachers' Responses to the English Profile: A report of two studies', in The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, Vol. 18, No. 3.

Tonkin, L. (1994) 'Using portfolios in programming', in Programming for Literacy, ed. R. Sandstrom, Australian Reading Association, Victoria, Chapter 3.

Sandstrom, R. & Tonkin, L. (1994) 'The Programming Cycle', in Programming for Literacy, ed. R. Sandstrom, Australian Reading Association, Victoria, Chapter 1.

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Language

• Teaching English & Literacy in Primary Schools
• Classroom Assessment Strategies For English
• Developing Portfolios With Students
• Teacher Professional Development in English
• English Language and Literacy