Resource 3 - The Literacy CAFE

Boushey, G. & Moser, J. (2009a). The CAFE book: Engaging all students in daily literacy assessment and instruction. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.

        ‘The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction’ is an extremely valuable resource as it provides the reader with clear instructions, examples and templates of its possible implementation within the classroom setting. This resource demonstrates appropriate assessment techniques that would effectively enable students’ abilities to be monitored and subsequently enable a teaching program that promotes the improvement of all students’ reading abilities. The book is written in simple terminology, enabling an easy grasp of the concepts depicted therein. Progressing through the pages, an excitement for exploring these assessment strategies builds and, due to the examples of its implementation and samples of completed assessment worksheets, a holistic understanding of the Literacy CAFE Program is easily attained.

        This resource outlines in detail the elements of the Literacy CAFE Program – Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expand Vocabulary. Whilst the program is explained systematically, it is emphasised that the contents of the program can be implemented into a teacher’s curriculum using their own terminologies or modifications. In this respect the Literacy CAFE Program is synchronous with the ‘Learning by Design’ pedagogy. In addition, all four resources of the Four Resources Model - Text Analyst, Code Breaker, Meaning Maker, and Text User – are encompassed within this resource, however, with more emphasis being placed on Code Breaker, Meaning Maker, and Text Analyst.

        With the Literacy CAFE Program’s focus on comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expansion of vocabulary, the Australian English Curriculum’s requirements are incorporated within the Literacy Strand Content Descriptors involving ‘interpreting, analysing, and evaluating’ (e.g. ACELY1649, ACELY1659, ACELY1669, ACELY1679, ACELY1691, ACELY1650; ACELY1660, ACELY1670; ACELY1680; ACELY1692). Whilst these Content Descriptors relate to students in Foundation Year to Year 4, this resource is a valuable assessment tool for students in all years of primary school as it provides an uncomplicated, user-friendly method of reading assessment.