Leading with Literacy

Meet Danielle Deguara, a Senior History specialist at Rosebank College. Read on to find out how Danielle is engaging her students in critical thinking and shares her passion for History and Literacy. 

My passion for literacy in learning, especially in History, has driven me to explore ways to support students in navigating the complex reading and writing demands of the Modern History course.

I find it really rewarding seeing students develop confidence in their ability to engage with historical texts and express their ideas effectively. Professionally, it is also rewarding to contribute to curriculum development and teacher practice, ensuring that literacy is recognised as a fundamental component of learning.

The ability to analyse historical sources, construct well-sustained arguments, and engage critically with historical narratives is crucial, yet many students struggle with these skills. By embedding literacy explicitly into the curriculum, I aim to make historical inquiry more accessible and improve student outcomes and their confidence.

Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to present at the AIS History Conference for 2025. The presentation focused on embedding literacy into a unit of work, specifically focusing on, 'The Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty.' This involved developing strategies to support students in reading and writing effectively within the academically rigorous Stage 6 Modern History course. I backward design the course to ensure I apply critical thinking to analyse how students interact with texts, identify barriers to comprehension, and develop strategies to improve their analytical reading and writing skills.

Presenting at conferences like this also allows me to collaborate with like-minded educators and share insights that can enhance teaching approaches beyond my own classroom.

Critical thinking is at the core of the Modern History Examination, whereby 50% of the examination involves two essay questions focused on students developing higher order judgements in relation to the National Study of Russia and Conflict in Europe.

And our favourite question, to develop our reading culture at Rosebank College: Danielle has just finished reading Night by Elie Wiesel.