Reading and Writing
Literacy (reading and writing) is taught every day in every class, both in focused reading and writing sessions but also integrated into other subjects during inquiry learning.
Structured Literacy
At Pakuranga Heights we use a structured literacy approach to the teaching and learning of literacy. Structured Literacy instruction is the umbrella term used by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) to describe evidence-based programmes and approaches that are effective for students with dyslexia.
A Structured Literacy approach explicitly teaches systematic word identification and decoding strategies
A structured literacy approach provides:
- explicit, systematic, and sequential teaching of literacy at multiple levels – phonemes, letter–sound relationships, syllable patterns, morphemes, vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraph structure, and text structure
- cumulative practice and ongoing review
- a high level of student–teacher interaction
- decodable texts
- prompt, corrective feedback
The following video from CORE explains the science of reading
The Science of Reading, Explained from CORE® on Vimeo.
What it looks like at our school:
Year 1:
Guided Reading:
- All Year 1’s are seen in a guided reading group which follows a structured literacy approach
- For these guided groups we use the Little Learners Love Literacy resources
- Children are seen in a group with other children who are working on the same stage
Year 2 and Year 3:
Guided Reading:
- Those children who are still working on Little Learners begin in a guided reading group which follows a structured literacy approach at the stage they were identified as the previous year
- In Year 2 for these guided groups we continue to use the Little Learners Love Literacy resources, in Year 3 we use the Sunshine resources to keep interest levels up
- Children are seen in a group with other children who are working on the same stage
- Once children complete the Little Learners or Sunshine programme they are moved onto the colour wheel and seen in a colour wheel guided reading group
Year 4 Upwards:
Guided Reading:
- Those children who are still working on Little Learners or Sunshine resources will be supported in a learning support reading group which follows a structured literacy approach at the stage they were identified as the previous year
The Code:
- The intended outcome of teaching The Code is for students to apply their knowledge of letter sound relationships, spelling patterns and irregular spellings, accurately, automatically and fluently when spelling, writing and reading
- Code teaching takes place every day as part of the Literacy programme, for approximately 10 minutes, and focuses more directly on the spelling and writing aspects of Literacy learning
- Children may be taught The Code as a whole class (more likely in the Junior School) and then in smaller groups as their alphabetic code needs are more varied and wide reaching (Middle and Senior School)
