The Lyrebird Word

Curriculum- Teaching and Learning 

If you wish to hear more about curriculum, teaching and learning across our school, please contact: 

 

Melinda Rowe

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Pedagogy

m: 0467 290 948

melinda.rowe@education.vic.gov.au

School Wide Teaching and Learning

In each edition of our school newsletter, we share with our community an insight into the curriculum being taught within our classrooms. This reflects our school's strong focus upon continuous improvement. 

 

Each edition covers a different area of the curriculum, and is supported by our school-wide approaches to teaching and learning. 

 

In this edition we provide you with some information regarding the teaching of Literacy in the junior years.

 

At Upwey South Primary School, we’re committed to ensuring every child becomes a confident, capable reader. To achieve this, we use the MultiLit suite of programs, which provide both whole-class instruction and targeted support to meet the diverse needs of our learners.

 

What is MultiLit?

MultiLit stands for “Making Up Lost Time in Literacy” and is backed by decades of research in how children learn to read. It offers a range of programs designed to support all learners—from those just beginning their reading journey to those needing extra help to catch up.

 

Whole-Class Teaching with InitiaLit

In the early years (Foundation to Year Two), all students at our school take part in InitiaLit. This is a structured, whole-class literacy program that teaches essential reading skills explicitly and systematically.

InitiaLit combines phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and spelling instruction, ensuring every student builds a solid foundation in literacy from the beginning. Because it’s taught to the whole class, all students benefit from high-quality teaching while allowing teachers to spot and support those who may need extra help early on.

 

Targeted Support with MiniLit and MacqLit

For students who need further support beyond the classroom program, we offer:

  • MiniLit (for Foundation to Year 2): A small-group intervention program that reinforces core reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.

  • MacqLit (for Year 3 and up): A program designed for older students who are still developing their reading skills, focusing on decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension.

These targeted programs are delivered by our two tutors, Amanda Oakley and Shar Stjerne, and provide structured, personalised instruction to help students catch up and gain confidence.

 

Why It Works

What makes the MultiLit approach so effective is its evidence-based design. The programs are clear, systematic, and responsive to students’ individual progress. Lessons are practical, engaging, and built around the science of how children learn to read best.

 

The Results

We’ve seen strong improvements in reading outcomes across all year levels. Students become more fluent, accurate readers—and just as importantly, they begin to enjoy reading and feel proud of their progress. InitiaLit gives every student the best start, and MiniLit and MacqLit ensure no one is left behind.

 

For more detailed information on Literacy within the classroom, please read through the year level pages. 

Opportunities for students to challenge and enrich their learning are available through the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series. The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) provides funded extension activities for high-ability students in Victorian government schools from Prep to Year 12. Within the series, education expert partners are delivering a suite of face-to-face and virtual incursions and excursions, such as workshops, tutorials, conferences, lectures and competitions, across all areas of the curriculum that are free of charge. 

 

For activities available, please see the following link:

https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/channels/VCES

 

Some of the activities on offer