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Introducing UFLI Foundations and Word Origins

At Valkstone Primary School, we are committed to providing every student with the strongest possible foundation in literacy. This year, we are excited to introduce two evidence-based programs to further enhance our English curriculum:

• UFLI Foundations (Prep – Year 2)
• Word Origins (Year 3 – Year 6)

These programs have been carefully selected to support the development of confident, capable readers and writers across all year levels.

UFLI Foundations (Prep – Year 2)

In our early years classrooms, students are now participating in UFLI Foundations, a systematic and explicit phonics program developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute.

UFLI Foundations is a structured literacy program that teaches students how sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes) work together to form words. It provides clear, step-by-step instruction in:

• Letter–sound relationships

• Blending sounds to read words

• Segmenting sounds to spell words

• Reading and spelling irregular “heart words”

• Developing automatic word recognition

   

Lessons are explicit, engaging, and cumulative — meaning each new concept builds on previously learned skills. Students have multiple opportunities to practise reading and spelling, helping to build fluency and confidence.

Word Origins (Year 3 – Year 6)

As students move into the middle and upper primary years, literacy instruction shifts from learning to read toward reading to learn. To support this transition, we have introduced Word Origins for students in Years 3–6.

Word Origins is a structured word study program that focuses on morphology (the study of word parts), etymology (the history and origin of words), and advanced spelling patterns.

Students explore:

• Greek and Latin roots

• Prefixes and suffixes

• How word parts change meaning

• The structure of complex vocabulary

• Spelling rules and patterns

By understanding how words are constructed, students become more confident spellers and develop a deeper understanding of vocabulary across all subject areas.

Together, UFLI Foundations and Word Origins provide a clear, developmental pathway in literacy:

• Prep – Year 2: Building strong decoding and encoding skills through systematic phonics instruction
• Year 3 – Year 6: Expanding vocabulary, spelling knowledge, and word analysis skills

These programs align with current research into the Science of Reading and reflect our commitment to evidence-informed practice.