Learning and Teaching

In June 2024 Minister for Education, Ben Carroll announced that all students from Prep to Year 2 will be taught using a systematic synthetic phonics approach as part of their reading programs, with a minimum of 25 minutes daily explicit teaching of phonics. This followed the widely publicised launch of the MACS Vision for Instruction, a seven-year strategic plan for Catholic schools in Melbourne.

What does phonics instruction look like at St. Justin’s?

Phonics is typically taught using a structured, systematic approach, which focuses on building foundational reading skills. Phonics instruction is often integrated with broader literacy development, focusing on students' ability to decode words by understanding the relationship between letters and sounds, with some notable aspects.

Systematic Synthetic Phonics

Teaching children to read by blending sounds (phonemes) together to form words and to write by segmenting sounds. This approach introduces sounds in a specific sequence and uses strategies to help children recognize, blend, and manipulate sounds in words.

Explicit Instruction and Practice

Teachers provide direct instruction on specific sounds, including digraphs, trigraphs, and common sound patterns. Lessons are structured to allow for repeated practice and reinforce students' understanding through engaging activities, such as interactive games, songs, and reading exercises.

Use of Phonics Programs

Teachers use aspects of different programs, providing a stematic and sequential phonics curriculum, instead of relying  on one program, or a ‘one fits all’ approach. They typically include multi-sensory learning methods and resources for differentiated instruction, catering to various student needs.

Integration with Literacy Activities 

Phonics skills are reinforced in reading and writing activities, with a focus on applying phonics knowledge to build fluency and comprehension. For example, students might use phonics-based readers or engage in writing activities that encourage the application of learned sounds.

Faith-Based Context

In Catholic schools, literacy instruction, including phonics, may sometimes incorporate themes of faith or reflect the school's values, using reading materials or examples that align with Catholic teachings.

This approach aims to develop confident, fluent readers who can independently decode new words and ultimately improve their overall literacy skills.

Laura Leung

Learning and Teaching