Learning
A big thank you to our Learning Specialists, Jacqui Van (Foundation), Kaitlin Baker (Years 1 & 2), and Nikki Kent (Years 3–6), who organised and led our recent parent information session on how we teach reading at Balambalam. We also thank the families who attended and engaged so positively in the session. It was wonderful to see such strong partnership between home and school.
During the session, we shared how learning to read is made up of several important parts. These include oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Each of these areas works together to help children become confident and successful readers.
A key focus of the session was phonics , helping children learn the connection between sounds and letters so they can read and spell words. We shared how students are explicitly taught these skills each day, particularly in the early years, using our Little Learners Love Literacy program .
We also spoke about the importance of reading regularly at home. Even 10–15 minutes each day makes a significant difference. When reading becomes part of a daily routine, it helps children build confidence, improve their reading skills and develop a love of reading.
What to do at home:
Read every night (10–15 minutes)
Listen to your child read and read together.
If your child gets stuck:
- say the sounds
- blend the sounds
ask: “Does that make sense?”
Talk about the story:
- What is happening?
Who is in the story?
Keep it positive!
Reading should feel calm, safe and enjoyable.
Thank you to the families who have already completed the feedback form following our parent session.
We welcome feedback from all families, even if you were unable to attend. Your feedback helps us improve and plan future sessions to better support our community.
If you have not yet completed the form, we encourage you to take a few minutes to share your thoughts.
Click here for the feedback survey
Warm regards,
Daniel Wragg
Assistant Principal - Curriculum