Magnify 

Teaching Reading and Writing in the Junior areas

A major element of the Magnify Sandhurst initiative is improving literacy outcomes through a system-wide Structured Literacy Approach. In partnership with MultiLit, our structured phonics-based literacy program teaches reading and writing by explicitly connecting sounds (phonemes) with letters or groups of letters (graphemes). It is designed to build strong foundational skills in early literacy through the following key elements:

1. Systematic Instruction: Lessons follow a clear, logical sequence – from simple to complex – ensuring students master basic sound-letter relationships before progressing to move advanced concepts.

2. Explicit Teaching: Teachers clearly model and explain each phonics concept, leaving no room for guesswork. Students are guided through practice with immediate feedback.

3. Synthetic Phonics: Students learn to blend individual sounds to read words (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ = “cat”) and segment words into sounds to spell them.

4. Decodable Texts: Reading materials are carefully matched to the phonics skills students have learned, allowing them to apply their knowledge with confidence.

5. Multisensory Learning: Activities engage multiple senses – seeing, hearing, saying, and writing – to reinforce learning and support different learning styles.

6. Assessment and Differentiation: Regular assessments help identity student progress and guide targeted support for those who need extra help.

This approach ensures all students, including those at risk of reading difficulties, develop the essential skills to become confident, fluent readers.