Our Literacy block each day is divided into two one-hour sessions: Core Literacy and Applied Literacy.

In Core Literacy, students learn the essential skills needed to read and write, including:

Letter knowledge
Phonics – Sounds-Write program
Phonemic awareness – the ability to segment, blend and manipulate sounds
High-frequency words – learning to read and spell commonly used words
Phonological awareness - hear and manipulate sounds in spoken language
Reading decodable texts
Paired Fluency – reading at an appropriate speed with accuracy
Handwriting

Applied Literacy focuses on exposing students to rich texts and developing their writing skills. Sentence structure and vocabulary are taught explicitly, and students apply their growing skills and knowledge through the Information, Narrative, and Persuasive genres.

Year 1 and 2 Take Home Readers

We are excited to share our take-home reading routine for Year 1 and 2 students to support your child’s reading development at home. Take Home Readers need to be returned to school everyday as students will be reading them in class. All books will be changed every Monday.

Initial Code Readers- Students who are working on the Initial Code will take home:

Two decodable books each week.

Extended Code Readers- Students who have mastered the Initial Code and are working on the Extended Code will take home:

Two Extended Code books
One non-fiction book
One free-choice book

Students who are bringing home a non-fiction text to support their growing reading skills and knowledge are encouraged to practise decoding words independently, however your support may be needed with more complex vocabulary and unfamiliar concepts. This is a great opportunity to explore your child’s interests and enjoy learning about the world together.

All students will have a reading log, where they will write the names of their books for the week. We kindly ask parents and carers to listen to their child read 3–4 times per week and initial the days in the reading log once your child has read.

We understand how busy family life can be, so reading 3–4 days a week is our goal. If you are able to read more often, that’s wonderful!

Thank you for your continued support in helping your child develop strong reading skills. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD

To support your child at home, you can help them by:

· Ask, “What do you think this book will be about?” before reading, and ask them to say why they think this.

· Help them decode unfamiliar words by saying, “Can you say the sounds and blend to read the word? I can help you if you need.”

· Give them the definition of any new vocabulary words – avoid asking them to guess what it means.

· Talk about the pictures, diagrams, or labels

· Ask questions like, “What’s something new you learned?” or “Why do you think that’s important”

· Link the information to real-life experiences (e.g. visits to the zoo, weather, animals, machines, family holidays)

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
1A- Mrs Vella & Ms Forrest	Performing Arts	Sport	Spanish & Visual Art	Library	STEM
1B- Ms Brigid		Spanish & Performing Arts	Visual Arts	Sport	STEM & Library
2A- Mrs Krajacic & Miss P	Sport	Visual Arts	STEM & Spanish	Performing Arts & Library
2B- Ms Jade		STEM	Performing Arts	Library & Spanish	Visual Arts & Sport
2C- Ms Cinnamon	Spanish	Performing Arts	Sport & Library	STEM	Visual Arts

Specialists Timetable