Literacy Instruction 

Supporting Literacy Learning at Home 

Following the Parent Information Sessions about the new Literacy instruction approach through a program called InitiaLit, a number of valuable ‘wonderings’ were shared. We will continue to share these ‘wonderings’ and frequently asked questions through this segment of the inewsletter.

What system / program did LNPS use prior to InitiaLit? What is the difference? 

Prior to InitiaLit, Reception teachers implemented workshops focussing on phonological awareness skills. The Jolly Phonics (another phonics program) scope and sequence was followed and their resources used when teaching letters and sounds (phonics).

In years 1 and 2, workshops were implemented using the Words Their Way program, which is another excellent instructional program focussing on the teachings of spelling knowledges, and inquiring into vocabulary. Through active exploration, word study teaches students to examine words to discover generalisations about English spelling. They learn the regularities, patterns, and conventions of English orthography needed to read and spell. This is important for when we encounter a new word, do not know how to spell a word or the specific meaning of a word. The better our knowledge of the system, the better we are at reading unfamiliar words, spelling correctly or interpreting the meanings of words. Word study increases SPECIFIC knowledge of words - the spellings and meanings of individual words. This program is still explicitly taught and implemented at LNPS in Years 3-7. 

The difference between the programs is that InitiaLit is an  evidence-based approach to reading and spelling that is aligned with the Australian Curriculum. It encompasses all components of the Big 6 of reading, and is a synthetic approach to the teaching of phonics alongside a rich literature and vocabulary component. The decodable readers aligned to each “set” of letters and sounds are sequenced to support beginning readers to achieve success in reading.

This week your child, in Year 1 and Year 2 will begin to bring home a home reading book and their reading diary. Home reading is encouraged every day and can occur in a variety of ways. Children may be reading decodable texts from the InitiaLit program, fiction and non-fiction levelled texts or books of their choice from the library. Teachers will indicate on the top corner of the home reading diary what your child needs to borrow. 

If your child brings home decodable InitiaLit readers, borrowing of these will occur on Mondays and Thursdays to allow students to read their book more than once.  Please make sure that these are returned promptly to allow others to borrow different titles. The school has invested significant funding to purchase new decodable readers. We ask all students/families to treat these resources with care and respect. Please be aware that lost or damaged books will incur a $10 replacement fee.

Library books can be borrowed before/after school and during weekly class borrowing times.

Each term your child will be given a new home reading diary. The diary contains helpful information about reading with your child and some reading and spelling games at the back of the book. Keep a record of the books your child has read aloud to you and record any books that you have read to your child or that they have read independently.  

If you have any questions about the approach to literacy learning through the InitiaLit program please contact the teacher responsible for your child or Rosemary Saxon Assistant Principal R-7.

 rosemary.mcleansaxon@schools.sa.edu.au