Aug 31 2010
Primary Curriculum — Phonics
Phonics is the relationship between written letters and their sounds. When children are taught phonics they learn how to instantly translate a letter or letter blend (group of letters) into the correct sound in order to read or write accurately.
Phonics has been taught at the ABC for many years. The school uses a systematic approach based on the Jolly Phonics system. It is introduced in Pre-Kinder classes, but is taught explicitly from Kinder onwards.
The Rose Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading (2006) recommended a systematic phonics approach to reading for all primary schools. The report also made a number of suggestions for effective phonics teaching. These included:
- It is part of a broad and rich curriculum that engages children in a range of activities and experiences…
- It is multisensory, encompassing simultaneous visual, auditory and kinaesthetic activities…
- It is systematic…
- It is taught discretely and daily at a brisk pace
- Children’s progress…is carefully assessed and monitored
We are currently looking carefully at our phonics teaching in LP and no doubt the recommendations of this report will be very useful. We will be using new resources and discussing different teaching methods to ensure that our teaching of phonics is up-to-date and effective.
Kinder teachers will be discussing a video about phonics teaching this week, which will be followed by phonics workshops over the next few weeks.
