Literacy involves an understanding of language and the ability to use it effectively to access knowledge, play an active part in society and contribute to personal growth. Listening, talking, reading and writing are the language processes through which students make meaning.
Children’s experience of literacy is very dependent on the interactions that they have with print and language in their home and other significant environments such as school. Teachers provide a range of experiences to enable students to develop literacy skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The foundations for literacy success in the more formal environment of school are well and truly laid through children’s home and early childhood experiences.
At Leeming Primary School, we use a range of resources to plan effective literacy programs. The Australian English Curriculum describes the content to be taught at each year level. The Early Years Learning Framework provides guidance in kindergarten for the teaching of key literacy skills. The First Steps Literacy Resource, developed by West Australian educators, is used to plan, teach and assess student’s literacy development. The resource identifies key understandings at different phases of development to becoming literate. It also describes the major teaching emphases for each of the phases to inform the teaching and learning program so that teachers are able to help students make progress in literacy.
We have high expectations for our students that they will begin to read and write with confidence in pre-primary. Our use of a synthetic phonics approach has a significant impact on children’s early reading and spelling skills. The value of reading to your child every day cannot be underestimated.