At Undurba State School, we have a Structured Approach to Literacy, with explicit literacy instruction in English lessons, as well as opportunities for application and practise of literacy knowledge and skills interwoven in other learning areas. A balanced, structured approach to literacy involves a range of components including structured synthetic phonics, shared and dialogic reading, writing and handwriting.
“Reading has the power to change lives. It plays an essential role in learning, securing a job and being an active and engaged member of society. Reading provides us with information, knowledge, and makes us aware of people and places beyond our immediate circles. Learning foundational reading skills supports wellbeing and can translate to a love of reading and literature. As so much of our world rapidly changes around us, learning to read remains of the most essential outcomes of schooling." (Reading Position Statement, Qld Dept of Education)
Our beliefs and understandings about literacy
- Oral language is foundational for all learning and critical in learning to read, and for becoming literate.
- Reading is an essential skill for lifelong learning.
- Reading is more than just recognising words. Reading is also about deriving or constructing meaning from different types of texts, created for different purposes.
- As humans, we are not born with natural ability to read and write. These skills require explicit instruction and repeated, purposeful practice with increasingly complex texts in order to become skilled and literate users of texts.
- Literacy instruction, including reading, can and should take place in all learning areas of the Australian Curriculum, using evidence informed practices.
- There is reciprocity in learning to read and learning to write. The Australian Curriculum V9 recognises the interrelated nature of reading and writing, and their dependence on mastery of similar knowledge and skills.