Dear Parents/Carers,

This term our professional development focus for staff has been on the Science of Reading. 

The "Science of Reading" is a body of research that explains how children learn to read  and how to best teach them. It emphasises the importance of explicit, systematic instruction in foundational skills like phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency alongside vocabulary and comprehension. 

Key concepts for parents: 

Phonemic Awareness: This involves understanding that spoken words are made up of individual sounds (phonemes) Activities like identifying the first sound in a word or rhyming words can help with this skill. 

Phonics: This is the understanding of the relationships between letters and sounds and how to use these relationships to decode (read) words. Explicit instruction on letter-sound correspondences is crucial. 

Fluency: This is the ability to read words accurately and quickly with appropriate expression. Reading aloud regularly, especially with a finger under the words, can help build fluency. 

Vocabulary: This refers to a child's understanding of words and their meanings. Engaging in conversation, reading a variety of texts and exploring new words can expand vocabulary. 

Comprehension: This is the ability to understand what has been read. Talking about the book after reading, asking questions and summarising the story can enhance comprehension. 

We have had two reading masterclasses and are poised for our third in a few weeks time. Our Prep to 2 staff reps have reviewed and revised our Prep to 2 Phonics Scope and Sequence. Next week our Year 3 to 6 staff reps will be spending some time to develop our word study scope and sequence.  In the next newsletter, I will outline some strategies parents/carers can use at home to support their child's reading in alignment with the Science of Reading. 

Have a good week,

Kathy