Decodable texts are used as take-home readers and are matched to each student’s point of need, only including letters and sounds that the student has learned. There is a strong focus on phonemic awareness (listening to sounds and patterns in words) and phonics (matching letters or letter combinations to the sounds that they make).

Decodable texts are used alongside other texts — picture story books, audio texts, novels, information texts — as part of a comprehensive reading program targeting the “Big 6” of reading instruction:

Oral language

Phonological awareness

Phonics

Vocabulary

Fluency

Comprehension

Students also have the opportunity to borrow books that interest them from our school library and the visiting MARC van library. Knowledge-rich units are used across all year levels to develop vocabulary and comprehension, often connected to relevant themes that are also explored in writing, science, health, history or geography lessons.