Structured Literacy

Science of Reading 

2021 Curriculum Evening: Structured Literacy

At Sunnyhills we follow a Structured literacy approach for our teaching of the English Curriculum.  A Structured Literacy approach is a highly explicit and systematic way of  teaching all important components of literacy. These components include both foundational skills (e.g., decoding, spelling, handwriting and letter formation) and higher-level literacy skills (e.g., reading comprehension, written expression). 

We have invested in the Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL) decodable texts, the Heggerty Phonological Awareness Programme and David Kilpatrick's Phonological activities too.  The Ministry of Education's new Ready to Read, Phonics Plus readers will be used in the scope and sequence that we have adopted from the LLLL programme.

We offer visits for Educators to share our learning once a term.  Please click the link below to book a visit. 

Visits in 2023 will be limited to 25 per visit on:

Term 1 Week 8: Tuesday 21 March   FULL

Term 2 Week 9: Tuesday 20 June  FULL

Term 3 Week 8: Tuesday 5 September FULL

Term 4 Week 4: Tuesday 31 October Full email principal@sunnyhills.school.nz for a waitlist option if this arises

Our Structured Literacy resources can be purchased via our TpT store below

Our Structured Literacy resources can be purchased via our TpT store

All our staff at Sunnyhills are included in professional learning and development with Dr Christine Braid of Massey University to learn about the 44 sounds and over 170+ spelling patterns.  This is a school wide approach that is explicit and systematic.

We have a school wide spelling programme that is based on The Code by Liz Kane.  We utilise assessments for placing learners at particular levels/lists so that they can learn the patterns they are missing that is evident through our assessment.

Heart Word Magic Overview.mp4