Literacy
At ACPS, we are committed to developing confident, capable readers and writers through a structured and evidence-informed literacy program. Our approach builds strong foundational skills in the early years and supports students to become increasingly independent and thoughtful readers and writers as they progress through the school.
Junior School (Foundation–Year 2)
Students participate in a daily literacy block, typically held each morning.
The literacy block begins with Phonics Plus, where students develop essential foundational reading and spelling skills through explicit instruction in letter-sound relationships, decoding, encoding, handwriting, and high-frequency words.
Following Phonics Plus, students engage in authentic literacy learning experiences designed to support:
- · Reading behaviours and early reading strategies
- · Reading fluency and accuracy
- · Beginning reading comprehension skills
- · Handwriting development
- · Writing skills aligned with the Victorian Curriculum
Writing is taught within a specific genre, allowing students to learn how different types of texts are organised and written for different purposes. Students have regular opportunities to practise and apply new skills in meaningful writing tasks.
Senior School (Years 3–6)
As students become more proficient readers, the focus shifts towards applying effective reading behaviours to deepen comprehension and understanding.
During reading lessons, students:
- · Learn and apply a range of reading comprehension strategies
- · Use authentic texts to practise their reading skills
- · Record their thinking and reflections in their Reader’s Notebooks
- · Develop reading fluency by working on accuracy, rate, expression, and comprehension
Reader’s Notebooks play an important role in helping students actively engage with texts, monitor their understanding, and make connections with their reading.
In writing, students continue to develop the knowledge and skills outlined in the Victorian Curriculum. These skills are taught and practised within a range of genres, helping students understand how writers make different choices depending on their purpose and intended audience. Students are encouraged to apply newly learned skills in authentic and purposeful writing tasks.
Students also participate in weekly spelling lessons, which target spelling patterns, word knowledge, and language conventions aligned with the Victorian Curriculum.
Our Goal
Across all year levels, our literacy program aims to foster a love of reading and writing while equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to communicate effectively, think critically, and succeed as lifelong learners.
