Literacy

Reading

Phonics, Phonemic Awareness and Early Reading 

Our approach to reading instruction is anchored in the principles of Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) and Structured Literacy (SL). These evidence-based methods align with the National Reading Panel’s research and the broader Science of Reading framework. They encompass the Big Six components of literacy, ensuring a comprehensive and effective learning experience. In the Early Years, this approach is assisted by the students reading decodable books in the classroom and at home, as take home books.

At Kingswood, we are passionate about fostering a love for learning and this is largely cultivated by explicitly teaching children how to read. Developing this love opens doors to new worlds, nurtures critical thinking, and creates lifelong learners who are active and informed global citizens.

Engaging In Explicit Instruction

Our teachers explicitly teach reading skills and strategies using the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model to meet the needs of the individual and the class. This targeted approach enhances fluent word recognition and language comprehension. We leverage pedagogies from Harvard – Project Zero to facilitate strategy groups and rich discussions about books. This enhances students’ critical thinking skills, necessary for profound engagement with texts.

At Kingswood, we are committed to guiding each student on their journey to becoming a proficient, confident, and enthusiastic reader. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities that reading brings to our lives.

Writing

At Kingswood Primary School, we cultivate writers with a deep understanding of high-quality writing through the “6 + 1 Traits of Writing framework.” These traits—Voice, Organization, Ideas, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Presentation—form the core of our writing curriculum. Students gain exposure to the distinct structures required for various types of texts, enriching their ability to write with purpose and clarity.

Engaging In Explicit Instruction

Our teaching methods are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our students. Explicit instruction for the whole class is delivered through modelled and shared writing, ensuring foundational concepts are clearly understood. For more personalised attention, we conduct guided writing sessions and one-on-one teacher conferences to address individual and small-group needs.

Grammar and punctuation are integral to our curriculum, taught in whole class settings and small group sessions, depending on the students’ needs.

Beyond the fundamental traits, we engage students in Scaffolding Literacy—an approach where they learn to decode the subtle language patterns and word choices authors use to convey emotions and intentions. By studying high-quality mentor texts, students learn to emulate the stylistic language features that enhance the impact of written words, gradually incorporating these techniques into their writing.

Additionally, we support the development of spelling conventions and handwriting skills through Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) instruction. This method leverages visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic-tactile pathways to improve the retention and learning of written language, ensuring a holistic development in our students’ writing abilities. As students develop their spelling of encodable words, we explicitly teach spelling patterns, morphology, and etymology to enable students to understand the author’s craft of linguistics to engage the audience.

At our school, we are committed to developing skilled, thoughtful writers who not only master the mechanics of writing but also appreciate its power to communicate and persuade.