English

Introduction

At Rosanna Primary School, we prioritise literacy education recognising its crucial role in academic success for all students. Our commitment is to ensure every child develops the skills and knowledge to read, write, and communicate effectively in English through evidence-based instruction. We take a systematic and sequenced approach, supporting continuous growth from the early years to later grades. This approach helps students build strong literacy foundations that support success across all subjects. As students master essential skills, they build confidence, develop a love for learning, and the resilience to face new learning challenges.

A Look into the Curriculum

Our curriculum is built on evidence-based teaching and learning principles and theoretical models. Guided by Scarborough’s Reading Rope and cognitive science, we know that proficient reading and writing come from the integration of oral language skills, alphabetic principles, and knowledge of language structures.

Our Reading Curriculum

Our reading curriculum is founded on two key elements:

  1. Word Recognition
    • Phonological Awareness
    • Decoding
    • Sight Words (words that are recognised instantly)
  2. Language Comprehension
    • Background Knowledge
    • Vocabulary
    • Language Structures
    • Verbal Reasoning
    • Literacy Knowledge

Word recognition must be mastered to develop fluency and free cognitive space for comprehension. Language comprehension begins before formal reading, through oral language and listening, but requires explicit and intentional instruction for students to progress beyond spoken language into more complex texts.

Our Writing Curriculum

Writing instruction builds on the skills developed in reading, with a focus on transcription and ideation:

  1. Transcription
    • Handwriting
    • Spelling (encoding)
    • Punctuation
    • Grammar/Syntax
  2. Ideation
    • Idea Generation
    • Word Choice
    • Content Creation
    • Text Structure
    • Genre Understanding

Phonics instruction plays a crucial role in literacy development. Our approach follows a synthetic phonics scope and sequence, expanding from phonology and orthography to a deeper study of morphology, etymology, and a stronger focus on spelling in the upper years.

Listening and speaking are essential for language comprehension, with rich literature and informative texts helping students expand their vocabulary, understand different text types, and engage with language devices.

Learning in Our Classrooms

At Rosanna Primary School, students engage in daily two-hour literacy blocks. Each lesson includes various components tailored to different year levels:

  • Daily review of previous skills
  • Phonics/Spelling
  • Fluency Development
  • Handwriting/Typing
  • Grammar/Syntax
  • Vocabulary Building
  • Literature Study (including background knowledge, language structures, and verbal reasoning)
  • Writing Response (Years 3-6)

Lessons follow the principles of explicit instruction:

  • Clear Learning Intentions and Goals
  • Guided Practice
  • Active Participation
  • Checking for Understanding (formative assessment)
  • Timely and Effective Feedback
  • Independent Practice

Active participation and formative assessments ensure dynamic classrooms. Students engage in activities such as using mini whiteboards, sharing with partners, and responding to questions. These strategies enable teachers to monitor understanding, provide feedback and differentiate tasks before independent practice, and adjust lessons as needed—either reteaching or advancing more quickly.