Our Prep Teachers Kellie White and Stephanie Hall hosted a Parent Education Session on Thursday 27 February 2025 for Prep and Year 1 families, focusing on the critical role of literacy in the early years of education.
During this session, parents explored the significance of using Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL) strategies and decodable texts, learning about how these approaches not only support the development of strong literacy skills but also create a positive, enjoyable learning experience. From different ways to play with letter writing to why it’s important to learn sounds first, parents left with a series of practical strategies that they can use to support their learners at home!
Why Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL)?
Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL) in action is a dynamic and engaging approach that supports individualised learning journeys. Each lesson begins with a whole-class review of previously taught sounds, ensuring students build on prior knowledge before introducing a new sound. The approach is flexible, with students learning in different spaces and with like-minded peers, allowing for personalised instruction. Teachers adapt the pace and content to suit the needs of each student, creating a fluid learning environment. Ongoing assessments at the end of each LLLL stage ensure that progress is tracked and instruction is adjusted accordingly. Formal handwriting practice is also integrated into the program, helping to build muscle memory and strengthen students’ writing skills.
During the session, our teachers also touched upon the Heggerty Program. The Heggerty Program is an excellent resource that aligns with these principles and is a cornerstone of our early literacy instruction.
- Phonemic Awareness Focus: The program emphasises phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words. This skill is a fundamental building block for both reading and spelling. Mastery of phonemic awareness is proven to help children become more effective readers and spellers, laying the foundation for future literacy success.
- Daily Lessons: The Heggerty Program provides short, daily lessons that are designed to be engaging and effective. Each lesson lasts about 10 minutes, fitting seamlessly into existing literacy instruction. This short, focused time helps children stay engaged and develop their skills consistently.
- Research-Based: The program is built on the latest research from the Science of Reading, which shows how essential phonemic awareness and systematic phonics instruction are for early literacy development. By using a research-based approach, we ensure that our students are receiving the most effective and up-to-date methods for learning to read and write.
Thank you to everyone who could attend this informative session! Without a doubt, staff emphasised that developing strong literacy skills early is crucial to build a strong foundation for both academic and emotional success. Following this important presentation, our Deputy Head of Junior School, Sarah McKenzie, observed:
At TKS, our students are self-confident, motivated to engage and our teacher’s approach is personalised to every student. LLLL and decodable texts provide a research-backed, systematic approach to ensure our students master reading in the early stages of their learning journey. Through explicit phonics instruction and programs such as Heggerty, we ensure that students have the necessary tools to succeed, making reading an empowering experience.
By continuing to support these approaches at home, parents can help their children develop strong, confident literacy skills that will benefit them for years to come.
