In 2023 we introduced ‘The Better Start Literacy Approach’ (BSLA) to teach early literacy in the Pōhutukawa classrooms (Year 1 through to 3). In 2026 we have extended BSLA to cover the Year 4 through to 6. This is because we want a whole school approach to support every child with the ability to read well and develop a love of reading.
Evidence-Based Literacy Teaching
This approach comes from the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute and is a structured literacy approach, specifically designed to support New Zealand students in their beginning years at school. It teaches phonological awareness (sound knowledge) in a systematic way through targeted and explicit instruction of sounds, games and fun activities.
In class, we will share exciting story books that will
help to grow the number of new and interesting
words that your children can use and understand
when talking. We will also be playing games that
develop your child’s phonological knowledge and
their awareness of the sounds within words. This
area is particularly important to help your child
learn to read and spell.
Evidence-Based Literacy Teaching
This approach comes from the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute and is a structured literacy approach, specifically designed to support New Zealand students in their beginning years at school. It teaches phonological awareness (sound knowledge) in a systematic way through targeted and explicit instruction of sounds, games and fun activities.
In class, we will share exciting story books that will
help to grow the number of new and interesting
words that your children can use and understand
when talking. We will also be playing games that
develop your child’s phonological knowledge and
their awareness of the sounds within words. This
area is particularly important to help your child
learn to read and spell.
Children will receive:
- daily phonics instruction, targeted to their needs
- small group reading instruction
- regular assessment and tracking
- daily phonics instruction, targeted to their needs
- small group reading instruction
- regular assessment and tracking
The Better Start Literacy Approach uses carefully chosen texts to provide opportunities to practice reading. The words in the books are closely related
to the letters and sounds, and words we are teaching in class.
There will be lots of opportunities to practice sounding out
words made from letters and sounds that they know or are learning.
This will build their confidence and skill as readers.
Kupu Māori in the Ready to Read Phonics Plus booksThe books are designed to teach the reading of English, and the letter-sound correspondences in English. The kupu Māori is introduced, alongside other English high utility words and children will use their knowledge of known letter sound patterns as well as visual recognition and meaning to help them read the words.
to the letters and sounds, and words we are teaching in class.
There will be lots of opportunities to practice sounding out
words made from letters and sounds that they know or are learning.
This will build their confidence and skill as readers.
Kupu Māori in the Ready to Read Phonics Plus booksThe books are designed to teach the reading of English, and the letter-sound correspondences in English. The kupu Māori is introduced, alongside other English high utility words and children will use their knowledge of known letter sound patterns as well as visual recognition and meaning to help them read the words.
How You Can Help at Home
Your child will not bring home a book every night to read, however there are many ways to support your child's early reading development:
Your child will not bring home a book every night to read, however there are many ways to support your child's early reading development:
- there may be a sound/letter or words sent home with your child to
practise - games can be played that support
what is being taught in the classroom - make some sound tiles with milk
bottle lids to use for manipulation
activities or practising sounds. For
example, b a t is bat, b e t is bet. - practice reading the poem
that your child brings home each Friday - read picture books together and talk about the story
- reading library books with them.