The Age reports phonics skills test to be mandated in Victoria
You will have all heard of the buzz word ‘phonics’ and for good reason. Put simply, phonics is the relationship between sounds in speech and letter patterns in written words. If children don’t grasp this skill, they will not become fluent readers.
For years, Victorian schools have used a balanced literacy approach to reading. However, recent studies have proven the most effective way to learn to read is through explicit and sequential teaching. This means providing children with the skill to decode any word through letter sound knowledge.
As reported in the Age, the Victorian government has announced as of 2023, there will be a mandatory phonics screening check for all Grade 1 students. It is an effective way of identifying students who are struggling with reading and need intervention or further assessment.
This highlights the positive affect phonics has on a child’s reading ability and the importance of children being exposed to the skill of decoding at the beginning of their learning journey. ’Dr Jordana Hunter, program director of education at the Grattan Institute, said a failure to identify students with reading difficulties early could lead to lifelong struggles.’ The Age, 2022.
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