Without knowledge of letter-sound (grapheme/phoneme) correspondences, learners lack the ability to recognise and produce known words and learn new ones when reading and writing (Hordacre, Moretti and Spoehr, 2017). Informed by the latest in reading research and best practice, LiteracyPlanet understands that learning to read and write requires an understanding of how letters and combinations of letters make up particular sounds and words. National Curriculum in England: English Programmes of Study: Key Stages 1 and 2 United Kingdom – Key Stages 1 and 2 English program outlines that development of word reading, spelling and language skills requires a rigorous and systematic phonics program.Australian Curriculum: English Foundation to Year 10 Australia – F – 2 Learning Area Content Descriptors (ACARA) include Alphabet and Phonic Knowledge as a core element of language and literacy acquisition in the Foundation to Year 2 years.Common Core Standards and Best Practices: Phonics and Word Recognition United States – K – 3 Common Core Standards (CCSS) outlines that an explicit, systematic approach to teaching phonics and word recognition skills is foundational to reading development in the child’s later years.
The following outlines government curriculum documents that pinpoint the teaching of a structured and systematic phonics and sight words program in early childhood education: These curriculum documents are informed by research which highlights how an explicit and systematic phonics program that includes whole word recognition is central for teaching children to become expert readers (Castles, Rastle and Nation, 2018). Every comprehensive government review of reading instruction, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, outline that a cohesive and explicit literacy program – one that includes the development of phonemic awareness and word recognition in conjunction with the reading of whole texts – is essential for reading acquisition.
Why is a Phonics and Sight Words program important?Īn explicit, systematic approach to the teaching of phonics and word recognition skills is recognised as foundational to reading and writing development.