The students in grade Prep are taught the letter sounds through the Jolly Phonics program. This is a fun and child centred approach to teaching, with actions for each of the 42 letter sounds. Jolly Phonics teaches children the key skills for reading and writing. Students are taught how to blend the sounds together to read and write new words.

 

Developing confident and capable readers is a key priority at Tarwin Lower Primary School. Our reading program provides students with the skills, strategies and support they need to become successful readers and lifelong learners.

Students in Prep begin their reading journey through the Jolly Phonics program, learning letter sounds, blending and segmenting through engaging, multi-sensory activities. This provides a strong foundation for reading and writing success.

Across the school, students participate in daily reading instruction focused on decoding, fluency and comprehension. Reading fluency is developed through evidence-based practices such as partner reading, echo reading and choral reading, helping students improve their accuracy, expression and confidence.

Small-group reading sessions allow teachers to target students' individual needs and teach strategies that strengthen comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to engage with a wide range of quality literature and respond thoughtfully to what they read.

For students requiring additional support, targeted literacy intervention is provided through Jolly Phonics and Sounds-Write. These structured programs explicitly teach phonics, phonemic awareness, decoding and spelling skills, helping students build strong foundations for reading success.

Reading is encouraged both at school and at home, helping students develop fluency, comprehension and a lifelong love of books.