Read Write Inc Phonics

Read Write Inc Phonics is a systematic phonics program that teaches early reading and writing skills. During Read Write Inc Phonics lessons students initially learn the most common spellings for English sounds and how to blend them orally to form words. As students progress through the Read Write Inc groups they are introduced to the alternative spellings for the English sounds. Students use their phonic knowledge to read accurately and fluently and develop their spelling skills.

All F-2 students at RDAS participate in targeted Read Write Inc Phonics lessons 4 days a week. Students are assessed on a five/six-week cycle and are grouped with their peers at a similar level.

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness – Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum

All F-2 classes participate in daily Heggerty lessons. These short and engaging, daily phonological and phonemic awareness lessons provide instruction in phonological awareness and progress through to phoneme level.

Explicit instruction is provided in the following skills:

– Rhyming

– Onset Fluency

– Blending

– Isolating final and medial phonemes (sounds)

– Segmenting

– Adding Phonemes

– Deleting Phonemes

– Substituting Phonemes

The Big 6

At RDAS we work to develop effective readers using the Big 6 of reading.

The Big 6 components of reading (oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension) are taught explicitly and are embedded in all learning areas.

 Library borrowing and readers

All students have access to the school library and have the opportunity to borrow a range of both non-fiction and fiction picture books. Students will also borrow decodable readers when developmentally appropriate. These decodable readers are levelled to correspond with students’ Read Write Inc groupings.

SeeSaw – Communication App

We currently use the SeeSaw app as a communication platform between school and home. This app allows us to share photos of your child and their work with you throughout the school day. Direct messaging is also a feature that aids communication between teachers and parents.

Support Programs

Fresh start:

At RDAS we run the literacy intervention program, Freshstart. Selected students in the primary years are tested and grouped on a regular basis to ensure intervention is specifically targeted at their ability level. Students in the Freshstart program develop the following skills:

Reading
· Learn to read accurately through the teaching of sounds and blending
· Learn to read fluently
· Improve their comprehension of texts through predicting, discussing and answering questions

Writing
· Develop a confident handwriting style
· Spell common words with graphemes and suffixes
· Spell common words with unusual graphemes
· Use new vocabulary
· Apply grammar concepts

RWInc. Spelling

Spelling through 3-6 is taught using the RWInc. Spelling program. This is a fast paced, evidence based program that is underpinned by phonics and compliments the RWInc. program in the early years.

Camps

Camps are run on a bi-yearly basis. Year 3-4 students go to Wallaroo and year 5/6 students visit Ankara. All camps are run through Active Education.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Swimming Lessons

Student Leadership

School Camps

SAPSASA Sports

Choir

School Excursions

Sports Day and Swimming Carnival

Instrumental Lessons

End of Year Celebrations