Kia ora whānau,

This year, Room 7 will be using the iDeaL Structured Literacy approach alongside Ready to Read Phonics Plus books to support your child's reading and spelling development.

What is iDeaL?

iDeaL is an explicit, systematic, and evidence-based approach to literacy learning. It teaches children how sounds (phonemes) connect to letters (graphemes), helping them build strong skills in reading, spelling, and writing. Through clear, step-by-step teaching, students learn to decode unfamiliar words, recognise irregular words, and become confident readers and writers.

Your child will also bring home Ready to Read Phonics Plus books that match the phonics patterns they are learning in class. These books provide opportunities to practise and apply new learning, helping children build fluency and confidence.

How can you support your child at home?

You can make a big difference by:

• Reading the Ready to Read Phonics Plus book with your child several times during the week.

• Encouraging your child to sound out and blend words rather than guessing.

• Practising the weekly spelling words and revisiting previously learned words.

• Talking about the story by asking questions such as:

  • 1. What happened first, next, and last?

    2. Who were the characters?

    3. What was your favourite part?

• Praising your child's effort and celebrating their progress. A few minutes of reading and spelling practice each day can make a big difference.