Literacy

Literacy Numeracy Science Te Reo Māori Digital Technologies The Arts Social Science Health & PE

What is Literacy?

Ko te reo tōku tuakiri, ko te reo tōku ahurei, ko te reo te ora.
Language is my identity; language is my uniqueness; language is life.

At Little River School, we believe literacy is more than just reading and writing — it’s about learning to use, create, and enjoy language in all its forms: oral, written, and visual communication. Literacy helps our tamariki make sense of the world and express themselves with confidence and creativity.

How is Literacy Structured in the New Zealand Curriculum?

The New Zealand Curriculum organises literacy into two interconnected strands:

Making Meaning – through listening, reading, and viewing
Creating Meaning – through speaking, writing, and presenting

Both strands are taught in tandem, so that students are continually learning how to understand and respond to language as well as how to express their own ideas effectively.

How is Literacy Taught at Little River School?

We design rich, purposeful literacy learning experiences that help students make and create meaning across a wide range of contexts. Our learners practise using language for different purposes, including:

To Entertain – telling stories, creating poetry, and performing
To Inform – writing reports, sharing research, and explaining ideas
To Instruct – giving directions, writing procedures, and crafting clear messages
To Persuade – forming opinions, debating, and writing with influence

Through guided, shared, and independent activities, our tamariki build skills that support them in all areas of learning — and in life beyond the classroom.

Learning to Read at Little River School

Learning to read is taught using the Structured Literacy approach. This method provides a strong foundation by explicitly teaching the relationships between sounds and letters, and by building reading skills in a carefully sequenced way. It supports all learners — especially those who may find reading more challenging — and ensures every child develops the tools they need to become confident, capable readers.

What is Structured Literacy?

Structured Literacy is an evidence-based approach to teaching reading, writing, and spelling that is systematic, explicit, and carefully sequenced. It focuses on the foundational skills of language, including phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. At its core, Structured Literacy ensures that students understand how language works — starting with sounds and letters, and building toward full reading and writing fluency. This approach is particularly effective for all learners, including those with dyslexia or other learning differences, as it breaks down the learning process into manageable steps and gives students the tools to decode and construct language with confidence.