English / Foundation / Language / Text structure and organisation

Curriculum content descriptions

Understand concepts about print and screen, including how books, film and simple digital texts work, and know some features of print, for example directionality (ACELA1433)

Elaborations
  • learning about print: direction of print and return sweep, spaces between words
  • learning that Standard Australian English in written texts is read from left to right and from top to bottom of the page and that direction of print may differ in other cultures, for example Japanese texts
  • learning about front and back covers; title and author, layout and navigation of digital/screen texts
  • learning about simple functions of keyboard and mouse including typing letters, scrolling, selecting icons and drop-down menu
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Electronic publishing,  Directionality (Writing systems),  Books

Text

Work sample Foundation Year English: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Foundation Year English. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation ...

Text

Work Sample Foundation Year: Big write

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Foundation Year English. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation ...

Interactive

Procedural texts: let's make a banana split

Explore the three steps in a procedure; aim, materials and steps by looking at four examples. Discover the steps in making a banana split. Find the materials and ingredients you'll need for the banana split hidden in a classroom. Investigate the steps in making the banana split by taking photos. Put the jumbled steps of ...

Interactive

Storyboard: Flutter-by friends!

Explore the title and picture on the cover of 'Flutter-by friends!' Then make a prediction about the storyline. Listen to the story and follow as each word is underlined. Find out if your prediction matches the storyline. Put the jumbled events of the story in the right order.

Text

Choosing and using decodable texts

This self-paced learning module explains the process of orthographic mapping, how decodable texts support this process and how to choose quality decodable texts and use them in your classroom. It contains a webinar, free downloadable resources and further professional reading. It is the third of seven professional learning ...

Text

Phonics lesson planner example and template

This Word document can be used to plan for the specific words and sentences teachers will use when teaching new phonics content. It includes a worked example of a completed lesson and a blank template.

Video

How to choose a decodable text

This video provides an overview of how to choose a decodable text for your students' needs. It is presented by literacy specialists Elaine Stanley and Rebecca McEwan.

Text

Free decodable texts

This document summarises some of the free online decodable texts for Australian classrooms available on third-party websites.

Image

Clean up Back beach Bay

This persuasive digital text is a poster advertising a community clean up day. The resource includes a teaching sequence related to the Big Six components of literacy development (oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension) with student activities, graphic organisers and worksheets, ...

Downloadable

Using decodable texts in the classroom

This infographic guides teachers on using decodable texts with students as part of your systematic synthetic phonics instruction.

Video

Choosing and using decodable texts: Q&A

This video is of a Q&A session about choosing and using decodable texts in your classroom. It is presented by literacy specialists Rebecca McEwan and Elaine Stanley

Text

MoneySmart: Ava makes a difference

This is a digital big book about how a young girl makes and sells pancakes as part of a class fundraising event to help a family whose house has burnt down, and how she learns the importance of helping people in need. Developed as part of the MoneySmart Teacher Package, the story is suitable for children from Foundation ...

Interactive

Bear and Chook by the Sea

This learning object is designed around a series of videos with Lisa Shanahan, author, and Emma Quay, illustrator, including a reading experience of their collaborative work, Bear and Chook by the Sea. Taken as a whole, this sequence of lessons is a Stage 1 unit of work that results in students working in pairs to produce ...

Video

How to use decodable texts

This video provides a demonstration of how to use a decodable book. It is presented by literacy specialists Elaine Stanley and Rebecca McEwan.

Video

How to target decoding practice at point of need

This video provides an explanation of how to prepare students so they are ready to use decodable words and sentences to practise their phonics skills. It is presented by literacy specialists Elaine Stanley and Rebecca McEwan.

Interactive

Phonics Fun 4 - iTunes app

Learn letter sounds and rime as you tap pictures and hear letter sounds. Match the letters and sounds to the pictures. Covers 9 letter sounds (a, e, i, o, u, qu, sh, z, v), 5 rimes (ip, ot, x, at, un) in 75 words. Free when reviewed 6/6/15.

Interactive

Snapseed - Google Play app

Retouch, adjust perspective and re-edit your photos with this photoediting tool. Free when reviewed 26/5/2015

Video

BTN: Meet a young author

Do you love writing stories? Learn how Hannah Chandler got a book published at the age of 12! Why don't you make your own book? Once you're happy with your story, find yourself an illustrator (a friend, family member or even yourself!) and start designing your pages. Once they're ready attach them all together. Don't forget ...

Interactive

Make it happen: plan a party

Prepare an invitation to your birthday party. Include a statement, photo and important details such as address, phone number and reply date. Choose items of food to buy for the party. Use a map to select shops where you can buy the food you need. Complete a photo album of the party by selecting captions to match the photos.

Interactive

Words and pictures: beginning letters

Meet Di, an artist who paints phrases. Help Di paint three pictures by matching words that begin with the same two consonants. Choose two words that begin with the same letter pattern such as sheep and shoe. Select a third word to make a phrase, for example a sheep under a shoe. Watch as Di paints a picture of the phrase.