English / Year 1 / Literacy / Phonic and word knowledge

Curriculum content descriptions

use short vowels, common long vowels, consonant blends and digraphs to write words, and blend these to read one- and two-syllable words (AC9E1LY11)

Elaborations
  • using knowledge of letters and sounds to write words with short vowels; for example, “man”, and common long vowel sounds; for example, “time”
  • using knowledge of letter sounds to write single-syllable words with consonant digraphs and consonant blends; for example, “wish” and “rest”
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
ScOT terms

Phonemes,  Spelling

Downloadable

Year 1 Phonics Check and the Australian Curriculum

This document outlines how the types of words assessed in the Year 1 Phonics Check (a free 7-minute assessment to assess students' decoding skills across words of increasing complexity) align with descriptors in the Australian Curriculum V9 and with indicators of literacy development described in the National Literacy Learning ...

Downloadable

Year 1 Phonics Check Analysing and responding to results

This guide explains how to analyse data from the Year 1 Phonics Check, and how to use it to inform instruction. The Year 1 Phonics Check is a free, 7-minute assessment that assesses students' decoding skills across words of increasing complexity.

Downloadable

Year 1 Phonics Check: Administration guide

This guide provides detailed information for school leaders and teachers on what the Year 1 Phonics Check is (a free, 7-minute assessment that assesses students' decoding skills across words of increasing complexity). The guide contains information on delivery modes and key materials, administering the Check, recording ...

Video

Explicit instruction of phonics - an instructional model Q&A

This Q&A webinar extract answers questions from teachers and school leaders about explicit instruction for phonics instruction.

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Teaching tips for phonics related skills

This short video (2 minutes and 54 seconds) shows two teachers discussing strategies that can be used to support students when they are developing phonics-related skills.

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Year 1 Phonics Check overview video

This short video (2 minutes and 2 seconds) outlines what the Year 1 Phonics Check is and includes clips of teachers administering this assessment to test students' decoding abilities. It also includes a clip of two teachers discussing the students' results.

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For school leaders: Using data-informed instruction

This webpage provides information and resources for school leaders on how to facilitate the use of data to track student progress and inform instruction.

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For school leaders: Understanding the evidence

This webpage provides information and resources for school leaders about the evidence and research on how students learn to read. It discusses cognitive load theory, explicit instruction, a whole-school curriculum approach, the Big Six of literacy and using a systematic synthetic phonics approach to instruction.

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For school leaders: Leading effective practice

This webpage provides information for school leaders on how to drive quality instruction and improve student literacy outcomes. It recommends a range of resources that can be used to support leaders in coaching and mentoring staff in best practice literacy instruction.

Video

Administering and analysing the Year 1 Phonics Check - Student 1

This short video (four minutes and 11 seconds) shows a teacher administering the online Year 1 Phonics Check with a student who displays efficient decoding skills, followed by a teacher discussion about next steps for the student.

Downloadable

Year 1 Phonics Check: Analysing group reports using the word and code complexity continuum

This document supports analysis of Year 1 Phonics Check group reports. It gives instructions for finding and responding to a group's decoding strengths and needs as indicated by the data.

Assessment

Progress monitoring tool Tracker Phases 11-15

This spreadsheet assists teachers to analyse the data collected in progress monitoring tools, to plan next steps for student learning. This file aligns with Phases 11-15 of the Literacy Hub phonics progression.

Assessment

Progress monitoring tools Phases 16-20

These tools support teachers to monitor individual and whole-class student progress in Phases 16-20 of the Literacy hub phonics progression. Each phase has a student reference page and a teacher marking sheet, and instructional notes for the teacher are provided.

Downloadable

Phonics pair-game template

The pair games and activities in this document can be used as part of your systematic synthetic phonics program to encourage students to develop their phonics skills with peers during independent practice.

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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

Q&A session: Making a start with a phonics progression and phonological awareness instruction

This recording of a 30-minute Q&A session supports schools in choosing and following a systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) progression, including phonological and phonemic awareness instruction.

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Demonstration of a phonics lesson

This video provides a demonstration of a phonics lesson using explicit instruction principles. It is presented by literacy specialists Elaine Stanley and Rebecca McEwan.

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Explicit instruction for phonics overview

This video provides an overview of a phonics instructional model for reading and spelling. It is presented by literacy specialists Elaine Stanley and Rebecca McEwan.

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Following an evidence-based phonics progression

Literacy specialist Elaine Stanley presents this webinar extract. She provides an overview of the key elements of a quality, evidence-based phonics progression and explains how to follow a phonics progression in your classroom.

Downloadable

Phonics Check answer sheet

A downloadable answer sheet for the offline mode of the Year 1 Phonics Check (a free assessment of students' decoding skills).