Literacy is a high priority at Donvale Primary School. We aim to develop confident readers, writers and communicators who enjoy learning, feel successful, and are well prepared for the demands of secondary school and beyond.
Our literacy program is structured, explicit and responsive, ensuring that every student is supported, challenged and guided to achieve their potential.
In Prep to Year 4, students develop strong foundations in reading and writing through daily, explicit literacy instruction, regular assessment and targeted small group teaching.
Donvale Primary School has fully implemented the Victorian Early Years Literacy Program from Prep to Year 4. Learning is carefully planned and sequenced so that skills build progressively, supporting students to develop confidence and independence as readers and writers.
Each day includes two hours of literacy including phonics, phonemic awarness, morphology, syntax, fluency, handwriting, dictation, reading, comprehension and writing.
In Prep to Year 2, students learn to read through a systematic synthetic phonics approach, where the relationship between sounds and letters is taught explicitly and sequentially. This provides students with strong decoding skills and supports accurate, fluent reading.
Reading lessons include:
whole-class instruction
teacher-led small group reading
independent and supported practice
Texts are carefully matched to students’ reading ability so that all learners experience success while being appropriately challenged.
As students progress through Prep to Year 4, teaching increasingly focuses on:
reading fluency
vocabulary development
comprehension and discussion of texts
Students are supported to think deeply about what they read, share ideas, and build understanding across a range of subjects.
Writing instruction is explicit and carefully structured. Teachers model and guide students through the writing process, supporting them to develop skills in:
sentence construction
spelling and punctuation
writing for different purposes and audiences
Students learn to write a range of text types, including narrative, persuasive, procedural and information texts, building confidence and control over written language.
In Years 5 and 6, students continue to develop as confident, independent readers and writers as they prepare for secondary school. Literacy instruction remains explicit and structured, with a strong focus on applying skills across learning areas.
Students engage with increasingly complex texts and extended writing tasks, while grammar, spelling, punctuation and
morphology continue to be explicitly taught. Teachers support students to analyse texts, express ideas clearly, and refine their writing through feedback and revision.
Students are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their reading choices and writing processes, while being supported to challenge themselves and deepen their understanding.
Speaking and listening skills are developed across all year levels. From Prep through to Years 5 and 6, students learn to:
share ideas and ask questions
participate respectfully in discussions
present information clearly and confidently
Older students further develop these skills through structured presentations and debates, learning to construct arguments, respond thoughtfully to others, and communicate effectively with an audience.
Spelling, grammar and punctuation are explicitly taught across the school.
Students are supported to:
understand spelling patterns and word structure, including morphology
apply spelling strategies independently
recognise the importance of accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation in clear communication
Writing is valued at all stages of development, and students are encouraged to take risks, reflect on feedback and continue improving their work.
We recognise that students learn at different rates and require different levels of support.
Teachers regularly check student understanding and adjust instruction to meet individual needs. Extension opportunities are provided for students who are ready to deepen their learning and apply their skills in more complex ways.
Students who require additional support may participate in targeted intervention programs, including MiniLit and MacqLit, delivered in small groups to support students who are working below expected levels.
Literacy learning at Donvale Primary School is closely connected to our enriched Humanities and Science programs. Students read, write and talk about meaningful topics, helping them build conceptual understanding, expand vocabulary, and develop curiosity about the world around them.
This integrated approach supports students to apply their literacy skills purposefully while deepening their understanding of key ideas and concepts.
Families are encouraged to speak with their child’s teacher, the Literacy Coordinator, Mrs Rassias or Mr Robertson if they have questions or would like to discuss their child’s literacy development. We value strong partnerships between home and school in supporting every student’s learning journey.
