← Back to Unit Plans Years 0-3

Literacy Fundamentals

Structured Literacy & Phonics Foundations — Te Kōwae Pānui

📅 8 Weeks • 16 Lessons 📖 English / Reo Pākehā 🧠 'The Code' Methodology

🔬 Evidence-Based Structured Literacy

This unit is built on the Science of Reading and aligns with NZ's Common Practice Model for literacy. Every lesson follows the systematic phonics sequence while honouring Te Ao Māori through bilingual vocabulary, whakataukī anchors, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

                        🎯
                        Explicit, Systematic Instruction
                    
                        👂
                        Phonemic Awareness First
                    
                        🔤
                        Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping
                    
                        🌿
                        Te Reo Integration

📚 Phase 1: Phonics Foundations (Weeks 1-2)

Systematic introduction of letter-sound correspondences using 'The Code' cards. Focus: /s/, /a/, /t/, /p/, /i/, /n/, /m/, /d/, /g/, /o/, /c/, /k/

Phonics Foundations 1

Introduction to 'The Code'. Letters /s/, /a/, /t/, /p/. Sound buttons for blending.

📜 Karakia Timatanga 🔤 Sound Buttons

Phonics Foundations 2

Letters /i/, /n/, /m/, /d/. Extending blending with new phonemes.

🎪 Kimi Oro Game ✋ Multisensory Practice

CVC Word Building

Building and reading CVC words. Magnetic letter work.

🧲 Magnetic Letters 📝 Word Building Mats

Blending & Segmenting

Oral blending and segmenting practice. Phoneme manipulation.

🎵 Sound Stretching 🔊 Phoneme Pop

📚 Phase 2: Digraphs & Morphology (Weeks 3-4)

Consonant digraphs (ch, sh, th, ng) and long vowel patterns. Introduction to prefixes and suffixes.

Consonant Digraphs

ch, sh, th, ng — two letters, one sound. Digraph hunting in text.

🔍 Digraph Detective 🃏 Digraph Snap

Long Vowel Patterns

Split digraphs (a-e, i-e, o-e) and vowel teams (ee, oa).

🦋 Magic 'e' 👯 Vowel Teams

Prefixes & Suffixes

Common prefixes (un-, re-) and suffixes (-ing, -ed, -er).

🧩 Word Building 🔗 Morpheme Chains

Morphology Practice

Applying morphological knowledge to decode unfamiliar words.

🏗️ Word Architects 📚 Decodable Reading

📚 Phase 3: Fluency & Complex Patterns (Weeks 5-6)

Building reading fluency through repeated reading. Alternative vowel sounds and r-controlled vowels.

Complex Patterns 1

Alternative vowel sounds: ou, ow, oi, oy.

🗻 Vowel Valley 🎯 Sound Sort

Complex Patterns 2

More alternative spellings. Phoneme-grapheme flexibility.

🎲 Spelling Choices 📖 Dictation Practice

Fluency Building 1

Repeated reading with decodable texts. Prosody introduction.

📈 Fluency Probes 🎭 Expression Practice

Fluency Building 2

Partner reading and fluency tracking. Self-correction strategies.

👥 Partner Reading 📊 Progress Tracking

📚 Phase 4: Application & Consolidation (Weeks 7-8)

R-controlled vowels, multisyllabic words, and assessment. Celebrating growth!

R-Controlled Vowels

ar, or, er, ir, ur — the "bossy r" patterns.

🏴‍☠️ Bossy R 🎵 R-Controlled Songs

Multisyllabic Words

Syllable division strategies. Breaking big words into chunks.

✂️ Syllable Splits 🔨 Word Chunking

Application Practice

Integrated reading and writing using all phonics patterns.

✍️ Dictation 📖 Connected Text

Assessment & Celebration

Final assessment and celebrating growth! Literacy passports.

🏆 Celebration 📋 Assessment

📄 Resources / Ngā Rauemi

📝 Teaching Materials

📖 Decodable Texts

👪 Whānau Resources

🎬 Videos & PLD

🔤 The Code: Phoneme Progression

Phase 1 s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d

Phase 2 g, o, c, k, e, u, r

Phase 3 b, f, h, l, j, v, w, x, y, z

Digraphs ch, sh, th, ng, ck, qu

Long Vowels a-e, ee, oa, i-e, o-e

R-Controlled ar, or, er, ir, ur

🌿 Te Ao Māori Integration

Every lesson opens with karakia and connects sounds to kupu Māori. This honours linguistic diversity while building accurate phonics skills.

Oro Sound

Reta Letter

Waha Mouth

Kupu Word

Pānui Read

Tuhi Write

📋 Curriculum Alignment

NZC Level 1-2 — English / Reo Pākehā

Reading: Use their developing knowledge of the alphabetic code to decode unfamiliar words
Writing: Use their developing knowledge of letter-sound relationships to spell words
Speaking: Speak clearly and audibly, using pronunciation and intonation appropriate to the topic

Common Practice Model: Systematic synthetic phonics, explicit vocabulary instruction, fluency development

Key Competencies: Using language, symbols and texts; Thinking; Relating to others

📎 Unit Resources

Downloadable handouts, worksheets, and materials for this unit.