Literacy
At Maraetai Beach School (MBS), our English curriculum is built on Te Mātaiaho, the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum. We provide a knowledge-rich education informed by the Science of Learning, ensuring every student develops the foundational skills to communicate with purpose and appreciate the power of language.
We provide a minimum of 60 minutes of both reading and writing instruction per day, following a structured instructional model grounded in the Science of Learning.
Our teaching is organised into three interconnected strands that ensure deep, lasting learning. We believe that literacy is not just a skill, but a way of making sense of the world.
Students explore how stories shape identity and how language is used to influence, inform, and advocate.
Students master the "codes" of language phonological awareness, spelling patterns (morphology), and rich vocabulary.
Students apply their knowledge to decode complex texts, write for various audiences, and speak with confidence.
Spelling: The Logic of Language
How we teach: We move away from rote memorisation toward a systematic understanding of how English works. Spelling is taught as a logical system of sounds (phonemes), letters (graphemes), and meanings (morphology).
Years 0–2: We use a scope and sequence to teach phonological awareness and the direct relationship between sounds (phonemes), letters (graphemes) and spelling patterns.
Years 3–8: We implement The Code. This systematic program teaches students to break down complex words using morphology (prefixes, suffixes, and roots) and orthography (spelling rules).
Assessment & Support: To ensure every student is challenged at the right level, we use targeted placement tests:
Years 0–1: MBS Heartwords spelling tests.
Year 2: Spelling assessments.
Years 3–8: "The Code" placement tests.
Targeted Support: We provide specialized intervention through Phonics Support, ELL (English Language Learner) programs, and specific target groups such as Agility with Sounds, to close any learning gaps.
Reading: From Decoding to Deep Meaning
Teaching and Learning: Students progress from "learning to read" (decoding) to "reading to learn" (comprehension). We use evidence-based tools and differentiated teaching to support students in their reading journey.
Foundation Skills: In the initial stages of learning to read, we use a combination of decodable texts and whole word texts (big books, shared reading and independent readers in later years). This allows teachers to observe how students apply phonics knowledge, ensuring they are accurately "sounding out" words through segmenting (breaking up sounds in words) and blending (putting sounds together).
Comprehension & Analysis: Students who have mastered decoding, learn to "deep-dive" into texts to draw inferences, understand vocabulary in context, and react critically.
Assessment & Support: to provide a consistent school-wide measure of progress against the new NZC Progress Markers we use different assessment tools alongside teacher observations and ongoing formative assessments to form overall student understanding and next learning steps.
Ministry Phonics Check (completed at 20 weeks and 40 weeks at school)
Structured literacy reading assessment
Running records
Probe
SMART tool
DIBELS (fluency assessment)
Targeted Support: We provide specialised intervention through Lexia Support, ELL (English Language Learner) programs, and specific target groups to close any learning gaps.
Writing: Composition and Purpose
Teaching and Learning: Writing at MBS is about finding a voice. We treat writing as a craft that requires both technical precision and creative expression. Students are taught to create their own texts with purpose and confidence.
Genre Coverage: Our Yearly Overview ensures students experience a full range of writing—from imaginative narratives and personal poetry to persuasive essays and technical reports.
Purpose: Focusing on the audience and purpose students learn through exploring written texts and writing their own texts.
Explicitly teaching grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Students have opportunities to plan, draft, revise, edit and publish.
The writing curriculum covers a range of writing components which are taught throughout the year
Transcription Skills
Handwriting
Keyboarding (from year 6)
Spelling
Composition
Audience, purpose, and language choice
Sentence structures, grammar, and punctuation
Writing to entertain
Writing to inform
Writing to persuade
Writing Processes
Planning
Drafting
Revising and editing
Assessment & Support: to provide a consistent school-wide measure of progress against the new NZC Progress Markers we have a robust moderation structure for assessing writing across the school.
Independent writing assessments
SMART tool
Targeted Support: We provide specialised intervention through ELL (English Language Learner), literacy groups and differentiated in class teaching.
Handwriting: Automaticity and Fluency
Teaching and Learning: The curriculum emphasises that handwriting is a foundational cognitive skill. We prioritise it so that the physical act of writing becomes automatic, allowing the brain to focus entirely on ideas. Practising handwriting supports reading and spelling. Writing letters by hand aligned with those being taught in phonics and spelling lessons, helps learners remember them better.
The Casey Caterpillar Language: From Year 0 to Year 3, we use Casey Caterpillar shapes and visual codes. This provides a consistent "school-wide language" for letter formation, making transitions between year levels seamless.
Daily Practice: Phase 1 students receive explicit, daily instruction to build muscle memory. The goal is for letter formation to become "second nature."
Handwriting fluency: From Year 3 upwards, we teach Handwriting with a focus on speed and accuracy. We support students through regular practice in developing handwriting that is legible and able to be sustained for extended periods.
Supporting Your Child at Home: Literacy
The Ministry of Education has developed wonderful tools to help families weave reading, writing, and oral language into daily life. Literacy isn't just about finishing a book; it’s about making sense of the world through words.
Recommended Websites:
Literacy at Our House (Tāhūrangi): This site offers a wealth of ideas for spotting literacy opportunities in the wild—from reading signs on a bush walk to writing digital messages to whānau.
Reading Eggs: A highly engaging platform that uses games and rewards to help younger children master phonics and sight words, while older children can focus on comprehension.
Storylines: A fantastic NZ-based site that connects children with authors and illustrators, fostering a genuine love for storytelling through videos and events.
Everyday Tips:
Read Aloud Together: Even if your child can read independently, listening to a story allows them to enjoy more complex plots and vocabulary. Try to "pause and predict" what might happen next to build comprehension.
The Power of Audio: Audiobooks and podcasts are excellent for developing "listening stamina" and expanding vocabulary. They are perfect for long car rides or winding down before bed.
Writing for a Purpose: Encourage your child to write for real-world reasons. This could be the weekly grocery list, a thank-you note, an email to a relative, or even captions for a photo album.
Talk, Talk, Talk: Oral language is the foundation of literacy. Ask open-ended questions like, "What was the best part of your day?" or "How do you think that character felt?" to help them practice organising their thoughts into sentences.
Visual Literacy: Discuss the "language" of movies or advertisements. Ask why a certain colour was used or what a character’s body language is telling us. This helps children become critical thinkers in a digital world.
Visit the library: An incredible resource for finding "the right book" for your child, including great lists of New Zealand authors and stories that reflect our unique culture.
