Pre-reader, 20 lessons

The first step in learning to read is understanding the sounds that each letter makes.     

As emergent readers, students will learn letter names and their corresponding sounds. They will also learn the correct formation of letters and as such pick up writing and pencil-holding skills/techniques to build fine motor skills.    

In addition, students will begin to blend sounds to form simple words and recognise common word families.

Novice reader, 20 lessons.

Upon mastering letter sounds, the next step is developing phonemic awareness which is to understand the relationship between letters and spoken sounds.

As a Novice Reader, students will learn to blend and read (CVC / VCV) words. Listening skill is an essential part along with reading. Hence one of the focal points will be to listen and recognise the beginning, middle and ending sounds that each word makes.

Students will also be introduced to sight words or high frequency words that are recognised by their appearance rather than phonetic patterns. Throughout the course, students will learn to read and spell these sight words.

Decoding reader, 20 lessons

Certain sounds in English are made up of more than one letter and learning to recognise these combinations is a key step in becoming confident reader. Decoding is a skill that involves breaking a word into its individual sounds and blending them to read accurately.     

As a Decoding Reader, students will explore various letter combinations and the sounds they represent. They will practice decoding words and identifying phonemes.     

In addition, students will begin reading and interpreting stories as well as work on their comprehension skills at this level.

Comprehending reader, 10 lessons

Fluent readers read smoothly, accurately and at an appropriate pace. They use proper intonation and expression when reading aloud. Fluency in reading is vital for developing strong comprehension skills.

As a Fluent Reader, students will explore syllables, prefixes and suffixes which will strengthen their reading ability. They will read a  variety of informative and fictional passages to facilitate and broaden their reading experience while practising comprehension skills.