A recent Grattan Institute report has shared that one-third of Australian students are failing to learn to read proficiently, referring to the situation as a ‘preventable tragedy’. In addition, the report identifies evidence-based approaches utilising structured literacy programs with phonics and explicit instruction as the most effective methods of teaching literacy.
At Toowoomba Grammar School, we implement a structured synthetic phonics approach to teaching spelling and reading that focuses on developing children's phonological awareness and decoding skills from Prep through to Year 6, which aligns to the recommendations of the Grattan Reports. The program we promote from Prep through to Year 6 is called Promoting Literacy Development (PLD). This program is underpinned by the Science of Reading and supported by the SPELD Foundation.
The Science of Reading advocates that reading is a learned skill that must be explicitly taught. Developing reading proficiency is a complex process involving phonological awareness (the ability to recognise and manipulate the sounds in spoken language), decoding (the ability to sound out words based on their letter-sound relationships), fluency (the ability to read with speed and accuracy), vocabulary knowledge, and comprehension (the ability to understand what is being read).
Our PLD program is delivered through explicit teaching methods. Explicit teaching is a group of research-supported instructional behaviours that provide the necessary support for successful learning through clarity of language and purpose and the reduction of cognitive load. It promotes active student engagement by requiring frequent and varied responses followed by appropriate affirmative and corrective feedback. Moreover, it assists in long-term retention through using purposeful practice strategies (Hughes, Morris, Therrien and Benson, 2017). This approach contrasts with more exploratory or inquiry-based methods, focusing instead on providing students with foundational knowledge and skills in a methodical manner.
In the context of literacy and numeracy, explicit teaching entails deliberate teacher modelling and meticulously explanation of the rules, patterns and strategies underlying language and numbers. It goes beyond assuming that students will naturally grasp these fundamentals through exposure alone. Instead, it recognises the need for structured guidance to ensure mastery.
For students at Toowoomba Grammar School, explicit teaching offers distinct advantages. Research shows that students benefit from clear and ordered instruction, particularly in the early stages of literacy and numeracy. Explicit teaching can also lead to higher levels of engagement and achievement due to preventing cognitive overload. A review conducted by the Australian Education Research Organisation in 2023 found that explicit teaching positively impacts student achievement in mathematics, reading, spelling, problem-solving and science. The studies also found that it works for both primary and secondary students and benefits students with and without additional learning needs.
Through a systematic and structured phonics program (PLD), our students have been mastering the essential skills needed to decode words and understand their meaning. PLD’s Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) approach is based on international research and the resources are upgraded as new research becomes available. In addition, our programs are independently assessed by third-party researchers. This research has shown that when PLD programs are used, in conjunction with ongoing professional development and school-wide consistent screening and tracking, measurable differences occur.
In addition to phonics, we've placed a strong emphasis on building word knowledge. This includes expanding vocabulary, learning about word families and patterns, and exploring the origins of words. By understanding the building blocks of language, our students are better equipped to tackle even the most challenging words.
If you’d like further information about Toowoomba Grammar School’s approach to literacy in the Junior School, please contact the School at communications@twgs.qld.edu.au.
- by Chantelle Bauer, TGS Junior School Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning)
Latest Blog
Women of Grammar Luncheon
A Tribute to the Heart of the School Originally scheduled for International Women's Day but rescheduled (thanks, Cyclone Alfred!) to the eve of Mother's Day, the timing felt serendipitous. It was a day to honour the women—past and present—whose quiet strength, tireless support and enduring love have shaped the School's legacy and the lives of its boys for 150 years. The marquee was beautifully appointed for a day of merriment
Lachlan Stuart's Marathon Feat
Mr Stuart will return to TGS again for the event held on Wednesday, 28 May to support the Year 12's significant fundraising G150 Gift Run event. The boys are running 1500km in a relay format to honour a 1968 TGS Interact Club fundraising project that will help upgrade the original School gates on Herries Street, along with raising funds for the Nerve Connection Foundation.
Remembering Private Colin Stirling, a TGS Old Boy (1899-1900)
This was the headline that screamed out on the pages of the Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser on Thursday, 15 August 1901. With ANZAC Day just last Friday, this week we continue to honour many of our Old Boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice including Private Colin Stirling, a TGS Old Boy (1899-1900) and our first former student lost in the Boer War. The story began with: “News was received on Tuesday afternoon that in an engagement at Kopjesfontein, on the 6th instant,…
Honouring Tradition: Toowoomba Grammar School and ANZAC Day
This year marks 98 years since TGS and the 13 Army Cadet Unit (Toowoomba Collective Unit) first participated in ANZAC Services in Toowoomba. The School's commitment to these services is a testament to its deep-rooted military traditions and the enduring spirit of remembrance. Mounties out the front of School House in 1908. A Legacy of Service Toowoomba Grammar School's military traditions date back to its early days. The School's Cadet Unit, formed in 1892, has been a cornerstone of its…
Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week - Developing Good Character Beyond the Classroom
We offer a range of enrichment activities for our boys, but the last week of Term 1 is a very special opportunity for all of our Senior School students. It's Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week, which provides age-appropriate physical challenges in a safe, well-supervised environment. Activities on the various camps may include ropes courses, rock climbing, bodyboarding, surfing, mountain biking and canoeing. The aim is to foster a love of the outdoors and an appreciation of the environment.…
Stories behind key TGS staff helping shape our students
It was my great privilege to join TGS as Head of House - Boyce Boarding in 2024. The opportunity to lead these young men of character on their TGS journey carries great weight but is also enormously exciting. Embarking upon this project alongside my wife Meg as Boyce Boarding House Manager strengthens the team further. I am hopeful that we will demonstrate to the boys how positive relationships can foster a warm and supportive environment. I know that many of our boys are familiar with strong…
More Than Just an Education and That Makes All the Difference
Toowoomba Grammar School excels in its extensive co-curricular programs, particularly in performing arts and sports. Our boys learn that success comes from hard work and dedication. This ethos is inspired by quotes like “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great,” “The harder I work, the luckier I get” and the words emblazoned on our P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre wall “Success is the celebration of preparation.” These opportunities allow students to excel in programs…
Stewardship: Leading the Way in Safety, Sustainability and Security
However, the challenges facing the Director of Facilities, Mr Bengie Dickeson and the Director of Information Technology, Mr Ron Robinson certainly are. This month's weather has been nothing if not unpredictable and it's in those conditions that both these men's skills come to the fore. With Tropical Cyclone Alfred and its threat to our School campus and community - Mr Bengie Dickeson and Mr Ron Robinson played integral roles in keeping everyone and everything on our 150-year-old campus safe.…
Pursuing New Horizons in Horticulture
Jake Moon is a sixth-generation primary producer. He is dedicated to agriculture and is currently working at his family’s St George farming enterprise, tackling some of the sector’s biggest challenges. The 28-year-old says his family moved to the St George irrigation precinct in 1978, initially growing rockmelons and watermelons, hence the business name Moonrocks. Seasonal and market changes led them to switch crops frequently, growing grapes, broccoli and even wax flowers over the years.…
