0SPELD SA Phonic Readers
Cover Artwork by Elizabeth Close
Learning to Read
SPELD SA Phonic Books support the teaching of reading by using a structured synthetic phonics approach. They are designed to build on the pre-reading skills of oral language and phonological awareness needed for reading success. The books support the learning of letter-sounds and blending in a sequential phonic order, helping students to develop their independent decoding skills. The stories contain limited high frequency words that need to be taught before reading the book. The questions and activities focus on increasing a student’s vocabulary and fluency and encourage the student to make deeper connections with the author’s message.
About the series
The SPELD SA Phonic Book Series complements the teaching of reading and writing using a structured synthetic phonics approach. SPELD SA aims to help Aboriginal students engage with phonic books by having characters, content and settings that reflect Aboriginal communities. In developing this series, SPELD SA has consulted with people who live and work in the Anangu, Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. We understand that the content, settings and characters may not reflect all Aboriginal people and their experiences but hope that Aboriginal students learning to read can find some familiarity in and connection with these books in their literacy journey.
SPELD SA Phonic Books follow the sequence of letter-sounds used in the Jolly Phonics synthetic phonics program. The books can be used with other phonics programs.
Star Classification
Each set of books introduces a group of sounds for students to blend to read words. Please consider your student’s ability when choosing a book for them to read.
The books with a single star icon on the front cover contain a lower word count and less high-frequency words.
The books with two stars contain a higher word count, a greater number of high-frequency words and/or more complex word structure.
About the cover artist
Elizabeth Close is an Anangu woman from the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara language groups in the APY Lands in outback South Australia. She was born in Adelaide and spent much of her upbringing in remote communities, learning her language and receiving cultural education.
‘This artwork represents the literacy and numeracy learning journey, and the path towards independent learning. The circles represent the collaborative learning and supports around children with specific learning difficulties, including children, schools, families, SPELD SA and others.’ Elizabeth Close, Artist.
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These books have been produced by SPELD SA, and supported by the Government of South Australia.
