We facilitate effective literacy strategies and approaches to promote and enhance students’ literacy skills.  
 
Our staff utilise approaches based on research and proven methods that have demonstrated positive outcomes in literacy development.  
 
Some key components of our literacy approaches include: 

• Different instructional methods to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
• Promote and use practices that focus on building students’ vocabulary knowledge. This involves explicit instruction of new words, context clues, word relationships, and strategies for word learning.
• Incorporate literacy practices that involve differentiation to address individual strengths and challenges. Teachers provide targeted support and instruction tailored to each student’s abilities, including small-group instruction and individualized interventions.
• Engage with parents and caregivers in supporting literacy development at home. The school may provide resources, strategies, and guidance to involve families in promoting reading and writing habits and creating a literacy-rich environment.

Structured Literacy & BSLA

Structured Literacy is taught at Iqra School through the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA).  It is a systematic, explicit approach to teaching reading and writing that is designed to help students with diverse learning needs, including those with dyslexia or other reading difficulties. It focuses on building literacy skills in a logical and sequential manner, ensuring that all students acquire the necessary skills to read, write, and spell proficiently. For Year 1-8 students, a Structured Literacy Programme will gradually increase in complexity as students' skills develop, focusing on key elements of language, including phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

Key Strategies in a Structured Literacy Program:

• Systematic Instruction: Teaching is organized and follows a logical progression, with each new skill building on the previous one.
• Explicit Teaching: Teachers directly teach each skill, providing clear explanations, modeling, and guided practice.
• Multisensory Techniques: Incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities helps reinforce learning. For example, students might trace letters in sand while saying the corresponding sound or use manipulatives for word building.
• Frequent Review and Practice: Regular review of previously taught concepts ensures retention and mastery.
• Individualized Support: Tailored interventions for struggling learners, ensuring that all students progress at their own pace and receive the necessary support.

Benefits

• Improved Literacy Outcomes: Structured Literacy ensures that all students, including those with learning differences, have the opportunity to succeed in reading and writing.
• Explicit Skill Development: Students develop a deep understanding of how language works, which helps them with both reading comprehension and writing skills.
• Equity in Education: By using a structured and sequential approach, all students, regardless of background or ability, can acquire essential literacy skills.

In summary, Structured Literacy at Iqra School for Year 1-8 is an intentional, research-backed approach that focuses on explicit, systematic instruction in the essential skills of reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension. It ensures all students build a strong foundation in literacy, supporting long-term academic success.