PLD Promoting Literacy Development

A recent article in “The Reading Teacher” explores the idea of a “healthy literacy diet” for beginning readers.

The key message is that no single type of text is sufficient on its own. Instead, early literacy development is supported through a thoughtful combination of experiences that work together over time.

A healthy literacy diet includes:
• Decodable texts to support the application of phonics knowledge
• Predictable and less-controlled texts to build reading experience
• High-quality literature to develop vocabulary, comprehension, and knowledge
• Writing and language experiences that strengthen encoding and word knowledge

Read more:
https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trtr.2287

Reading instruction is full of strong opinions – but what happens when we challenge some of the assumptions behind them?

In this week's Sunday Reading, literacy expert Dr. Timothy Shanahan shares his top ten pet peeves about reading instruction, highlighting where policy, practice and popular thinking don't always align with the evidence.

It's a thought-provoking read for educators committed to effective literacy instruction and improving outcomes for all students.

Read the blog and let us know in the comments which point resonated most with you.

Read the blog here:
https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/do-you-have-any-pet-peeves-about-reading-here-are-my-top-ten

If you’re teaching literacy, what you do in the classroom really matters – but so does how confident you feel doing it.

When educators have a clear understanding of Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP), literacy instruction becomes more purposeful and effective. Students learn how sounds map to print, and develop spelling skills step by step. That clarity helps turn everyday literacy lessons into consistent progress.

PLD seminars are designed to make evidence-based literacy instruction practical and achievable. Rather than focusing on theory alone, you'll gain explicit teaching routines, sequencing guidance, and classroom-ready strategies you can implement immediately.

What you’ll gain from PLD seminars:
• A clear, structured approach to SSP instruction
• Practical strategies grounded in the Science of Reading
• Tools to support consistency across year levels and classrooms
• Confidence to deliver explicit, effective literacy lessons

Choose the option that best fits your schedule:
• One- and two-day seminars
• After-school sessions (over 5 weeks)
• Online and in-person training

Explore upcoming seminars at
https://pld-literacy.org/australia-wide-professional-development-seminars/