Literacy Matters: Supporting Your Child Over the Break

As Term 3 wraps up, teachers are busy using literacy screening data to plan for Term 4. While many students have made great progress, we know that a two-week break without regular revision can make it harder for some children to pick up where they left off.

Learning to decode and encode the 26 letters and approximately 44 sounds of the English language is not a natural skill—it takes repetition, practice, and ongoing exposure to reach a functional level of literacy.

Fun Ways to Support Literacy at Home

Level Up “I Spy”

Ask your child to find and bring you household items that start with a specific letter.
Example:

- “P” for paper towel
- “S” for soap

Letter Scavenger Hunt

Hide post-it notes with letters around the house (in plain sight). Start with the letters s, a, t, p, i, n—these are great for building early words.
Extend the game by asking:

“How many words can you make?”
Rearrange letters to form: VC words: in, it, is, as, an
CVC words: sat, tap, pat, pin, nip, sit, tin

Audio Books & Sensory Support

Visit your local library or explore free online access to audio books.
If your child uses headphones for sensory processing, try introducing audio books featuring their favourite characters.

Songs & Rhymes

Songs are a fantastic way to reinforce literacy skills and support our current classroom focus on rhyme. Sing together, make up silly rhymes, or explore rhyming books and games.

Final Tip

Consistency is key. Even short, playful literacy activities during the break can make a big difference when Term 4 begins.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning journey!

Jodie Sargeant

Expert Reading Team Leader