Question 1

There is so much confusion surrounding sight words. Do you have any tips?

Accepted Answer

Sight words are a special high frequency category of words that students are instructed to recognise automatically. The term ‘sight word’ can mean several different things: high frequency words; phonetically irregular words; or familiar words that require no effort to recall (orthographic lexicon or sight vocabulary). When educators refer to sight words they are usually referring to high frequency words, some of which may be phonetically irregular. When learning high frequency words, instant recognition is important due to the frequency at which these ‘sight words’ occur. While the end goal is that most words become automatic and firmly embedded in a child’s orthographic lexicon, how this ability is developed and how sight words are instructed are often a cause of confusion.

${color}[#369fda](How does combining phonics and sight word instruction benefit our beginning readers? )It is well established that students require simultaneous instruction of phonics and sight words. Both sets of skills have been shown to assist beginning readers develop a better understanding of the text. Research tells us that the process by which words become a part of the orthographic lexicon is through orthographic mapping which builds on the skills of phonemic segmentation (sounding out) and letter-sound knowledge. Automatic recognition of the words by ‘sight’ is the end product that is achieved through systematic and explicit teaching.

A complication with sight word instruction is that a pro

Question 2

How do I register for an online course using a coupon code?

Accepted Answer

Go to https://courses.pld-literacy.org and select the course for which you would like to register.
Click "Buy" (ignore the price as you'll be using a promo code to reduce the price).
Enter your details to create an account.
On the next screen, underneath the total price you will see "Have a coupon?". Click this and enter the coupon code provided.
The price will update with the discount as per the provided coupon code and you can complete your registration and login to access the course using the account you just setup.

Detailed instructions with screenshots can be found here

${youtube}Registering for an online course using a coupon code.

Question 3

PLD Screening tools? Which tests do I use?

Accepted Answer

Did you know, that all of the PLD assessments in their most current form are available on the website to download? The assessments can be accessed in the DOWNLOADS section of each age range. For ease, direct links have been provided below:

**Early Years: **

‘The Early Years Pre-Literacy Screening’ can be downloaded here.

Foundation:

****‘The Foundation Pre-Literacy Screening’ can be downloaded here.

The Early Reading Profile for Foundation can be downloaded here.

Spelling Tracking in Foundation can be found here.

If students are slow to progress through stage 1 or who are having difficulties, these in depth investigations are recommended: download here.

Year 1 and 2:

The Early Reading Profile for Years 1 and 2 can be downloaded here.

The Phonic Sight Word Sequence placement test can be downloaded here.

If students are slow to progress through stage 1 or who are having difficulties, these

Question 4

Can I request the 2020 PLD excel tracking sheets, to enhance the school’s implementation of PLD by tracking student performance each term?

Accepted Answer

Time efficient tracking student development is central to the PLD process. The PLD tracking delivered each term, should assist teachers to determine the range in ability evident within the classroom. PLD advocates tracking from the Early Years until Year 6. To assist this process, PLD supplies excel (and Google) sheets which have been prepared.

Tab 1 and 2 provide two options for tracking skill development in the Early Years.
Tab 3, 4 and 5 provide options for tracking skill development within the Foundation school year.
Tab 6 and 7 provide two options for Year 1 classes. Tab 7 is particularly relevant for Year 1 classes which have a significant proportion of students who are unable to read, spell and write.
Following this are a range of Year 2-6 tracking sheets.
Towards the end is a sheet that can be adapted to the remote sector (which typically have the added challenge of students who are unable to read, spell and write in regular classrooms).
The final two spread sheets relate to individual profiling of skills; ideal for Education Support pre-literacy and early literacy profiling.

The tracking sheets are designed to be adapted, so that the layout matches the ‘whole school literacy plan’.

If you would like to receive a copy of these spreadsheets, p

Question 5

How well should students be reading at the end of the Foundation school year?

Accepted Answer

Below you will find a general skill acquisition sequence. Do note that the reading assessment (now openly available to download on the PLD website) is what schools should be utilizing to plan the class reading program and the decodable reading books required. Not all students acquire reading skills at the same pace. Those who have had a history of ear infections, speech and/or language delays or family members who have experienced difficulties with literacy, will often require repeated practice and more time to master the levels.

Be aware that junior primary students require repeated opportunities to practice and consolidate their skills. Only progress to higher levels of reading ability when there is a high level of accuracy and automaticity is being observed.

Make sure your scope and sequence for the year is realistic but also that it is being utilised in conjunction with the screening. It is not recommended to push students through a scope and sequence, without providing opportunities for repeated practice and consolidation, only to find that skills are lost over the Christmas holiday period.

READING:

Term 1 pre-reading skills: Alphabet sound knowledge and blending of three phonemes. Once students are demonstrating an adequate level of alphabet knowledge and have acquired the ability to blend three phonemes, they are ready to start decoding. To track readiness for decoding page 1 of the following screening tool is appropriate: [https://pld-literacy.org/produ

Question 6

Prospective Authors

Accepted Answer

If you are a literacy professional interested in contributing to PLD Learning Resources, we’re very interested in hearing from you. Please review the following information to discover how we can work together with you.

Guide for Prospective Authors

PLD Learning Resources is an Australian company specialising in the publication of learning resources for 3 to 11-year-olds. The company was established in 2007 and currently publishes over 85 items. PLD Learning Resources publishes resources designed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Teachers for use in schools and the home. The range is marketed throughout Australia and internationally.

All of our resources have a solid foundation supported by research and practical application of that research.. All proposed materials must have progressed through a process of testing in classrooms or in a therapy setting, i.e. speech pathology or occupational therapy setting.

PLD Learning Areas

PLD Learning Resources are produced using our Skills Set Approach to Literacy. The learning areas contained in each of these key areas are:

Literacy Skills

Alphabet
Phonics
Phonological awareness
Reading and spelling
Writing
Sight words

Movement and Motor Skills

Handwriting
Pre-writing
Fine and gross motor

Oral Language Skills

Comprehension skills
Speaking and listening skills
Narrative skills
Semantics skills

Resource Styles

Our resources fall into the following styles or media:

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