Literacy

The Catalyst commitment to literacy is clearly articulated in the bold goal ‘Every student is a competent reader’.

The aim of learning to read is comprehension, or the capacity to extract meaning from print. This is achieved by combining word recognition with language comprehension, delivered through explicit and systematic teaching.

LEARNING APPROACH

Learning to read

The Catalyst approach to literacy is backed by a comprehensive body of knowledge and research on how students learn to read, known as the Science of Reading. The Simple View of Reading suggests reading comprehension is the combination of using both decoding and language comprehension skills.

“Almost all students can learn to read when provided with high quality teaching and support… the ACT could achieve the 90% target [NAPLAN proficiency benchmark for Years 3, 5 and 7] within 10 years.”

Grattan Institute

Empowering educators through professional learning

The Science of Reading combines knowledge from education, linguistics, cognitive psychology, special education and neuroscience and looks at the essential cognitive processes for competent reading.

Understanding how students learn to read and what goes wrong when students don’t learn the basic skills required for competency has led to a systematic approach in the classroom, comprising five essential elements:

Phonemic awareness

The ability to identify and manipulate the distinct individual sounds in spoken words
Phonics

The ability to decode words using knowledge of letter-sound relationships
Fluency

Reading with speed and accuracy
Vocabulary

Knowing the meaning of a wide variety of words and the structure of written language
Comprehension

Understanding the meaning and intent of the text

Impacts by the end of 2023

Literacy approach delivers lasting success

970

teachers were trained in evidence-based literacy programs

of CECG schools are using evidence-based literacy intervention across K-12

Year 3 and 5

CECG students are above 2023 national reading and numeracy results

Learn more

Testimonials

Janica Morella

LEARNING SUPPORT AT SACRED HEART, PEARCE

“Our journey at Sacred Heart has set us on a focused path to improving students’ outcomes for reading and writing.

We were also seeking common language across the school around the science of reading – we are now well on our way!”

YEAR 12 STUDENT

“The class is very engaging and I feel comfortable contributing to class discussions because of the environment of the classroom and the teaching style of my teacher.”

JENNY SMITH

Coordinator and Stage One Teacher at St. Bernards Primary School – Bateman’s Bay

“I’ve seen a significant growth in student knowledge and deep understanding of the literacy concepts within my Stage 1 classroom.

Student engagement is high due to the fast pace of delivery, visual scaffolds, and multisensory movement to embed concepts being taught”