Evidence-based teaching and universal screening are vital.

Reading is key to student success and well-being. Teachers can use evidence-based teaching approaches and universal screening tools to identify reading difficulties and provide timely support. Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) schools are working diligently to ensure every child has the opportunity to become a proficient reader, and in doing so, will adopt a consistent approach to reading instruction and the use of The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Through these methods, TCE will screen for reading difficulties across all primary and secondary schools. 

What is evidence-based teaching?

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) identifies key principles that help children learn best. These include explicit instruction, structured learning sequences, and regular practice with feedback. All teachers in TCE schools will adopt these principles in their classrooms to teach reading.

Explicit instruction ensures that students receive clear, direct, and engaging instruction on reading skills such as oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The emphasis on these skills varies depending on the year level taught. Teachers break down complex skills into smaller steps, modelling each step before guiding students through practice. 

Structured learning helps students build on what they already know. Lessons move from simple to complex, ensuring students have mastered one skill before progressing to the next. Teachers use a precise sequence of learning of reading skills to ensure foundational skills are mastered before progressing to more complex skills. Foundational skills are revisited with older students as needed.

Practice and feedback are crucial. Students need regular opportunities to apply their reading skills with teacher support, receiving timely feedback to correct errors and reinforce learning. Teachers use daily reviews of previously taught content to provide practice, build fluency and understand how well students have learnt previous content and skills.

Grounded in the Science of Learning, AERO’s principles are consistently supported by research that draws on cognitive science findings about how students efficiently acquire and retain knowledge. Studies have shown that explicit instruction is particularly effective for literacy development and supports students struggling with reading. Structured learning sequences provide a scaffolded approach, managing students’ cognitive load and gradually allowing them to develop mastery. Regular practice and feedback strengthen neural connections and enhance the retention of reading skills over time as students progress through the layers of sophistication in the curriculum. 

Teachers in TCE schools intentionally follow these principles to allow students to develop and retain strong reading skills. 

What is universal screening?

Despite these strong teaching techniques, some students still experience reading difficulties. This is where universal screening plays a critical role. DIBELS is a research-based universal screening tool designed to assess the acquisition of key reading skills, including:

Phonemic Awareness (recognising and manipulating sounds in words)

Phonics (understanding letter-sound relationships)

Fluency (reading smoothly with accuracy and speed)

Comprehension (understanding what is read)

Early identification through regular DIBELS screening allows teachers to intervene when reading gaps are small rather than waiting until they become significant barriers. We prevent these gaps from widening by intervening early and establishing a foundation for academic success. This proactive approach ensures all students have the opportunity to develop essential literacy skills from the start, setting them on a positive trajectory rather than requiring more intensive support later.

What can parents do?

Parents play a significant role in supporting reading development. You can work with your school to help your children at home by:

• Daily reading with your child to build vocabulary and language comprehension.
• Playing around with words - explore their meaning to develop word awareness. 
• Reading the same book as your older child and chatting together about it - a family book club!
• Gifting books to your child - whatever their age.
• Communicating with teachers to understand your child’s progress and any support they may need.

By combining proven teaching techniques and universal screening, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to become a successful reader. When schools and parents work together, we can unlock the door to reading success and the flow-on effect of lifelong learning.