Bullimbal School uses a balanced literacy approach to literacy teaching in all classrooms, based on information outlined in “Research-Based Practices for Creating Access to the General Curriculum in Reading and Literacy for Students with Significant Intellectual Disabilities” Erickson, Hanser, Hatch and Sanders (2009).
We recognize that all emergent students need to build their alphabet knowledge to move into being a conventional reader and writer. Explicit and incidental instruction in the alphabet is required for this to occur.
We also recognize that all emergent and early conventional students need to build their phonemic awareness skills. Explicit and incidental instruction in the letter sounds and the ability to hear them in speech is required for this to occur.
