Our Facilitation Team
Yolanda Soryl
Canterbury
Dr Wayne Duncan
Southland
Trudy Francis
Manawatū
Adie Bonisch
Otago
Ros Lugg
Canterbury
Michelle Nel
Auckland
Del Costello
Auckland
Louise Dempsey
Auckland
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
Our Experts are travelling Aotearoa to bring you Structured Literacy Approaches workshops for all kaiako
teaching years 0-8. Join our engaging facilitators in these hands-on workshops - we will cover:
Day 1: how reading develops, the principles of a ‘structured literacy approach’ and understanding the research, the importance of explicit teaching, the science of learning (SoL) and effective teaching pedagogy.
Day 2: the importance of oral language, formative assessment and enriched reading and writing practices, intervention strategies, lesson structuring, and ways to foster a literacy-rich environment.
Day Three is delivered online and directed at year group teacher streams (Year 0-3, Year 4-6, Years 7-8 ).
While the ‘concepts’ are similar, the learning for teachers in each cohort, they will be focused on year level expectations and include differentiation strategies.
This will cover
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Constrained skills
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An overview of handwriting
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Supporting 'at risk' learners to apply reading skills in context
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Supporting 'at risk' learners to develop foundation skills in writing
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Planning for coverage and planning for effective cross-curricular integration
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These 1.5-hour sessions bring together teachers from mixed streams to share insights, experiences, and successes from their literacy journeys.
Facilitated by a literacy expert, each session fosters collaborative learning and offers guidance to support effective literacy practices. This will cover:
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Assessment
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Planning
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Strengthening prior learning
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Understanding and teaching students with Dyslexia
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Strategies to embed and strengthen practice
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Our Grow Literacy Labs are pre-recorded 1-hour workshops designed to ensure your whole school is aligned in delivering effective, evidence-based literacy instruction. These sessions cater not only to teachers but also to school leaders and teacher aides, creating a unified approach to structured literacy.
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For kaiako, the labs cover topics like advanced phonics, growing engagement, and strategies for literacy and English language learners.
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Leaders gain insights into structured literacy implementation, change management, assessment, and sustainability.
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Teacher aides are supported with practical strategies for phonics, small group reading and writing, and oral language development.
Together, these labs ensure everyone is "singing from the same song sheet," building consistency and success across your school.
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Teachers will receive free access to the testing facilities on the StepsWeb online portal for the duration of the programme. This includes:
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Online assessment and diagnostic tools to measure literacy levels, reading fluency, and identify specific areas for support.
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Screening tools for auditory discrimination, phonological awareness, auditory sequential and working memory, alphabet and phonics knowledge, and non-word reading.
These resources empower teachers to gather valuable data, enabling targeted teaching that meets individual learner needs and improves overall literacy outcomes.
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The GROW Literacy Programme
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
Our PLD Programme Designers
Our team of Literacy Legends has designed a programme that leverages the science of learning and evidence-based practices in the execution of this content for your schools. Engage your teachers, leaders and teacher aides with learning designed by some of the biggest names in the Aotearoa literacy space.
Del Costello
Coactive Education Director and literacy expert Del Costello brings a wealth of knowledge around oral language, structured literacy practices and sustainable school change.
Louise Dempsey
Internationally recognised author of The Writing Book, The Reading Book & The Oral Language Book, Louise Dempsey brings her years of expertise in pedagogical practice to the table.
Ros Lugg
Ros Lugg, founder of StepsWeb literacy platform and dyslexia specialist, provides her experience as a language specialist and assessor to the programme as well as access to the StepsWeb diagnostic tools.
13 days to the event20 May 2025, 10:00 am – 11:00 amOnline via ZoomCome along to this free event hosted live with one of the GROWLiteracy Learning Designers, Del! Ask any questions you have about this PLD and see whether it is a good fit for your school in a no-obligation hui.
Our Facilitation Team:
Yolanda Soryl, Dr Wayne Duncan, Adie Bonisch, Louise Dempsey, Del Costello, Michelle Nel, Trudy Francis & Ros Lugg
Answering your questions
"What if our yr 0-3 teachers have already completed their training elsewhere?
That's ok! We will work with the rest of your teachers, as we have targeted Literacy PLD for each stream of teacher, yr 0-3, 4-6 & 7-8. We're all learning the same elements and evidence based pedagogical methods, so GROW Literacy will fit seamlessly with your current learning.
"Do you work with all teachers year 0-8?"
Yes! Our PLD is approved for teachers in year 0-3, 4-6 and 7-8 classrooms. We understand that each stream has different needs - so we have differentiated our third workshop by the year group stream to make sure the learning is appropriate and relevant for all teachers!
"Will this cost us anything?"
No! This PLD is fully funded through the MoE, we do not require any further resourcing, or the purchase of external material. In fact, we are offering free access to the StepsWeb diagnostic tools through this PLD that will allow your staff to be trained in assessment and data review without having to invest in tools that you may have to otherwise. We are also offering teacher aide and leader support through our GROW Literacy programme - at no cost!
"Will you come to our school?"
Yes! If your school has over 40 teachers, we will book in a time with you to host your in-person two day workshops at your school. If you haven't got 40 of your own teachers, feel free to gather a group from other schools, intermediates and relievers in your local area. Otherwise let us know where you are and we can see who else in your place is interested.
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
MoE Accreditied Provider
