Griffith University early literacy expert Dr Michelle Neumann welcomes a national early reading screening check announced by Education Minister Simon Birmingham earlier this year.
As part of her research, Dr Neumann developed and validated an Emergent Literacy Assessment app in 2016 which tests alphabet knowledge (letter names and sounds).
She is now extending the app to include other important early literacy skills such as phonological awareness, print concepts, and early writing.
“These early skills are all key predictors of future reading ability,’’ she says.
“Teaching children how to read is a balanced approach and Australian teachers follow the Australian Curriculum’s three main strands of language, literature, and literacy.
“This ensures students are taught cuing systems such as visual knowledge of letters and sounding out words, structural skills such as the way language is written with grammar and punctuation and how to comprehend and make meaning out of the words.”
Dr Neumann believes phonics is a strong component of