ABC Education Literacy Mini Lessons

The Department of Education collaborated with ABC Education to develop a series of mini lessons for students from Foundation to Year 2, designed and presented by Victorian teachers using the Literacy Teaching Toolkit. While the mini lessons are aimed at a student audience, they demonstrate the effectiveness of explicit teaching of a single focus in 10 minutes (HITS).

High Frequency words

In this lesson, students learn how to find and recognise a selection of high frequency words. Oliver demonstrates how to search for high frequency words when reading and to recognise high frequency words quickly. He provides opportunities for students to practice recalling high frequency words.

 

See also High Frequency Words.

Alliteration

In this lesson, students learn how to recognise and use alliteration. Tahlia demonstrates how to hear alliteration while reading, and she provides the opportunity for students to write a book using alliteration

 

See also Phonological awareness lesson: level 1 alliteration.

Rhyming

In this lesson, students will learn how to hear and identify rhyming words. Mr Meissner demonstrates how to find rhyming words in a book, and he provides opportunities for students to make their very own treasure box of rhyming things

 

See also Rhyming words (developing phonological and orthographical knowledge)

Suffixes

In this lesson, students learn how to find and use base words and suffixes. Tahlia demonstrates how to find suffixes in a book, and she provides opportunities for students to build new words using suffixes

 

See also Suffixes (developing morphological knowledge).

Syllables

In this lesson, students learn how to hear and identify syllables. Oliver demonstrates how to hear the beat in words and break up words into syllables to decode faster.

 

See also Level 1 syllable lesson.

Pronouns

In this lesson, students learn how to identify and use pronouns and nouns.  Ms Sheddan demonstrates how to recognise pronouns and nouns in a book and how to use pronouns to replace nouns when writing.

 

See also Pronoun reference.

Decoding unfamiliar words using segmenting individual sounds

In this lesson, students will learn how to segment words into individual sounds to decode words. Ms McAlister demonstrates how to segment words into individual sounds, blend the sounds together and re-read while enjoying a book. She provides opportunities for students to use their phonological knowledge when reading.

 

See also Modelled reading lessons.

Decoding unfamiliar words using segmenting and blending

In this lesson, students learn how to segment words into smaller parts to decode unfamiliar words. Ms McAlister demonstrates how to segment using blends, diagraphs and compound words; blend the segments; and reread while enjoying a book. She provides opportunities for students to make their own compound-word games.

 

See also Segmenting and blending sounds in words.

Decoding unfamiliar words using onset and rime

In this lesson, students learn how to use context to decode the meaning of unfamiliar words. Leanne demonstrates how to use clues in the text and illustrations, make connections and ask questions when reading.

 

See also Letters and sounds (developing phonological and orthographical knowledge).

Decoding unfamiliar words using context

In this lesson, students learn how to use context to decode the meaning of unfamiliar words. Leanne demonstrates how to use clues in the text and illustrations, make connections and ask questions when reading.

 

See also Defining words in context.

Reading comprehension using inferencing

In this lesson, students learn how to infer when reading a book. Annaka demonstrates how to put together the word clues, picture clues and prior knowledge to comprehend a story.

 

See also Making inferences about characters.

Writing a retell

In this lesson, students learn how to write a retell. Alex demonstrates the important features of retelling a story, and she provides the opportunity for students to attempt to write their own.

 

See also Imaginative retellings.

Writing a procedural text

In this lesson, students learn how to write a type of procedural text about making a vegetable truck. Annaka demonstrates the important features of a recipe, and she provides the opportunity for students to make their own vegetable truck and write the recipe.

 

See also Language experience – making bread.

Writing an explanation text

In this lesson, students will learn how to write a type of explanation text about the life cycle of a caterpillar. Alex demonstrates the important features of writing a life cycle diagram, and she provides the opportunity for students to write a life cycle explanation.

 

See also Reading labelled diagrams.

Writing a narrative text

In this lesson, students learn how to write a narrative. Ms Sheddan demonstrates the important features of a narrative such as problem and solution, and how to use think aloud to write a story.

 

See also Writing process.

Writing a non-fiction text

In this lesson, students will learn how to write a type of non-fiction text about an animal. Mr Meissner demonstrates the important features of writing a factual animal text, and he provides the opportunity for students to write about their favourite animal.

 

See also Structures and features of a non-fiction text.