The Better Start Literacy Approach is an example of a ‘structured literacy approach’ that is based on the science of reading. The Government recently announced that all teachers in state-funded schools will need to teach young children to read using structured literacy teaching methods from the start of next year.

Professor Gail Gillon will share the story of how the Better Start Literacy Approach developed from small pilot research trials in Christchurch schools to accelerating early literacy learning for over 45,000 5- and 6-year-old children right across our country.

“It’s fantastic that the Government is making a further significant investment in structured literacy approaches within our primary schools. Our Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA), developed by our team at the University of Canterbury is an example of a structured literacy approach. Since 2020 the Ministry of Education has been funding the roll out of BSLA. Teachers in over 900 primary schools across the country are now successfully implementing the approach in their junior classrooms.”

Find out at her free public talk on Wednesday evening, 25 September, how you can help your child or grandchild learn to read using this method, how structured literacy teaching supports children with dyslexia or word reading problems and learn about the scientific evidence that supports structured literacy teaching.

About the speaker

Director of the Child Wellbeing Institute at UC, Professor Gail Gillon is a world-leading expert in children’s speech, language and reading development. She has won several awards for her research excellence including the University of Canterbury’s Research Medal and Research Innovation Medal. She has co-led the development of the Better Start Literacy Approach, which is now being implemented by over 6000 junior-schools' teachers in New Zealand and is attracting significant international attention.

UC Tauhere Connect public lecture: The Better Start Literacy Approach success story Presented by Professor Gail Gillon, UC Education, 7pm – 8pm, Wednesday 25 September 2024, in the Central lecture theatre (C Block), Ilam campus, University of Canterbury, Christchurch. Register to attend free at: www.canterbury.ac.nz/ucconnect.
This event will be livestreamed on UC’s Facebook page, is free to register to attend in person and can be viewed later on YouTube. Videos of UC Tauhere Connect talks are available a week after the live lecture. Check them out here.