To stream or not to stream in structured reading and spelling lessons?
‘Streaming’ is a dirty word in education, but so was ‘phonics’ once upon a time. We think that general beliefs about streaming (ability grouping) deserves a rethink. What if we consider ability grouping from a standpoint of targeted reading and spelling instruction? Does differentiation offer what it promises, or is it a poor remedy for low-quality teaching and high-variance curriculum? And, given the huge variance of basic literacy skills in most Australian classrooms, can we really teach all students reading and spelling at grade level?
Read the entire blog.
Upcoming Training opportunities
This Playberry Laser Tier 2 training day is for teachers and support staff using the Playberry Laser Tier 2 resources in their schools. Participants will learn how to deliver Tier 2 Intervention Lessons, assess progress, and access resources. The day also includes observing a demonstration lesson with students.
Participants must bring a mini whiteboard and a whiteboard marker.
Morning tea is provided. BYO Lunch.
Star of the Sea School, 333 Military Rd, Henley Beach SA 5022
9:00 am – 2:30pm.
This is a FREE SESSION for leaders who support staff using Playberry Laser Tier 1-3 resources in their school. The Playberry Laser Team will go through specific criteria that leaders need to be aware of when teaching Structured Literacy at their school, such as:
- Essential routines & procedures
- Assessments – when, why and what to do with data
- Teachers building their own review sets for targeted teaching
- Accountability
- Intervention dosage
- new resources to improve student performance
Leaders can also ask questions and network with other leaders who use Playberry Laser Resources.
Venue: Star of the SEA School, 333 Military Rd, Henley Beach SA 5022
Date: Thursday 15th May, 2025
Time: 4:30-6:00 pm
Phase 0 Training Day - June 16
Playberry Laser Phase 0 Training is for teachers using the Playberry Laser Phase 0 resources with mid-year transition reception students. The Phase 0 Program introduces students to the alphabet, basic phonemic awareness and sound-symbol correspondences.
Phase 2 Structured Writing Lessons are ready!
For Year 1 teachers using our Structured Writing Lessons, Lessons 11-20 are now up on the platform! Enjoy taking your students into the world of Fantastic Mr.Fox while teaching vocabulary, building background knowledge and teaching sentence structure.
Playberry Laser and EMP (Explicit Maths Program) have partnered to give all Playberry Laser subscriber schools a 10% discount on their initial year’s EMP materials. When ordering materials from the EMP website, use the discount code playberryfirsttime10 to lock in the discount. EMP will verify all code users.
With over half a century of collective experience in teaching mathematics and conducting research into mathematics and mathematics education, the EMP team, including Dr. Wendy Taylor, David Morkunas, Toni Hatten-Roberts, and Ollie Lovell, is driven by one purpose: to design a mathematics program that guarantees success for every student.
Becoming a Better Maths Teacher
Friday 27th June, Prince Alfred College, Adelaide.
This full-day intensive training will guide you through practical, evidence-based strategies to elevate your classroom practice. Highlights of the day include:
- Maximising learning in the first 10 minutes of a lesson and setting the tone for the whole lessons
- Crafting effective worked examples to ensure students grasp new concepts with clarity
- Streamlining feedback practices to make giving and gathering feedback efficient and impactful
- Sustaining your growth and inspiration as a mathematics teacher throughout your career
Each strategy will be underpinned by research and brought to life with real-world examples (and non-examples) from the classroom. You’ll have the chance to engage in discussions, debate ideas, and rehearse techniques with a community of like-minded educators. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies for your next lesson and tools to build long-term success in your teaching journey.
Who should attend?
This event is perfect for secondary and upper primary mathematics teachers, whether you’re just starting your career or leading a department.
The discount code playberry50 will secure $50 off each enrolment.
EMP will verify all code users.
Pre-Order your Tier 2 Games Packs Now
The Playberry Laser Tier 2 Set 1 Games Pack is used in Lessons 1-41 of the Tier 2 Intervention Program. The games are what bring students back to intervention sessions! These are currently being printed and we expect them to be ready in 3-4 weeks. We expect a rush on these so pre-order now!
Additional Phase 2 Reading Revision Slides & Worksheets
Attention Year 1 Teachers! Look at our new Phase 2 Reading Revision Resources. 10 minutes of targeted reading review can make all the difference for your students who need more time on tricky code. Watch the information video to learn how and when to use these resources.
