Learning Matters Ltd

We're nearly there! The Learning is Learning Symposium is just around the corner.

If you're joining us next week, we've sent through an email with everything you need to know before the day so you can arrive feeling prepared and ready to make the most of the symposium.

Can't spot it? Be sure to check your spam or junk folder. If it's still missing, just get in touch with us at [email protected]

We're looking forward to welcoming everyone and sharing a fantastic day of learning, connection, and inspiration together. See you soon!

Over the past two weeks, Implementation Coach Ruth Blair has facilitated staff meetings for schools keen to learn more about explicit instruction and what this looks like across the curriculum – from primary to secondary. The takeaway? This is for every teacher, no matter your context.

Throughout the meeting, we highlighted the importance of active participation and eliciting frequent responses. We call this the ‘on-ramp’ to the three lane teaching highway. Read more about how this drives student engagement here: https://bit.ly/TeachingHighwayBlog

It’s a busy time of year, but these educators showed up open to learning and reflection - knowing that the success of the afternoon lay in their active participation. Thank you, Queenstown Primary and Māruawai College (Gore) for your dedication to what really matters; the delivery of our content.

Keen to learn more?

Our last Explicit Instruction workshop for 2026 will be in Invercargill, 18/19 August, week 5 of Term 3:
https://bit.ly/ExplicitInstructionInvercargill

Our last Secondary workshop, (online) Bringing Literacy to Life in Secondary Classrooms, 18 August, week 5 of Term 3:
https://bit.ly/LiteracyInSecondarySettings

Join our FREE Strengthening Practice: Reading and Spelling Beyond the Basics workshop series, delivered online across 3 x 90-minute sessions.

You'll walk away with practical ways to:
- Build a literacy block that works for all learners
- Use assessment data to inform your teaching
- Get more from shared texts, read-alouds, decodables, authentic texts, and fluency practice
- Teach with greater clarity, confidence, and responsiveness

Whether you're looking to strengthen what you're already doing or refine how the different pieces fit together, these sessions are designed to help you take your practice to the next level.

📅 Years 1-4: Starts 30 July
📅 Years 4-8: Starts 27 July

https://bit.ly/JoinUsForFREE

Perfect for classroom teachers and leaders wanting practical, evidence-based ideas they can use straight away.

At Bell Block School in New Plymouth, a Year 0–8 kura with 23 teachers, structured literacy has become a whole-school focus built on consistency, collaboration, and strong leadership.

Now in their second year of partnering with Learning MATTERS, the school has progressed from implementing spelling and decodable reading to strengthening authentic reading instruction and using data more effectively to identify and support learners who need additional help.

A key part of their success has been a dedicated literacy leadership team that keeps everyone moving in the same direction. Teachers have been supported through classroom modelling, coaching, and practical guidance, helping to create consistent approaches across the school so students experience the same high-quality instruction no matter which classroom they're in.

The school has also developed clearer systems for tracking progress and identifying next steps. This means teachers have a better understanding of what their students need and can make informed decisions about instruction and support.

What stands out most is the shared commitment across the school. Teachers and leaders describe feeling aligned around a common approach, with greater confidence in their practice and a clearer understanding of how literacy is taught at Bell Block School.

At Learning MATTERS, our Implementation Coaches work alongside schools in practical, day-to-day ways, modelling lessons, supporting planning, helping teams make sense of student data, and building the confidence needed to embed sustainable change. Bell Block School's journey shows what can happen when schools are supported to implement evidence-based practice over time, with the right systems and support in place.

https://bit.ly/LMSchoolSupport

Nestled in Western Southland, Hauroko Valley Primary School is a small rural school setting the standard of structured literacy practice pretty high!

Guided by their powerful motto, “Tonu tō tātou pai / Always our Best,” this kura has embodied a deep commitment to consistent, school-wide structured literacy practice over the past three years.

The dedicated team began with a focus on spelling, attributing their success to having the entire team involved in professional development right from the beginning. This has meant their learning support staff now have the knowledge and skills to confidently run small group interventions for both spelling and reading.

Fast forward three years, and the team has embedded both junior and senior decodable practices and is now consolidating their work with authentic texts. They also have a strong focus on Explicit Instruction, strengthening their content, design, and most importantly consistent delivery across the full primary.

The team at Hauroko Valley School are an asset to the Western Southland region, with teachers frequently asking to visit and observe their practice, especially in the Year 7 & 8 learning space.

When reflecting on what has made structured literacy sustainable, they highlight the ease of access to resources on the platform, the ongoing evolution of their practice, the Learning MATTERS team being one step ahead, and the strong relationship built with their Implementation Coach, Darnelle Darlison.

Principal Julia Waikato also mentioned the ability to grow leadership and coaching capabilities with staff as Literacy Leads has allowed staff to be truly reflective on their practice.

This is a school where commitment, clarity, and collaboration come together to achieve the very best for every learner.