Hidden Gems

16/02/2026

Structured literacy is paramount in the 2026 English curriculum, but what does it really mean.

29/01/2026

Here to help parents get to grips with the new English Curriculum.

22/01/2026

📚 Important Update for Parents: What the 2026 English Curriculum Means for Your Child In Year 1 to 10.

From Term 1 2026, New Zealand primary, intermediate and high schools are rolling out the updated English curriculum built around a structured literacy approach — and it’s worth knowing what that actually means.

👉 No fluff. It’s about skills that work
Structured literacy isn’t a gimmick or a “new fad”. It’s a systematic, research-based way of teaching reading, writing and spelling. Teachers focus explicitly on:
• Sounds and spelling rules (phonics)
• How words are built and used (vocabulary, morphology and syntax)
• Strong handwriting and fluency
• Reading for meaning (comprehension)
• Writing with purpose and clarity

This isn’t about guessing words from pictures or context clues — it’s about knowing the nuts and bolts of how English works so children don’t have to guess their way to literacy.

A lot is happening in the English and Te Reo Rangatira space, from the introduction of structured literacy approaches and Te Ara Tohu to the roll out of new phonics checks and Hihira Weteoro, and changes to the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. This article runs through some of th...

04/09/2023

24/07/2023

19/07/2023

Being taught that reading was more than a tool to do my schoolwork, is something I will be for ever thankful for. Remember to put the joy and the wonder of what can be discovered into reading.

13/07/2023

Knowing how and when to use certain paragraph structures, removes not only stress but frees up processing space in the brain. As students become confident with the structures, their analytical abilities go up, simple because they have one less thing to think about.

12/07/2023

From Year 9 onwards, it is so important that teenagers are taught to work smarter not harder. One element of this is the teaching of different paragraph styles, which when written well lead to great grades.