Structured Literacy

“If a child memorises ten words, the child can only read ten words. But if the child learns ten sounds, the child will be able to read 350 three-sound words, 4,320 four-sound words, and 21,650 five-sound words.”— Martin Kozloff, 2002

What is Structured Literacy?

At Word Whizz, we use Structured Literacy, an evidence-based approach to teaching reading and writing. It's grounded in scientific research about how the brain learns to read, making it one of the most effective ways to support young learners. If you’ve ever wondered what Structured Literacy is, you’re not alone—this teaching method is becoming the new standard across Aotearoa.

Unlike other approaches, Structured Literacy is explicit, systematic, and highly sequenced. Every skill is taught in a clear order, ensuring children build confidence as they master each new step.

The Structured Literacy Approach: How It Works

A Structured Literacy approach begins with the fundamentals and gradually builds toward more complex aspects of literacy. One of the most important parts of this method is teaching letter-sound relationships.

For example:

  • The letter "b" makes the /b/ sound, as in bat or ball
  • The letter "s" makes the /s/ sound, as in sun or sit

As students move forward, they learn more complex spelling patterns. For instance, the long /ā/ sound can appear in:

  • Cake (“a”)
  • Rain (“ai”)
  • Play (“ay”)

Word Whizz's structured lessons help children understand that one sound can be written in different ways. This is a key part of a strong Structured Literacy approach.

Structured Literacy vs Balanced Literacy

A common question parents ask is the difference between Structured Literacy vs Balanced Literacy. While Balanced Literacy often focuses on exposing children to lots of books and using cues such as looking at the picture to guess words, Structured Literacy takes a more direct route—teaching the foundational skills explicitly so children can decode words independently.

This structured method is especially beneficial for children with learning differences like dyslexia, but it supports all learners by building skills in a logical, repeatable way.

Structured Literacy NZ: What’s Changing?

Starting in Term 1, 2025, all New Zealand state schools will move toward a Structured Literacy approach. While individual schools can choose the order of sounds they teach, most follow a similar scope and sequence.

At Word Whizz, our workshops aligns closely with this nationwide shift, making it easy for your child to practise what they’re learning at school with our guided online workshops. 

Why Word Whizz?

Our method is:

  • Research-backed
  • Step-by-step
  • Parent-supported
  • Fun and practical

By helping your child build skills from the ground up, Word Whizz supports lifelong reading and writing success. Start learning with your child today.