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Implementing PLD in Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
Typically there is a significant range of ability in the majority of middle and upper primary classrooms. Some students will present with junior primary skills, while others will be above their age-related peers. Catering for this wide range in ability is central to the PLD process. While well developed oral language skills are critical for gaining academic understanding of content and information as students, oral language skill development is still required for many classrooms. Supporting students who are experiencing difficulty, while extending students who are more than capable, is central to PLD’s Structured Synthetic Phonic (SSP) offering.
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PLD have created a downloadable Screening & Tracking Manual which outlines a step-by-step, term-by-term process. The manuals outlime the PLD’s Teaching and Screening & Tracking process.
- What to teach? When to teach? How to cater for the range in ability? PLD’s Phonic & Sight Word Sequence outlines what to teach and links with the Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 Screening & Tracking Manual.
- Stage 3+ Phonic & High Frequency Words Teaching Sequence Charts for each semester underpin the Teaching, Screening & Tracking required each term. Download the school and home versions, which have the year and semester identifiers removed, HERE.
- What to screen? When to screen? How to screen? and How to report on the data? Download the Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 Screening & Tracking Manual. Each manual outlines detailed instructions, the materials required, time allocations and discontinue rules.
Classroom teachers should begin by enrolling in professional development. Whether new to PLD this year, requiring a refresher (if the last training was 3+ years) or changing year levels we have listed out the options below.
- Option 1: The most time-efficient and cost-effective way to upskill with PLD is by enrolling in the Implementing SSP in Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 online course. The 2.5 hour course covers Australian Professional Development Standards. (Installment 1 is available as a free preview).
- Option 2: Book and attend one of the PLD Literacy and Learning seminars held throughout Australia.
- Option 3: Explore the educational video resources on our website, such as “PLD’s Essential Overviews” for each term, as shown below.
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
If you have completed PLD professional development within the last three years, we recommend attending a refresher course to maintain the successful implementation of PLD’s SSP Programs. Explore more below.
PLD’s titles are based on international research, independently assessed by third parties and constantly updated as new research becomes available. PLD’s evidence-based programs are available in Starter Packs. Each Starter Pack contains a 15% discount. These recommended programs are essential to successful implementation.
Unsure what PLD programs the school already has or are needed? Print off the PLD Program Audit Form. This form can be used to establish current titles in the school but also to identify essential titles required for each classroom.
The downloadable PLD Tracking Sheets are central to PLD’s approach. The sheets link PLD’s Phonic & Sight Word Sequence with the Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 Screening & Tracking Manual. Through the beginning and end of term progress checks, children’s abilities are plotted onto the Tracking Sheets, creating three groups, which form the basis of the targeted teaching. This process enables the classroom teacher to report on skill development of the class and simultaneously to establish an implementation plan.
Get Ready to Use the PLD Tracking Sheets in a Classroom Setting
- Register for and download the PLD Tracking Sheets HERE.
Note: For whole-school implementation, this should already be completed by a school leader or admin.
How to Screen & Track with PLD
1: Screen the Students in the Class
Within each term, conduct targeted teaching and screening. Scores are entered into the PLD Tracking Sheets.
2: Enter the results into the PLD Tracking Sheets
The results from each round of screening will need to be entered into the PLD Tracking Sheets. To assist with entering the data, refer to the Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 Screening & Tracking Manual which comprehensively outlines PLD’s Screening & Tracking process.
Using the PLD Tracking Sheets effectively requires confidence with three key spreadsheet skills. If required, PLD have provided assistance with these functions in the training video below.
3: Cluster the Class into Three Targeted Teaching Groups
Rather than arranging students in alphabetical order, establish a targeted implementation plan in which high performing, average and delayed students are grouped together to create three teaching groups.
- Completion of professional development either through an online course, seminar or consultation with Diana Rigg.
- Download the essential Teaching & Screening tools for this year including:
- Review the essential programs already in the school and select which programs are needed for the year ahead.
- Download and set up the PLD Tracking Sheets, if not already completed by the school leader or admin. Watch both the videos:
This four-step process should enable middle and upper teachers to implement effective Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) within their classes. This will contribute towards Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students achieving a positive start to their schooling.
If you have a question about implementing PLD or any of the steps listed above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch through our online chat in the bottom right corner of this screen. We are always happy to help.