Teaching and Learning

MultiLit

Academic Support

MultiLit

Mel Ziepe
Multi Lit Coordinator

MultiLit

Brad Tyrrell

MultiLit (Making Up Lost Time In Literacy) is an extensively research-based programme that has been developed for low progress readers. It employs explicit, systemic individual instruction focusing on what scientific research has shown to be the essential components of learning to read, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Reading is the product of decoding and listening comprehension. To be able to decode words, students need to be able to segment and blend the sounds in spoken words (phonemic awareness) and to have a full grasp of letter-sound correspondences (phonics). In order to understand the words that they read, students need to be able to decode words easily and quickly (fluency), know the meanings of the words they read (vocabulary) and have a good understanding of spoken language forms together with a good general knowledge (comprehension). In summary MultiLit focuses on the five key areas outlined above.

MultiLit (“Making Up Lost Time In Literacy”) is a leading provider of effective literacy instruction in Australasia.

FAQs

How is the MultiLit programme delivered at Scotch College?

This intensive one-on-one Literacy Intervention Programme is individually tailored to meet the needs of each student. The programme includes either the MultiLit Word Attack or the Extension component as well as reinforced reading, sight words, spelling, homophones, dictation and comprehension.

The lessons range from 45 minutes to an hour which the student attends three times a week onsite with a trained staff tutor. Students will either attend MultiLit for a semester or more depending on their needs.

The MultiLit lessons will be timetabled either before school or during their non-core subjects so as to cause minimum disruption to their regular classroom programme.

How are students identified for MultiLit in the Junior School?

The class teachers and the support teacher identify the boys based on information gathered from spelling, reading, phonic assessments and performance in Years 1 and 2. Students are identified as needing specific decoding intervention so they can access text. Students with a learning disability of dyslexia are recommended for the programme as it primarily focuses on decoding and encoding. Once identified, they are referred to the MultiLit Coordinator who will administer a MultiLit placement test.

How are students identified for the MultiLit programme in the Middle School?

Primary identification of boys new to Scotch College for this programme, is through looking at reading and spelling results from the Orientation Day Academic Assessment Services tests. Parents will then be contacted by the Head of Academic Support or by the Middle School psychologist to give them information of the test results and of the MultiLit service that the school provides.

Which students are offered the MultiLit programme?

MultiLit is offered on a needs basis to students from Years 3 to 8 who show a significant discrepancy between their chronological age and their reading and spelling age.

Is it an additional cost to parents?

This service is offered at a highly reduced rate and is on a cost recovery basis only. The extra cost is only used to pay tutor wages and for the administration of the programme.

How long does the MultiLit Programme run?

MultiLit runs for a minimum of 16 weeks. Generally, students participate in the programme for 12 months.

What happens if my child misses a MultiLit lesson?

We offer at least three replacement lessons a semester to cover any absences that occur due to school commitments such as excursions or sporting events.

How will I know if my son is progressing?

We monitor and track the progress of each student and then meet to discuss these results with the parents as well as inviting the parents to observe their son working.