Online course in Teaching

Teaching Phonics in Early Childhood

Learn what phonics is and how to teach it in the early years

Teaching Phonics in Early Childhood

Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
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Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
More courses
  • Duration 2 weeks
  • Weekly study 1 hour

Learn evidence-based skills for teaching phonics to young children

Intentionally and explicitly teaching the relationship between letters and sounds through play-based pedagogies is a crucial part of children’s literacy development. There is much popular debate surrounding this topic, amongst researchers, teachers, parents and education authorities. This course will share research-based knowledge and skills around code-based literacy in early childhood.

What topics will you cover?

  • What is code-related literacy?
  • What is phonics?
  • Why is phonics important in early childhood settings?
  • What are some evidence-based strategies for teaching phonics?

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Describe code-related literacy, including phonics, phonemic awareness and phonological awareness
  • Explain why teaching and learning code-related literacy is important
  • Identify an appropriate strategy for teaching code-related literacy in early childhood settings

Who is the course for?

This is a general, introductory course aimed at anyone supporting children to prepare for school, including parents, educators and workers in early childhood education and care (ECEC), centre directors, early primary school teachers, and education leaders.

For Australian educators, this course aligns with the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST):

  • Know the content and how to teach it
    • 2.1, 2.5
  • Engage in professional learning
    • 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
  • Engage professionally with colleagues
    • 7.4

For Australian educators in before-school settings, this course aligns with the following National Quality Standard (NQS):

  • Quality Area 1 – Educational program and practice
    • Element 1.2.1 Intentional teaching: educators are deliberate, purposeful, and thoughtful in their decisions and actions.
    • Element 1.2.2 Response teaching and scaffolding: Educators respond to children’s ideas and play and extend children’s learning through open-ended questions, interactions and feedback.

Who will you learn with?

Stacey Campbell

Stacey Campbell

Early childhood literacy lecturer in the Faculty of Education at QUT. I am an experienced teacher whose research explores code-related literacy, phonics, and teachers’ beliefs and practices.

Who developed the course?

QUT is a leading Australian university ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide by the 2015-16 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in Brisbane, it attracts 47,000 students.

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