The Big Six of Literacy: a guide for families

Research has shown that there are six key components that contribute to successful beginning reading. Because of the importance of these components, they have become known as the 'Big Six’: oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. In the early years of schooling, literacy lessons will incorporate the Big Six.

Further reading

Cairney T (28 November, 2020) Literacy families and learning, Blogspot http://trevorcairney.blogspot.com/

Anderson R, Hiebert E, Scott J and Wilkinson L (1985) Becoming a nation of readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading, US Department of Education

Hayes DP and Ahrens MG (1988) ‘Vocabulary simplification for children: A special case of “motherese?”’ Journal of Child Language, 15: 395–410