At Learning MATTERS, we believe tamariki have the right to benefit from evidence-based literacy education. That’s why we developed the iDeaL Approach—a comprehensive, evidence-based framework powered by Learning MATTERS.
The iDeaL Approach bridges research and practice to support literacy development across all year levels and tiers. Grounded in the science of reading and the principles of Structured Literacy, it provides educators and specialists with the tools, strategies, and assessments needed to deliver high-quality, aligned instruction.
The iDeaL Approach offers two options to support evidence-based alignment
The iDeaL Approach for Schools
The iDeaL Approach for Schools supports Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction, providing kaiako with a structured framework to deliver effective literacy teaching. Designed primarily for Years 0 to 8, this approach also offers flexibility to support learners in secondary settings.
Key features include:
Alignment with the Literacy Learning Progressions and the levels of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Diagnostic assessment tools to pinpoint teaching starting points within the stages.
Content that is regularly reviewed, updated, and expanded to support kaiako in delivering effective instruction.
The four stages integrate phonological awareness and spelling instruction to support both reading development and writing development (pending). They follow a clear, consistent scope and sequence, acting as a guide for systematic and cumulative instruction. This approach promotes clarity, purpose, and intentional teaching, empowering educators to deliver high-quality literacy instruction with confidence and precision while supporting learners in mastering skills at every stage.
The iDeaL Approach for Specialists
The iDeaL Approach for Specialists equips educators working in Tier 3 settings with evidence-based resources and tools for intervention. Whether in schools, tutoring environments, or private practice, this framework provides the necessary support for learners with diverse literacy needs.
Key features include:
A comprehensive diagnostic assessment to create personalised, prioritised teaching plans.
Systematic, cumulative resources designed to cater to diverse learner profiles.
Ongoing progress monitoring to track and refine intervention strategies.
The two phases allow personalised intervention instruction driven from a comprehensive assessment to meet individual student needs. The phases include opportunities for extensive scaffolding where required and build to the teaching of spelling rules and morphology. This ensures a personalised, systematic and cumulative approach that enables the effective delivery of high-quality intervention instruction and allows for interleaved practice of concepts and skills.
The iDeaL Approach Provides...
Assessments
Assessments in phonological awareness, writing and reading sounds in isolation and letter formation, and spelling to provide diagnostic assessment data/reports that specifically direct teaching and learning to the starting teaching points within the iDeaL stages/phases.
Scope and Sequence
A scope and sequence that is systematic and cumulative. It is purposefully slow and thorough and has been developed based on an Orton Gillingham scope and sequence.
Step-by-Step Resources
Concepts and lesson/tutoring plans that intentionally move slowly and build up over time, ensuring we help our children to develop the ability to lift words off the page and onto the page when writing.
Knowledge and Tools
Knowledge and tools to teach in a way that students know what to expect. Resources are included that provide scaffolded repetition to build mastery of skills and automaticity. The predictability of the lesson/tutoring plan ensures they can focus on what they are learning.
The iDeaL Approach Online Platform
The iDeaL Approach includes an online learning and resource platform that supports private intervention specialists and schools implementing a Structured Literacy approach.
