Professional Learning

We are delighted to support educators with various professional learning development opportunities in their teaching using a structured literacy approach.

In 2025, we are continuing to run our free professional learning workshop, “Cracking the alphabetic code! Read, write and spell with mastery. Implementing a systematic, synthetic phonics approach”. This is a one-day introductory workshop, assisting teachers in gaining an understanding of the key theories behind the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning and how this is effectively implemented in Year 0-3 classrooms.

In addition, we are also presenting a follow-up workshop, “Structured Literacy in the Classroom. Practical Tips for Teachers. A hands-on workshop using Sunshine resources in the classroom – a follow-up one-day workshop for teachers who understand the why and what of structured literacy and are ready to enhance their practice.” This workshop is for teachers who have attended workshop 1 and/or are confident in their understanding of the Science of Reading and Learning.

Both workshops are presented by highly-skilled New Zealand teacher, Jude Tabuteau.

Our 23-minute professional development video here supports teachers in their teaching of synthetic phonics. The video explains what a structured literacy approach involves and how it can be implemented in the classroom. It also explores the key features of the Sunshine Phonics programme, showing how it is structured, the order of teaching, what the books contain and the various elements of the programme.

You can also watch a video presentation by Jude Tabuteau introducing the Sunshine Phonics Decodable Series here. This is a practical, more detailed look at the Sunshine Phonics programme.

Our video about the Sunshine Online Decodable Library describes the features of the Decodable Library and how it can be used by teachers to support their structured literacy teaching.

In addition, we have 10 videos following a year 2/3 teacher as she uses the Sunshine Phonics Decodables books with a student. Click the PL Videos button above, to view them.

Testimonials

Read what attendees said about our professional learning workshop presented by Jude Tabuteau in 2024.

Highlights of the day were "Getting to have a dedicated time to process and ask questions, make notes and really think about how I am going with using the Sunshine programme and what I can do better/change/tweak. Seeing others that are invested in literacy in NZ, networking with them and hearing their perspectives. Going with my colleagues so we have a shared understanding and purpose. Talking about the challenges and barriers to S/L and how to overcome them, lessen or work around things outside of our control. Knowing that things are moving forward, literacy is a focus for other educators and that this is important! "

Highlights of the day were "The science of reading and just hearing the why again. Looking at the difference between a balanced approach [level 1 book] and a decodable [level 1 book] was also an 'aha' moment."

Highlights of the day were "Learning from Jude, who is a current teacher of what she was explaining, was invaluable. She was so knowledgeable and great at presenting in an engaging way. There were too many highlights!"

Highlights of the day were "The succinct manner of delivery. Quality of resources and having a teacher speak monologue that we all understood because we speak the same language. The implementation of the program through the exercise book sheets. So you could begin teaching it the following day if you had the resources."

"Perfect - best PLD I’ve received in such a long time. Mantra - For teachers by teachers. Resounding Yes from me. Jude kept relating to her own kids in class just yesterday. Teachers respect that. I have already advocated for some of our teachers to attend."

"This was a workshop/course that covered so much but at a pace and space that was clear and not overwhelming. The fact that it was FREE was so good for us schools that have no money at all."

"I would whole-heartedly recommend this course to others. It is a comprehensive guide to how you can implement an effective programme using the Sunshine scope and sequence and products. Our whole junior team attended and have come away inspired and ready to make changes next term. We are very grateful for the opportunity!"