Interview with Felicity Fahey: Teaching Literacy in Primary Schools

Wednesday 19 November 2025

Literacy Specialist and Primary School deputy principal Felicity Fahey is part of The Teachers’ Institute Primary programme team. From 2026, she will be training aspiring Primary teachers on how best to teach literacy.

Tell us about your role with The Teachers’ Institute (TTI)

I started with TTI at the beginning of 2025, working alongside Nina [Dr Nina Hood, Academic Director] to develop the documentation needed for NZQA and Teaching Council approval of our new Primary teaching programme.

Since then, I’ve been involved in creating the teaching materials for the Primary courses we’ll be offering from next year.

How and why did you become a literacy specialist?

About seven years ago, our school began its structured literacy journey, and I was one of the leaders driving that shift. Learning about structured literacy and the science of reading really sparked my interest - I wanted to understand it deeply.

I completed Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) training, which is an approach

to teaching reading and spelling that is approved by the International Dyslexia Association. MSL is very explicit in the way that it is taught, and it is based on a strong evidence base. Importantly, it’s not just for students with dyslexia - it benefits all learners.

I’ve also been part of the Ministry of Education’s English curriculum writing team,which expanded my knowledge beyond structured literacy into the broader science of learning. I’ve done training in The Writing Revolution – a method that aims to help all students become proficient writers, readers and critical thinkers, and Think SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development), both of which have helped me understand how to teach writing effectively.

Why is literacy education so important?

Every part of the curriculum has a literacy base. If children can’t read and write, they struggle to access learning in other subjects - they can’t read instructions, questions, or express their understanding in writing.

Beyond school, literacy is essential for life. You need to be able to read forms, understand information, and communicate effectively to participate fully in society.

Every child has the right to receive the best possible literacy teaching so they can become active, capable members of their community.

What are the most important literacy skills for Kiwi kids to learn today to set them up for the future?

In the early years, it’s decoding - learning to connect sounds to letters. If children

can’t decode, they can’t get meaning from text. Oral language is also crucial. It helps children recognise whether a word sounds right, builds vocabulary, and supports both reading and writing.

Children also need explicit instruction when they are learning new skills; like

decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling), and reading comprehension and writing.

Writing and reading sentences is very different from speaking. Without strong skills in these areas, everything else becomes harder.

How is it best to train teachers to teach literacy?

Traditional university programmes with many layers of process can be slow to adapt. In my experience, there can be a disconnect between research and putting that into practice in real time. Trainee teachers might read about the science of reading, for example, but don’t get enough opportunities to apply it in real classrooms.

When I trained at Teachers College, it was very immersive - we were learning all day,

every day, and immediately putting theory into practice. That’s what I like about TTI’s school-based model: trainees learn the theory and then put it into action right away.

That practical application makes learning stick – the opportunity for learning and growth for trainees is far better.

What are some of the challenges teachers face today in teaching literacy to primary students?

One major challenge is the decline in oral language among five-year-olds.

Another is that, across New Zealand, schools are noticing that children are arriving less school ready. Many struggle to sit, listen, and follow instructions - it can take a couple of terms just to adjust to the routines of school.

Teachers are also managing increasing behaviour needs, often with three or more students in each class requiring significant support. We don’t have enough behavioural specialists in the system anymore, so teachers are stretched thin.

On top of that, there are so many changes happening in education - structured literacy, new maths approaches, curriculum updates - and it can be overwhelming for teachers to take it all on at once.

What makes Primary teaching a great career to go into?

In primary teaching, you have the potential to change children’s lives; see the ‘aha’ moments that children have when they learn something new.

Every day is different, you teach a wide range of subjects and provide a wide variety of learning experiences for students. You also get to keep learning and developing your practice.

There are opportunities for leadership and progression if that interests you, and you

get to work closely with others, really be part of a community.

How has literacy teaching changed in recent years?

There’s been a real shift toward structured literacy, which comes from a rigorous evidence base, rather than ideology. Before structured literacy, many schools followed the whole-language approach, or analytical phonics that didn’t link reading and spelling. Now, with systematic synthetic phonics, everything is connected - children learn a sound, read it, and write it. It’s much more engaging for them.

Teaching has also become more explicit and deliberate – we are explicitly teaching children, then they practice and apply their knowledge.

In addition, with different iterations of the English curriculum, there is now a clear scope and sequence. Teachers know what to teach and when, which helps ensure consistency across schools.

I believe we’re finally grounding our practice in the science of reading and learning, rather than theories and ideology.

Finally, what are your top three tips for new primary teachers who want to help students develop a love of literacy?

1. Understand the science of reading and structured literacy, how to implement it how explicit instruction supports it - not just what to teach but why.

2. Watch great teachers in action. You can learn so much from observing skilled practitioners.

3. Have a go and seek feedback. An objective perspective helps you refine your

practice and grow as a teacher.