TICK Literacy

In 2004, our journey into the realm of literacy instruction was sparked by growing concerns surrounding New Zealand's use of balanced literacy and the approaching school age of our at-risk children. In our quest for more information and guidance on alternative approaches, we serendipitously discovered the UK’s RRF (Reading Reform Foundation) website and forum. This discovery was particularly timely, as England was also embarking on its transition from a balanced literacy approach to a structured synthetic phonics method. Empowered by this newfound knowledge and profoundly inspired by the mentorship of Mona McNee and her programme, 'Step by Step’, we embarked on a transformative journey. Our initial use of synthetic phonics to teach our own children soon extended to the local community and, eventually, to other teachers and parents across New Zealand. What initially took form as 'A Step at a Time', a synthetic phonics programme tailored to the Kiwi accent, has evolved over the past decade and a half into the robust and comprehensive structured programme now known as TICK. We hope you find our products both enjoyable and enriching.