A brief description of the National Accelerated Literacy Program

This article discusses the theoretical underpinnings and teaching sequences and strategies of the National Accelerated Literacy Program, which is being introduced into Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training schools and is already in place in some schools in other states. The Program is based on the understanding that learning to be a literate member of a society requires a student to learn the discourse or tacit ground-rules that apply to literacy lessons in schools. The implications for teaching that come out of this understanding include using texts that provide literate models for teaching how literate discourse works, and using supportive teaching or scaffolding around these literate texts.