About Joy Allcock

Joy Allcock is a distinguished literacy researcher, author and educator, deeply committed to advancing literacy instruction. She began her academic journey with a New Zealand Diploma in Occupational Therapy before undertaking postgraduate training in family therapy in both New Zealand and the UK and completing a Tutor Training certificate while she was a tutor at the New Zealand School of Occupational Therapy. In 2000, she completed a Master of Education degree with first class honours from Massey University in New Zealand.

Joy’s Research Focus: The Shine Literacy Project

Joy's leadership in the Shine Literacy Project from 2014 to 2019 has left an indelible mark on literacy practices in schools. The project, which evaluated the impact of a speech-to-sound-to-print approach in early literacy education, was a resounding success. The groundbreaking research, designed and evaluated by Professor James Chapman, continues to benefit students through Years 3-8, even after the project's formal end.

Joy’s Latest Publications

As a prolific author, Joy has published a range of influential resources aimed at enhancing literacy education, including:

• The Code Is the Key 1 (2024, Code-Ed Publishing)
• Elevate & Evaluate (2023, Code-Ed Publishing)
• Key Foundations (2022, Code-Ed Publishing)
• Sort Out Your Syllables (2020, Code-Ed Publishing)
• Catch Up Your Code (2019, Code-Ed Publishing)
• Spell-It (2014, MultiLit Pty Ltd)
• Sounds Like Fun (2013, MJA Publishing)
• Spelling Under Scrutiny (2009, MJA Publishing)
• Switch on to Spelling (2003, MJA Publishing)

Her contributions also include The Best Tree Fort Ever (2006, Reed Publishing), and the Word-Level Readers series (2008, Gilt Edge Publishing), where she developed the concept for phoneme-grapheme decodable readers. Joy’s work has earned her recognition, including a mayoral Certificate of Recognition in 2015 and a finalist position in the Copyright Licensing NZ Educational Publishing Awards in 2010.

Joy’s Global Recognition

Beyond her publications, Joy has shared her expertise globally through presentations and workshops. Her influence has been felt at the International Reading Association Convention and various educational conferences across Asia and Australia. Her pioneering work and dedication have been acknowledged through awards and grants, and she has been a valued member of the National Literacy Reference Group, contributing to New Zealand’s national literacy strategies.

Joy Allcock's innovative approach and passion for literacy continue to impact educators and students worldwide, making her a leading voice in literacy education.