Our school curriculum is organised under three broad areas.

 

·   Literacy – English Program

·   Numeracy – Mathematics Program

·   Integrated Units – other key learning areas (Science, SOSE, HPE, Technology, The Arts)

 

In each area, The Early Years Curriculum Guidelines and the QCARF Essentials have been used to determine and design the intended curriculum. By having programs and integrated units that explicitly state what is to be taught, teachers are better able to focus on pedagogy and respond to student needs.

 

 

The teaching of Literacy and Numeracy is the school’s core business. It is at the heart of everything we do and permeates all aspects of our school curriculum. The teaching of English and Mathematics is paramount in providing students with the foundations to become successful learners across a range of learning areas and contexts. School programs in these two areas have been designed to develop students’ literacy and numeracy in increasing sophistication from Prep to Year 7.

 

English teaching is centred round the school’s English Program and its related policies. The program’s year level overviews detail the concepts and skills that need to be taught in the following areas:

·   Reading and Viewing

·   Writing and Designing

·   Speaking and Listening

·   Language Elements

o        Spelling (4 knowledges using THRASS/Soundwaves approach)

o        Grammar (phrase and word, sentence and clause, and text level)

o        Punctuation

o        Handwriting

 

 The program’s policies in the areas of Reading, Writing and Spelling outline the agreed teaching approaches and expectations in these key literacy areas.

 

The Go Maths! Program forms the basis of the school’s Mathematics Program. A strong emphasis is placed on the Number strand and in particular number sense, place value and mental computation strategies. The program’s Year Level Overviews outline in detail the concepts to be taught in each strand and the relevant links to the Go Maths! modules. A scope and sequence of Problem Solving strategies is a key component of the program.

 

A suite of integrated units has been developed for each year level (P-7). These units enable students to develop a range of key concepts and skills specific to selected key learning areas through purposeful tasks that have real-world significance. Learning experiences within each unit are designed to connect with what students already know and extend that knowledge through intellectually challenging work. They ensure that learning is deep and enduring rather than superficial and temporary.

 

Each year level has a total of eight units which are implemented on a two-year cycle (odd and even years). Every unit is organised around a central theme or organising principle (Will the cassowary survive? or Life and Living). Units integrate three or four key learning areas as well as literacy and numeracy. The unit sequence has been designed to ensure that students are given multiple opportunities to achieve the QCARF Essentials at the Year 3, 5 and 7 junctures. The sequence also ensures that each of the key learning areas is taught, assessed and reported on every semester.

 

Integrated units also feature:

 

·   Embedded Primary Connections modules that use the 5Es inquiry approach to the teaching of Science.

·   Opportunities for students to experience a range of “hands-on” activities and investigations.

·   Challenges that invite the use of creativity and innovation to solve problems and express ideas.

·   The use of ICTs by students to inquire, communicate and create.

·   Cooperative and team learning using the Primary Connections group work model.