Literacy 

It’s Week 6 already and Literacy learning at St James is well underway! Teachers and students have made a positive, happy start to the school year. Together, they have been busy setting up routines and expectations to encourage consistent, positive learning behaviours. As we know, creating a safe and nurturing space which promotes risk taking and acknowledges mistakes as part of the learning process, is a vital element in a successful classroom.

Here are some of the students’ thoughts about Literacy so far this year…

“I like reading because it is fun!” Skye (Year 2)

“If you learn how to read, you can learn how to write. They are connected!” Hope (Year 2)

“My teacher gives us cool pictures we can use to think of writing ideas.” Beau (Year 3)

“My teacher encourages me to write about what I want to write.” Harry (Year 3)

“We learn new things from our teacher. We ask lots of questions about different books.” Ethan (Year 3)

“We learn about graphs, digraphs and trigraphs and how to spell words and we practise spelling. We break words into syllables. We learn from each other.” Arran (Year 3)

“Every time I read a book it captures me and excites me! When I finish a chapter, sometimes it’s like a cliffhanger.” Toby (Year 4)

“I really like writing because you get to use your creativity and you can be free!” Audrey (Year 4)

“I love writing because I love using descriptive words. It’s just really fun for me. Sometimes I use the words authors use.” Saskia (Year 4)

“I love reading because I can learn lots from a book!” Ethan (Year 4)

“It’s so interesting the way authors’ pull you into a book!” Hugh (Year 4)

INTERACTIVE WRITING IN YEAR 2

At St James, our teachers have opportunities to observe evidence based teaching practices, modelled to them by others. This is part of our professional development structure, to ensure we are continually reflecting upon and refining our teaching practices, to ensure the best outcomes for our students.

This week Miss Quinlan taught in Year 2! We took a character called Gerald the giraffe from a familiar mentor text ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’ and placed him in a different setting. 

The students talked and talked and came up with so many creative, interesting and unique story ideas to write about. We wrote a Narrative introduction together, to use as a guide to help us, then we wrote our own story starts.

Our learning intentions were: 

• to generate story writing ideas by talking with others
• to have a go at writing unfamiliar words (and know that it is okay to make mistakes!)
• to celebrate our amazing writing!

Take a look at some of the Year 2s’ story introductions…

Gerald wanted to leave the boring jungle so he walked through the jungle, past the lion’s den, through the bamboo soccer field, past the monkeys playing basketball until… he came across a BIG brick wall! Gerald used his long legs to jump over the wall. On the other side he found Tiger and Lion. 

“Hi!” he said. 

“What are you doing over here Gerald?”

“I’m tired of the jungle,” said Gerald.

By Charlie F

One time there was a giraffe named Gerald. He wanted to fly! He tried and tried to make a glider but before he could fly, it broke! He was so sad. 

By Paras

Gerald the giraffe loved his home in the jingle, jangle, jungle but one day two mean men came and took Gerald away.

By Jack

Once upon a time there was a giraffe names Gerald. One day he had an email on his phone. He was invited to the singing festival! He was sooooooo excited! He packed his clothes and set off. 

By Lila

LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE IN FOUNDATION

The Language Experience Approach is an evidence based practice. The teacher typically uses a text, object or shared experience to generate discussion. The teacher scaffolds the discussion in order to support the development of oral language skills. The children often draw their ideas and articulate their own matching story. Afterwards, the teacher models ways in which their thoughts and words can be written down. The children are then encouraged to read back their own story. At times, these stories are combined to create class books and on other occasions the children will take home their work to read to their families. Keep an eye out for these in your child’s bag!

Last week we loved using the Language Experience Approach with a group of Foundation children. We had lots of fun talking about cats (since this matched the Big Book from that week and the letter-sound focus too!) The children’s stories were unique and related to their own personal experiences. Well done Foundation!

SPEECH PATHOLOGY / OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT ST JAMES

This year our Speech Pathologist Adele will continue to work with children across the school in small groups and 1:1 each Thursday. She will target a range of speech and language skills and also provide professional learning for teachers. 

This year we welcome Ashley, an Occupational Therapist, to our team. Ashley will build upon the wonderful work Bronwyn commenced last year and will work onsite with us on Fridays. Ashley has already begun to liaise with staff in relation to our fine motor and gross motor programs. As the year progresses, she will support teachers and students in their use of regulation strategies. She continues to support students in managing social and emotional learning.

Olivia Quinlan

Literacy Leader/Learning and Teaching Leader