Learning & Teaching
Dear LPS Community,
Learning and Teaching in Classrooms
🧠🔤 What is Word Work (PhOrMeS) and Why Are We Using It?
At Lysterfield Primary School, we are committed to giving every student a strong foundation in reading, spelling, and vocabulary. That’s why we use the PhOrMeS curriculum as part of our Word Work program, a structured, evidence-based approach to teaching how the English language works.
PhOrMeS stands for:
- Ph – Phonics: Learning how letters and sounds correspond
- Or – Orthography: Understanding spelling patterns and rules
- Me – Morphology: Exploring parts of words like prefixes and suffixes
- S – Spelling & Etymology: Investigating the history and meaning of words
Why Is This Important?
PhOrMeS helps students:
📖 Read and spell words accurately
🧠 Understand the meaning of complex words
💬 Build a strong vocabulary across all subjects
🏗️ Gain confidence with the structure and logic of English
This approach benefits all learners. During a recent visit to a Grade 2 classrooms, students were confidently spelling the tricky word "cousin." In previous years, I’ve seen this word written in many different ways—cuzin, cosin, cazen, and more. I was absolutely blown away to see that100% of students could now spell "cousin" correctly!
PhOrMeS is especially powerful for students who need extra support with literacy. By breaking down complex words into clear, manageable parts, it helps students recognise patterns that make sense and build lasting understanding.
You may hear your child talking about base words, suffixes, or even where a word originated—that’s all part of the rich learning that happens through PhOrMeS. We're proud to be using this approach to help every child become a confident, capable reader and writer.
Learning and Teaching in the Staffroom
🌟 A Day of Insight and Inspiration: Bron Ryrie Jones Visits LPS 🌟
Last week, we were excited to welcome back Bron Ryrie Jones to Lysterfield Primary School. Bron is a highly respected educator and coach who has worked with schools across Victoria, supporting staff in developing high-impact teaching and learning practices.
Bron spent the day with our leadership team, visiting every classroom in the school. It was a powerful opportunity to observe teaching and learning in action, and she was deeply impressed.
“The student behaviour in classrooms was sublime,” Bron noted.
“It’s clear that your teachers are dedicated professionals who have worked hard to establish new routines and structures. The result is calm, focused classrooms full of learning.”
Throughout the day, Bron observed strong alignment with our whole-school expectations, warm and respectful relationships between staff and students, and learning environments that clearly reflect our school values and the Pegasus Spirit.
We are excited to share that Bron is now supporting us in establishing an Instructional Coaching model at LPS. This initiative will strengthen our teaching practice, encourage professional collaboration, and ensure every student continues to thrive.
We thank Bron for her time, expertise, and warm encouragement. It was a proud moment for our school, and a celebration of the excellent teaching and learning happening every day in our classrooms.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine Roose | Assistant Principal