Curriculum News
Our Curriculum Overviews for the Term
English
In line with MACS’ (Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools) Vision for Instruction we are introducing two new programs to support students' literacy development in our Junior School. Foundation students will be participating in Heggerty, which aims to improve the students’ Phonological awareness. This is the ability to rhyme, identify syllables and manipulate sounds in words. We will also be introducing the Little Learners Love Literacy Program, which has a focus on explicit instruction in Phonic Knowledge. The students will begin by learning 2 new sounds each week, and using decodable texts to blend learnt sounds to read. Our Reading program will consist of whole class and small group work, however the format of this may change, depending on the needs of the class.
We will be requiring parent helpers to assist with our Literacy program, however we will ask for expressions of interest once our new programs and routines are established and we are ready to start.
Writing is included as part of the Little Learners program, with students learning and practising correct letter formation with each new sound, as well as beginning to spell simple words and write sentences as their reading progresses. Our fine motor activities available each morning will help the students to build the strength needed to support their writing development. Through our inquiry units, and when reflecting on special events throughout the year, we will also provide students with opportunities to practise their writing skills.
Oral Language underpins many parts of Literacy and the students will complete activities that focus on listening and speaking during Literacy activities. During the course of the year students will also be given an opportunity to present in front of their peers, through our Language Experience program - this will include a take home toy and a magic box. More information about this will be shared on Audiri at a later date. Students are also encouraged to share any special news or events with the class - feel free to send through photos of special people or experiences your child would like to share with their peers.
Mathematics
This year at St Brigid’s we will be starting a new Mathematics program through Ochre Education. Within the program, the students will be exposed to explicit teaching of new content, as well as regularly reviewing prior topics to ensure students retain the skills they are learning.
Patterns - In this unit students will be learning to recognise, copy, continue and create repeating patterns represented in different ways, including recognising the main element that is repeating within the pattern.
Measurement and Time - We will be learning to sequence the days of the week and times of the day, including morning, lunchtime, afternoon and night time, and connect these to familiar activities.
Counting and place value - In this topic we will be exploring counting forwards and backwards and exploring the value of numbers initially up to 10, including numbers before and after. We will also be working on subitising, which is automatically recognising a small collection of items i.e. the dot patterns on a dice.
Location - Students will be learning to use location specific words to describe the position of an object.
Inquiry/Religion
Our whole school focus for Term One is Identity - in Foundation we will focus on the idea of Belonging through our unit ‘Unique Me, United We’. During our Inquiry lessons we will investigate key questions such as: What are my strengths? What groups do I belong to? Who is in my family? What communities do I belong to? What is in my school community? and Who are our community helpers? A short Google Form will be sent to parents this week for you to fill in with any details regarding out of school activities your child might participate in ie. Swimming at Toby Haenen on Saturday mornings.
During our Religion lessons we will explore how we belong to the school and church community, and how they form part of the family of God. We also interpret experiences of family and friendship in relation to God’s family and reflect on how they live as part of a family, school and the family of God.
Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing focus for Term 1 is Gender norms and stereotypes. By exploring their own likes, interests and strengths, students will explore how these are all separate to a person's gender, and that we are all capable of amazing things regardless of our similarities or differences.