Learning and Teaching

Science of Reading

If you have been following along on our 'Science of Reading' journey, you will know that we are up to the final pillar - comprehension!

Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read. It is the whole point of reading, but without the solid foundations of instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary (the previous 4 pillars) it is incredibly difficult to achieve strong comprehension.

There are numerous comprehension strategies that are taught to children to help them develop an understanding of what they have read.  These include, but are not limited to:

• visualising
• identifying the main idea
• summarising
• questioning
• monitoring
• making connections
• predicting
• inferring
• using prior knowledge
• comparing and contrasting

On Thursday 31st October I had the pleasure of taking 8 of our Year 5 students to the Maths Association Victoria’s Coding Challenge Day at St. Oliver Plunketts Primary School, Pascoe Vale. There were approximately 30 teams competing on the day which was full of very tricky challenges. Despite the problem solving overload the children tried their best and never gave up until the final second. Their behaviour throughout the day was exemplary. Well done, Kate, Felicity, Abigail, Xavier, Liam, Luca, Gus and Wally!

In the same week, we also had 4 students in Year 4 (Scarlett, Matilda T, Elijah and Llewy) and 8 students in Year 6 (Ava, Emilia, Lottie, Henry, Theo, Ryan, Noah A and Jimmy) take part in a G.A.T.E.WAYS Challenge Day at Swinburne University. 

Many thanks to the parents for enrolling their children and getting them there on the day!

Nicola Toney (Mathematics Leader F-6)