Inclusive Practices Learning 

Mentor Texts, Professional Learning and Resources

Ocean Grove Primary School utilises a variety of mentor texts in our teaching and learning program. 

Mentor texts are a great way to teach students complex or challenging things in a fun and engaging manner. Teachers also use mentor texts when teaching a literacy skill in their classroom. Whilst this skill is being taught, the text can cover other areas of the curriculum. We have a variety of mentor texts that help teachers promote inclusion and inclusive practices. 

We have mentor texts that:

• Explain how the brain works and brain variances.
• Discuss all the ways to be smart.
• Have a neurodiverse main character.
• Normalise and celebrate difference/diversity.
• Explain inclusion in ways that children can understand / comprehend.

• Show the importance of social skills and treating others with kindness.

   

If you have any wonderful picture story books at home that we could use for mentor texts in the classroom please pop up and see me in the office to pass on the name of the text. I am always looking to expand our collection of books that explain, celebrate and acknowledge differences in our school community.

Our staff at OGPS are constantly seeking ways to improve their practice, pedagogy and inclusive practices. To do this we hold in-house professional learning, attend off-site professional learning, engaged with DET inclusive classrooms professional learning and purchase professional reading texts for staff to read/upskill. Keeping up with the fast past of change and research is a challenge faced by all schools. I would like to thank our teachers, learning mentors and school leaders for their professionalism, collaboration and willingness to adapt their teaching to try and best support all students at our school to achieve to their full potential.

Regards, 

Ryan Baltetsch

Inclusive Practices Learning Specialist