Literacy and Numeracy

FAMILY MATHS CHALLENGE

Throughout the year many parents have had the pleasure of working with their children on mathematics. With this in mind, I thought it would be fantastic if we had 1 final MATHS CHALLENGE for the year. It would be fantastic to get as many families involved as possible. 

Please send your responses to Josh Crowe at joshua.crowe@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au or place them in the 6C tub at school. 

Remember - you do not need to complete all the problems. Feel free to have a go at one, two or three of them. Good luck. 

Mr Josh Crowe

joshua.crowe@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au

Unlocking the Potential of Information Texts

Last week I participated in a Webinar titled 'Unlocking the Potential of Information Texts'. Most often, we encourage our children to read novels or picture story books.  Of course, this is so important in developing a love of reading in that these texts can transport us to other times and places.  Imagination and wonderings soar as characters and settings come to life in words.  These texts assist our students in developing their own voice as writers.  They provide a model of how texts work and the elements that authors use to engage us as readers.

Too often, information (or non-fiction) texts are seen as only useful and valuable as tools to assist in research.  This text type is often undersold and under-utilised.  For some readers, information texts can be hooks into promoting a love of reading as the topics and concepts can be just as, or even more engaging, for some students.

The layout of information texts can be easier for some students to work with also.  They provide information in small chunks and are supported by images, photographs, diagrams, timelines, tables and charts which assist students in drawing out information.

Information texts are all around us.  This has been especially true during this pandemic. Everyday we are bombarded with images, counts, statistics, safety information and medical terminology.  An important skill in interpreting information texts is to be discerning in what we are presented with. This is a life long skill that will prove to be of great importance to our students as they are constantly provided with instant information via their devices and phones via social media.

As part of the Webinar, we were asked to consider how we would teach about the events of 2020 in 20 years time.  Personally, even though I love my job, I'd hope to be retired by then!   The task challenged us to think about the text types we'd unpack with students to gain as much factual information as possible.  Another possible text type considered was a personal recount, written by a current student, outlining the impact that the pandemic has had on their daily lives.  Both my daughters have done this and their insights are very powerful.  They both wrote about feeling distanced from their friends, still feeling connected with their schools and for the most part, feeling happy to be spending more time together as a family.

Perhaps over the next few weeks and over the Christmas break your children could write their own information text or personal recount of their pandemic experience?

Perhaps Christmas gifts or library choices may include information texts on topics of their choice?

Keep reading and writing and most importantly,  keep safe and well.

Mrs Cathy Dimitrakopoulos

cathy.dimitrakopoulos@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au