The Learning Zone
As our learning journey together continues it has been great to see our students having so much fun working with Miss Sampson in the Creative Arts area every Friday. The focus for the first few weeks has been Drama. There certainly are some budding actors and actresses in our school.
NAPLAN - Year 3 and Year 5
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online in 2023.
This year, the dates for the NAPLAN Online assessment are 15th - 27th March (Weeks 8 and 9). It is extremely important for students in Years 3 and 5 to be in attendance at school during the testing period.
Our Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN on the following days:
- Wednesday 15th March - Writing
- Thursday 16th March - Reading
- Monday 20th March - Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation)
- Tuesday 21st March - Numeracy
NAPLAN online tests are tailored or adaptive. This means students at each level start with a similar set of questions. Depending on each student’s answer, the next set of questions may be easier or more difficult, giving students greater opportunity to demonstrate what they know. This short video explains more about tailored testing:
Students in Years 3 and 5 will have the opportunity to explore the Public Demonstration Site at school in preparation for NAPLAN. Parents and students may also access this site at home in order to further familiarise themselves with the different question types. Link to the Public Demonstration Site: https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
Please see the NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers for further information.
Please don't hesitate to contact the school of you have any questions.
Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative (MaST)
Once again this year our whole school from K-6 are part of an Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative known as the MaST Project. Please see the information below to assist your child at home.
Maths At Home:
Kindergarten - 2D Space
Experiences with shapes in Kindergarten should not be limited. It is important that students experience shapes that are represented in a variety of ways, eg 'tall skinny' triangles, 'short fat' triangles, right-angled triangles presented in different orientations and of different sizes, and shapes that are represented using a variety of materials, eg paint, images on the computer or string. Students should be given time to explore materials in order to represent shapes by tearing, painting, drawing, writing, or cutting and pasting.
Shapes For Kids: The Complete Parents’ Guide To Teaching Shapes
Stage 1 - Whole Number
Count stairs, letter boxes, or objects in two, threes, fives and tens whenever opportunities arise;
Talk about numbers whenever opportunities arise. Ask questions such as “Which is bigger/smaller/the same/different?”
Stage 2 - Addition
Here are two problems Stage 2 to get you thinking about number! Have fun!
First person to give the correct answers to Mrs Lockwood or Miss Sampson receives a 'cool' prize!
Stage 3 - Numbers
Stage 3 have been focusing on developing their skills associated with expanding numbers and have explored the Cartesian Plane and what is required to successfully use positive and negative numbers in plotting various points.
Below are two problems Stage 3 to get you thinking. First person with the correct answers to Mr Patterson will receive a 'cool' prize!
Andrew, Holly and Vinh each have some money.
Vinh has half as much money as Holly.
Holly has three times as much as Andrew.
Andrew has $12.00.
"Coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress,
and working together is success". - Henry Ford
Have a great week of learning and fun!
Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole