LITERACY

Grade 3 students have made a strong start to their literacy learning this term. In Core Literacy Skills, students are focusing on reading a range of texts while developing their fluency and expression. They continue to participate in phonics lessons to strengthen their understanding of letter–sound relationships.

This term, students have begun a class novel study of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. The story is told from the perspective of Ivan, a silverback gorilla living in a shopping mall. As they read, students will explore a range of characters and perspectives, build their vocabulary, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the text.

In Writing, students will be learning how to plan and create information reports. They will develop their note-taking skills and learn how to organise ideas using subheadings. There will also be a focus on sentence structure, paragraphing, and grammar to support and strengthen their writing.

In Grade 4, students are consolidating and expanding their literacy skills and knowledge.

During Core Literacy Skills, students are reading both fiction and non-fiction texts with increasing accuracy, while developing their fluency and expression. They are also strengthening their understanding of prefixes, suffixes, and word meanings. In addition, students participate in daily lessons focused on sentence structure and syntax.

In Reading, students have begun a class novel study of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. The story follows Roz, a robot who becomes shipwrecked on an island and must learn to adapt and live alongside the animals. As they read, students are developing their ability to answer both literal and inferential questions, while also exploring new  vocabulary.

In Writing, students are learning to create persuasive Single Paragraph Outlines. They are focusing on structuring clear and cohesive paragraphs, and using a range of persuasive techniques to support their ideas. Later in the term, students will return to narrative writing, building on their existing skills to develop well-sequenced and engaging stories.