Curriculum News

Welcome back to Term 2!

In Term 2, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be building and extending their writing skills as a key focus in English.

Writing is an essential skill in the NSW English Syllabus, supporting students to communicate clearly, think creatively and express their ideas with confidence. At our school, we use explicit teaching to help students understand how writing works - from learning sentence structures and vocabulary to exploring different text types and their purposes. By modelling, guiding and practising these skills step‑by‑step, we give students the tools they need to become capable, enthusiastic writers. Through regular writing experiences, students learn to organise their thoughts, make meaning and share their stories with others, building strong foundations for success across all areas of learning.

Below is an overview of how we develop these skills across the three major text types.

Narrative Writing – Creating Imaginative Texts

Narrative writing allows students to explore characters, settings and imaginative ideas. According to the NSW English Syllabus, students learn how stories are structured, how language creates mood and how writers engage their audience.

Through explicit teaching, teachers model how to plan a story, build a sequence of events and use descriptive language. Students practise crafting sentences, developing characters and experimenting with vocabulary to bring their ideas to life. Guided writing sessions help students understand how authors make choices that shape a story, while independent writing time allows them to apply these skills creatively.

Informative Writing – Sharing Knowledge and Facts

Informative writing teaches students how to explain, describe and present factual information clearly. The NSW English Syllabus emphasises that students learn to organise ideas logically, use precise vocabulary and structure texts such as reports, explanations and descriptions.

Explicit teaching supports this by breaking down each part of an informative text. Teachers model how to group related ideas, use headings and labelled diagrams and write clear sentences that communicate facts. Students learn how to research, take notes and present information in a way that is accurate and easy to understand. This helps them become confident communicators across all learning areas.

Persuasive Writing – Expressing Opinions and Influencing Others

Persuasive writing helps students learn how to express opinions and support them with reasons. In line with the NSW English Syllabus, students explore how writers use language to influence an audience, including strong statements, emotive language, and logical arguments.

Through explicit teaching, teachers demonstrate how to structure a persuasive text, craft a clear viewpoint and develop convincing arguments. Students practise using persuasive devices, organising their ideas and writing with purpose. They learn how writers choose words carefully to strengthen their message and connect with their audience.

Our Commitment to Explicit Teaching

Across all text types, explicit teaching ensures students understand how writing works. Teachers model skills step‑by‑step, provide guided practice and give targeted feedback so students can apply new learning with confidence. This approach supports every child - from emerging writers to those ready to extend their skills - and builds strong foundations for success in literacy and beyond.

Final Call to Year 3 & 4 Families: Discover a Unique Reading Research Opportunity

Reading engagement is important for continued growth in children’s reading ability and their academic success. Research suggests that children’s reading ability is further connected to their wellbeing (e.g., anxiety, peer relationships). However, we do not fully understand why this connection exists. 

Students in Years 3 and 4 are warmly invited to take part in an exciting research project led by Andrea Salins from the Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy. This study explores how children’s reading skills connect with their overall learning success. By participating, families will be helping our school deepen its understanding of how to best support students’ reading development and wellbeing. It’s a wonderful opportunity to contribute to research that can make a real difference for our learners.

Forms and additional information have been sent to Year 3 and 4 families. If you require any further information, please contact Mrs Langlands.