The Learning Zone

The Learning Zone - Mrs Holland, Leader of Pedagogy/Assistant Principal

Welcome Back!

It is wonderful to be back for another school year at St Joseph’s.  It was great to see the all the students happy to return to school and ready to start the new year with enthusiasm.  There was also plenty of added excitement as the primary classes moved into their amazing new state-of-the-art learning spaces.  

Assessment

The beginning of a new school year is a very important time for teachers as they get to know their students; this includes undertaking assessment to collect information about students’ learning.  Through determining each child's knowledge base teachers are then able to identify learning needs and plan activities accordingly. 

Mrs McManus is currently conducting the Best Start Kindergarten Assessment with each new Kinder student.  Through implementation of the assessment, early literacy and numeracy skills will be determined and student needs identified.  Kinder parents will also receive feedback on ways they can support their child’s learning at home. 

The primary classes will be completing the Progressive Achievement (PAT) Reading and Mathematics online assessments this week.  The results provide important information that the teachers will use to plan learning tasks at each child’s point of need. 

Reading at Home

St Joseph’s School values, supports and encourages reading practices both at school and at home. Again this year, all classes will continue a structured home reading program.  The aim of our home reading program is not for children to read more difficult books as quickly as possible, but rather to enjoy reading and being read to, while practising the skills and strategies they have learnt at school.

Next week each child will bring home a ‘reader’ (book) in a clear plastic wallet.  Also contained in the wallet will be recording booklet and an information sheet containing useful information and strategies for you to help your child when reading at home.  A good procedure for reading with younger students at home is for the adult to first read the book to their child, then read it together and finally, ask your child to read it independently to you.  All students are encouraged to read at home every day and they may change their reader at school as needed.  Older students may include books other than school based readers on the Home Reading Record e.g. Library books, novels from home etc.

Thank you in advance for your assistance with facilitating reading at home. 

Attached below is a copy of the Home Reading Information Sheet: