Literacy 

We were so excited to launch the ‘SPACE HUB’ this week for students to have an opportunity to engage in the learning area. All students from Prep - Year 6 will be learning about different aspects of our physical world and big ideas around how the world we live in is constantly changing - including chemical and physical science. The theme for Term 2 is ‘Space’! The ‘SPACE HUB’ is a learning area designed to turn students into the learning for all areas of the curriculum - igniting their curiosity, imagination and creativity. 

In Week 2 and 3, students will be engaging in the interactive ‘SPACE HUB’ with a focus on narrative story telling. During this time students will engage in imaginative role-play, observing, questioning, wondering, and exploration of the different aspects of space (rockets, astronauts, mission control, planets, stars, galaxies, solar machines, and so much more!). Students will take their ‘Writer’s Notebook’ to record the ideas that they generate for writing based on the experience in the ‘SPACE HUB’ and the language that they build. 

The beginning of the writing process is the planning stage. During this stage students will utilise a range of strategies and tools to get curious, ignite passions and interests, generate ideas, narrow down on the ideas, and begin to map out a plan for writing. 

One of the tools our students utilise is ‘Colourful Semantic Cards’. This tool allows for differentiation, high and low levels of scaffolding (support) and promotes the development of oral language and written language skills. 

To further expand on and deepen ideas, our students will explore different types of conflict that can occur in a story. When revising the middle of a written piece, some students may experiment with 1 or more conflicts in a story. Understanding the different types of conflict gives students an opportunity to add more detail to their complication and variety for entertaining the reader.

Our students will use the ‘SPACE HUB’ language and story building experience to begin their Term 2 written piece. Once students have the opportunity to complete their first draft, our teachers and students will assess the writing piece using the Victorian Curriculum success criteria checklists as well as our school 6+1 Traits of Writing Rubrics. Our teachers will engage in one on one writing conferences with students to provide GLOW and GROW FEEDBACK so that students:

• Know what they are learning
• How they are going with their learning 
• And where to next!?

Our teachers use this individual data to plan for and design personalised learning groups to target specific student needs to ensure every child is progressing in their writing skills as well as instilling a LOVE and PASSION for writing!

We hope you enjoy hearing about this awesome learning opportunity and the ‘SPACE HUB’ from your students. Be sure to ask them:

• What did you see? 
• What did it make you wonder?
• What more do you want to learn?
• What was the best part of the ‘SPACE HUB’?
• Tell me about your ideas for writing!!!

Jemma McVeigh and Chris Caterall - Literacy Leaders

                                          Book Club order's for Issue 3 close Tuesday 9th May.