Teaching & Learning

Education Week

Launching Premiers’ Reading Challenge

Next week is Education Week and we celebrate all of the wonderful work that happens in schools. This year the theme is Celebrating Careers and focusses in on the pathways and opportunities students have to make their dream job come true.

As part of Education Week students will have the opportunity to discuss their dream jobs and talk about the jobs that their family members do.

In addition we will officially launch the Premiers’ Reading Challenge. The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge will be open for students at Buninyong and Scotsburn from Monday 20th May. Students can ask their classroom teacher for log in details.

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 6 September 2019.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklists and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc

Kath will organize books from the Premiers’ list to be available for those students wishing to participate in the challenge.

NAPLAN

Starting today our Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in 3 days of NAPLAN assessments. We understand this time there are lots of messages out in the community about the negative side to NAPALAN however teachers at  Buninyong and Scotsburn make huge efforts to ensure students are well prepared for these days. Part of which is to approach these days with a Growth Mindset. Having a go at these activities is an important skill in building resilience and persistence into our learning behaviours.  NAPLAN is only one assessment amongst many that our teachers use to help build the learning program for your child. Parents play a big role in helping students to build this mindset. Being alert but not alarmed will help your child approach these days with the right attitude.

Preparing for the NAPLAN assessments over the next 3 days:

Parents:

1. Acknowledge that these assessments are part of the school day.
2. Talk about times you had assessments in schools and how you approached them. (calmly and with a positive mindset)
3. Talk about challenge and how we approach times of challenge. (Take a breath, grit our teeth, do our best and reflect on our efforts after the fact)
4. Maintain a normal routine on the morning of the assessments and maybe do something relaxing and enjoyable in the evening.
5. What ever you think of NAPLAN keep the adult conversations away from the ears of our kids. It is amazing how kids will take on the attitudes and feelings of the grown ups around them.
6. When discussing the assessments at the end of each day ask open positive questions that focus on the process that your child may have used. Ie Naplan always pop in some tricky questions, what strategy did you use when you were completing those questions?

NAPLAN is just another set of data to help us map your child’s learning, it doesn't tell us all the wonderful qualities about your child…. We already know they are all great kids!!

Reporting and Parent Teacher Interviews

At the end of this this term all parents will receive a written report on their child’s progress as well as the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher for a discussion about their learning.

The half year parent – teacher session for the years 3-6 students takes the form of a  3 Way Conversation. It is strongly encouraged that all students in 3-6 have a session booked in with their classroom teacher.

The Prep – 2 students have more formal Parent-Teacher conversations during this time.

Please pop these dates into your diary:

What can you expect to see in the classrooms during Term 2?

What will you see in the classrooms around the school during Term 2?

Below is a table that highlights the work that each of the classes will be engaging in during the term. If you have skills in these areas, please feel free to make yourself known to the participating teachers to see how you can help in the learning process.