From the Principal's desk

Teaching and Learning Goals for 2019

This year we will continue to focus on improving outcomes in reading, writing and numeracy. Last year we were an 'Influence' school in reading growth, which means that we are on a positive trajectory with 85% of our students over the last three years showing medium to high growth. We wish to continue this trajectory, but this year we are also refining our approach to the way in which we teach writing. Across the whole nation and state, children are not achieving the same results in writing as they are achieving in reading.

Following a completion of a Leading Literacy course last year which introduced us to the latest research into literacy pedagogy, we have implemented a Reader's and Writer's Workshop model. Everyday students receive 2 hours of explicit instruction in reading and writing. The workshop model involves the teacher setting the learning goals and success criteria at the start of the lesson, then explicitly teaching and modelling the learning strategy before children break into independent reading or writing. Later in the workshop children work in small groups for activities like guided reading before at the end of the workshop, reflecting back on what they have learnt.

In writing we are now moving to explicitly teaching the process of writing and all children from Years 3 to 6 have a Writer's Workshop Notebook where we will have them constantly writing and hopefully enjoying the whole process by the end of the year. Our Preps to Year 2s are also working on a similar approach.

During 2019 David Jenner, Rob Smith and myself will also be completing a Leading Mathematics course and we hope to bring all the latest research and teaching pedagogy into our teaching of Mathematics at Numurkah Primary School.

Meanwhile as parents and carers, you can work in partnership with us by ensuring your child or children read with you every night. Also encourage them in their writing to think up original ideas, use great words, use challenging sentence structures and experiment with different text types.

Debbie Oliver

Principal