Student Learning

Term 1 2015

WRITING


The Inquiry
Much of the writing by the students will occur within the inquiry and writing will either be 'embedded' into inquiry based learning sessions or will have specific whole group and small group targeted sessions when the need arises.

Narrative and Persuasive Text
As preparation for NAPLAN later this semester, we will be introducing persuasive and narrative texts to the students. The focus of these sessions will be to allow students to understand the text structures and various elements that make up these genres. The writing of persuasive texts will be made relevant to the students with real audiences and real issues that connect to them individually. Narrative texts will be student implemented and supported by teaching staff.


NUMERACY
We have started the year with a focus on processes and concepts involving place value. For this we use base 10 materials (as seen in the video clips) to name, write, read and rename and process numbers. Renaming is often a process that parents can be unfamiliar with but it is a critical concept for developing understanding of rounding. Computation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc) relies on an ability to rename numbers in different ways and on using place value to deal with and record steps within calculations appropriately.

The development of multiplicative thinking is also a major focus for us in the 34 area leading to multiplicative partitioning as well as fractional and decimal understandings.

Place Value

Place Value Renaming

READING
Book Talk / Serial reading
In literature circles (Book Talk), small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by students' response to what they have read. You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. These group meetings aim to be open, natural conversations about books, so personal connections, digressions, and open-ended questions are welcome

Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers.

Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response.

Guided Reading
Guided reading allows for a small group of students to work with a teacher on a specific area of reading that they need to develop. Students read from and listen to a text that is appropriate to them as readers and are closely supported by the teacher to develop a greater range of strategies to employ as they read.

Shared Reading
Shared reading is a group experience that focuses on reading for the enjoyment of ourselves and others. Shared reading can involve:

• Using the voice to interpret the meaning of a text.
• Reading in unison with others, although there may be parts or solos.
• Opportunities to learn more about the reading process.
• Discussing texts in a group situation.