Transcript It will focus on ensuring your child develops the skills, knowledge

Prep Information
Night
Powerful learning
At Mentone Primary School we will be taking your child on a
journey of Powerful Learning. This learning journey starts in
Prep! It will focus on ensuring your child develops the skills,
knowledge and resilience to face the challenges of the 21 st
century. We will harness your child’s curiosity as a doorway to
powerful learning.
On this journey we will have High expectations of your child to:
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be motivated and have a positive attitude to learning
be curious about their learning
ask questions
stay focussed on learning goals
understand what they are learning
be able to articulate their learning
use knowledge to solve problems and develop further learning
set goals with their teacher and help monitor their progress
be challenged and take risks
be confident and resilient
This Curiosity and Powerful Learning Approach will underpin our Prep
curriculum.
The Curriculum
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English
Mathematics
Interpersonal Development- Restorative Practices
Specialist Curriculum
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Physical Education
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Art
Library
Performing Arts
Integrated/Inquiry Units of Learning:
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Term 1: Who am I?- Me, Myself and My Community
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Term 2: Patterns Everywhere
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Term 3: Endangered Animals
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Term 4: Fairytales and Indigenous Stories
Speaking and
Listening
Reading
CAFÉ, MIOOW
English
Writing
Phonics, RWI, Letterland,
VCOP
Speaking and Listening
Speaking plays a very important role in learning to read and write. When we can express
ourselves well orally then writing is a much easier process.
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We share our experiences during show and tell sessions.
We share our learning journey during Discovery Time.
We share our likes, dislikes and feelings during story time and circle time.
We listen for and replicate sound patterns in rhymes and songs.
We learn to take turns.
Reading
The CAFÉ Reading program at Mentone is taught form Prep to Grade 6 and learning focuses on
• Comprehension
• Accuracy
• Fluency, and
• Expanding Vocabulary
In the CAFÉ program the same language is used across the school, skills build from year to year.
goals, concentrate on specific skills for improvement.
Three initial reading strategies we teach are:
• Choose a good fit book
• Read to self
• Read and share with a partner
Reading at home:
• Ensure your child is pointing to the words as they read.
• Encourage their attempts to make sense of what they read.
• Ask questions and discuss to check understanding
Writing
We begin the writing program by focussing on:
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Tuning in to the written language by modelling reading and
writing.
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The teacher models writing. Using a child’s words, the teacher
tunes the children into thinking about the beginning sounds of
words, sounding out simple words, pinpointing high frequency
words and using interesting vocabulary. They look at
punctuation e.g. finger spaces, capital letters and full stops.
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Copying and completing common phrases. e.g. ‘ I went
to……….’
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VCOP (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers, Punctuation)
Fred Talk Words
Number and
Algebra
Measurement
and Geometry
Statistics and
Probability
Mathematics
Number and Algebra
In Number and Algebra, we focus on developing awareness of number
and it’s important role in the environment and the world around them.
We focus on:
distinguishing numbers from letters
number order and position
the formation of numbers
connect number names and numerals
sequencing numbers from 0 to 20
developing counting strategies to enable children to combine and
separate numbers.
Measurement and Geometry
We relate measurement to the children and the environment around them. We
tune them into language such as bigger, smaller, taller, shorter, heavier, lighter,
full and empty.
We allow children to experiment and explore with:
 liquids and solids through rice, sand and water play
using informal measurement (unifix cubes, hands, feet)
incorporating cooking into the learning program
time and days of the week.
Statistics and Probability
When learning about Statistics and Probability:
We focus on children’s interests and collect information, with the
children to make pictographs.
We collect and sort information from students about common
interests and occurrences such favourite food and eye colour, to
enable children to see simple ways to represent information and
begin to develop their skills in analysing data.
We discuss the likelihood of occurrences and possibility of what
could happen. We use language such as impossible, possible, likely
and unlikely.
Discovery Time
Links closely with Powerful Learning and curiosity.
• Open ended activities linked to Curriculum Learning Goals - 2 sessions a
week.
• The children know the goals and are tuned into them each session.
• Each session 4 children are chosen to be focus children, 1 child is a
reporter and 1 a photographer. They are given a focus e.g. Can you show
me what you know about the 2D shapes? These children share their
learning with their classmates at the end of the session. The teacher’s
questioning is very important as it expands and encourages further
learning.
• The children write and draw about their experiences. They are engaged,
enthusiastic and their writing is AMAZING!
Restorative Practices
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At Mentone Primary School we use the Restorative Practices
framework to develop a restorative culture, building relationships
and connections with students which will positively impact
academic performance.
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At the start of the school year all class members contribute to the
Class Code of Co-operation.
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Restorative Practices sees a move away from traditional behaviour
management which focused on punishment and blame.
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It empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in
small groups.
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Students have a voice and are involved in solving the problem.
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Helps students understand how their behavior impacts others
through respectful dialogue.
Restorative Practices
Daily Relational Circles are used in every classroom at the beginning of
every day.
Why?
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For students to get to know each other.
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Build classroom relationships
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Every student has an opportunity to be heard and seen at the start of
every day
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Develop emotional literacy
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Improve self esteem
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Build student morale
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Increase student confidence
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Have fun
Curiosity and Powerful Learning
Information Session
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Curiosity and Powerful Learning is an approach that Mentone Primary
School is extremely excited to be involved in. We will develop and
improve teaching and learning practices for the 21st Century Learner.
We encourage you to attend this session to come and find out more.
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Date: Thursday the 17th of March
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Location: Mentone Primary
Thank you for being here.
We appreciate your
support.