These essential years span Prep to Year 2. During this time we work very hard to ensure all students gain a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy. We explicitly teach sight words, phonics (sounds) and comprehension strategies so that students learn to read with confidence and accuracy and importantly, understand their reading. We engage students by reading to and with them and through buddy reading programs. In partnership with families we set up strong Home Reading routines. Students write from their very first day at school, communicating their ideas and experiences. Student work is displayed at school and in the newsletter. Students learn to spell commonly used words and learn strategies for spelling unknown words.
Reading Recovery is an essential part of our literacy program. This intervention program is designed to assist Year 1 students who are at risk of falling behind in reading and writing. Students who fit the criteria for selection work individually with a Reading Recovery specialist every day, generally for 20 weeks.
We develop foundational numeracy skills by building on student's natural curiosity about sorting, counting and making patterns. Concrete materials and ICT are used to help students develop a strong sense of number, shape and measurement in the Early Years.
We use a range of approaches to engage our youngest students. During 'Discoveries', students choose activities that appeal to their interests and learn to work with others, communicate, create, share, cooperate, practice things they have learnt and have fun! Discoveries forms the basis for oral language and writing in the Prep/1 classroom.
The Early Years are about foundational literacy and numeracy skills, learning to learn, developing social skills, resilience, communication and independence. What an amazing time!
