CURRICULUM
2. Information Communication Technologies
3. The Arts
5. Early Years Literacy & Numeracy
6. E.S.L
7. Middle Years
1. Reading Recovery
A specially trained Reading Recovery teacher teaches the Reading Recovery program.
Every day the child receives a thirty minute individual Reading Recovery lesson in
addition to their regular classroom reading and writing program.
Every day the Reading Recovery teacher works individually with the child who:
* reads three or four familiar books to gain confidence in reading,
* writes a sentence using their own ideas,
* re-assembles the cut-up sentence to practice searching for words,
* works with letters and words to assist in spelling,
* reads a new book to further develop reading skills.
A child may participate in the Reading Recovery program for twelve to twenty weeks.
The Reading Recovery web site is located at www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/eys/rr
2. Information Communication Technologies
The school currently provides 2-3 networked computers per classroom, and one networked Laser Printer situated in the Computer Lab, which houses 14 computers. We have 2 digital still cameras and a digital video camera. We have a data projector which is used during professional development sessions as well as for presentation of students’ multi-media presentations. We have fast access to the Internet and a vast range of software which are related to the Key Learning Areas (all software being available to all grades at all times). Staff lease notebooks and use them for classroom administration as well as curriculum tasks (these are also able to be networked and are often used in the classrooms). A scope and sequence of skills was initially established and this too has to be revised each year as to assess whether students have reached expected skills outcomes.
Dallas Primary School and Kindergarten is a "high tech" school. Our students use the following learning technologies to support their learning experiences:
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The Arts are a fundamental form of expression in all societies. Learning in the Arts addresses essential elements that provide important ways of experiencing, developing, representing and understanding ideas, emotions, values and cultural beliefs. Through the Arts program students will gain pleasure, enjoyment, personal satisfaction and an opportunity to partake in performing and displaying their skills.
All children attend four terms of Physical Education classes. The program aims to promote the development of skills in a number of areas including fundamental motor skills and coordinated body actions, fitness, physical activity, personal health, games skills and safety and health.
Each session is held for 50 minutes and typically is made up of stretching, warm up and preparatory activities, an instructional or skill development activity and a game or 'cool down' activity.
All Grade 5/6 students attend a further P.E session on Friday - Interschool Sport. Class teachers assist with coaching children in sports. Children are coached and compete against other Grade 5/6 children from neighbouring districts in sports including Basketball, Football, Soccer, Cricket, Volleyball, Bat Tennis, Softball and Netball.
Each school day begins with 15 minutes of physical activity for every student in the school. teachers work with students during this time to promote physical fitness and the development of skills.
5. Early Years Literacy & Numeracy
The Early Years Literacy Program is a strategic and comprehensive approach to early literacy achievement in the first five years of schooling (Prep to Year Four).
The Early Years Literacy Program's essential features are:
* A daily, focused two-hour classroom literacy session,
* Case management of students who require additional assistance,
* Strategically planned home/school partnerships,
* The identification of an Early Years Coordinator
* Whole school commitment.
Dallas Primary School provides one to one support daily for these students in addition to the two-hour daily literacy block. Reading Recovery is implemented for students in year one who need additional assistance. Group Intervention is organised for students in their year level who require assistance.
NESB students at our school are supported in a number of ways;
Prep children are supported in the classroom by the ESL specialist and 5 ethnic aids. Each Prep classroom receives approximately 7 hours of assistance per week.
This is beneficial for the children's self-confidence, self esteem and the maintenance of their mother tongue. Newly arrived children in grades 2-6 are withdrawn from the classroom for 2 hours per week for intensive small-group work with the ESL teacher. Several classroom teachers have attended ESL in the Mainstream and other professional development sessions in order to better assist ESL students in their classrooms. The ESL specialist keeps informed of other new and relevant PD inservices as they arise.
The Middle Years of Schooling has been facilitated at Dallas Primary School in a variety of ways. Firstly, teachers have familiarised themselves with current teaching methods and implemented them for the advancement of each student. Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles have been addressed, and as a result students in grades 5/6 have been assessed as to what their preferred learning style is and their learning has been structured accordingly. Also making learning and assessment authentic, and inter-related so as to see a genuine and worthwhile outcome for the effort put in. A new initiative which is in the process at Dallas Primary School, is the issue of Boys Education and how to improve their learning outcomes, especially within the Middle Years. This will be addressed and a real focus area this year.