Elementary School Learning with CARE

 

CURRICULUM

Our team of dedicated teachers and specialists teach according to the AusVELS curriculum. We explicitly teach Literacy, Numeracy and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). Curriculum areas such as Science, History, Geography, and Humanities are integrated into the program. We also incorporate cross-curricular priorities such as Permaculture and Sustainability, Design/Technology and Cooking. We have a strong sporting program that includes Swimming and Tennis in summer and Skiing in winter. All students participate in specialist classes in LOTE German, Music, Library, Art and Bluearth.

students skiing

LITERACY

Literacy at Harrietville Primary School is according to the Hume Region Literacy Strategy. This enables us to be precise, personalised and professional in the teaching of your child.

We explicitly teach Reading, Viewing and Writing, this includes Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Handwriting and Speaking and Listening. Literacy is continuously integrated into other curriculum areas.

We utilise a number of literacy teaching strategies including:

Words Their Way spelling
Reader’s and Writer’s Notebooks
Strategies for Life Long Readers

A literacy lesson includes:

Whole Class: A teacher reads/writes to or with the class
Explicit Teaching Groups: Students selected for instruction according to their needs. A workshop used to reinforce the learning intention.
Independent Practice: Sustained independent reading/writing and practice according to learning intention.
Whole Class Reflection

student reading

NUMERACY

Numeracy at Harrietville Primary School is according to the Hume Region Numeracy Strategy. This enables us to be precise, personalised and professional in the teaching of your child.

Essential components of an Effective Primary Numeracy Lesson:

• Daily Numeracy Block of 60 minutes
• Classroom environment is set up for a differentiated lesson structure (this means made 'different' for each child as they need it) 
• Appropriate resources for fluency
• Class profiles are used when planning numeracy lessons
• Precise student data is used to provide differentiated instruction
• Students are familiar with classroom routines
• Teacher monitors and records student learning and teacher effectiveness

Each numeracy lesson includes the following components:

Number Fluency
Individualised practice time for strategies. Whole Class Mini LessonExplicit teaching that is teacher directed.
Independent / Group LearningDifferentiated tools are used to match the numeracy tasks to student need. These may be hands-on, problem solving, using Interactive Whiteboard, iPads, computer, written responses or practical applications.
Whole Class Reflection / SummaryStudents use oral and written reflection to connect numeracy learning.

ICT

Information Communication Technologies are integrated into every day learning at Harrietville Primary School. Our aim is to have a 1:1 device program so that each student is able to be on at one time. It is paramount for our students to be informed, responsible and capable users of technology and strive to educate eSmart students who leave a positive digital footprint.

We currently have:

* 12 desktop computers in the ICT room 
* 15 netbooks 
* 2 iPads 
* 4 Interactive Whiteboards
* 10 digital cameras 
* online membership to a variety of software programs and applications to enhance learning

eSmart Harrietville Primary School is now officially an eSmart school. Since we first registered with the program, we have introduced many new policies and activities to improve the way our school manages cyber safety, bullying and cyber bullying. We feel confident our students, staff and the wider school community are now well supported to be smart, safe and responsible users of digital technology. We encourage everyone in the school community to continue to uphold and promote eSmart behaviours, at school and at home. If you are aware of any incidents of bullying, cyber bullying or risky behaviour, please contact the Principal.

We use a number of online tools, including Mathletics, Ziptales, Studyladder, Splash ABC, at Harrietville Primary School to complement and apply literacy and numeracy learning.

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