Parent Information Night

In our school and classrooms we have high expectations of students. We expect that they will:

be motivated curious about their learning.

have a positive attitude to learningask questions

stay focussed on learning goalsunderstand what they are learning

be able to articulate learninguse knowledge to solve problems and develop further

learningset goals, which they develop in conjunction with teacher and

monitorbe challenged and take risks

be confident and resilient

Curiosity and Powerful Learning is an approach that Mentone Primary School is extremely excited to undertake over the next 4

years.

We will develop and improve teaching and learning practises for the 21st Century Learner.

We will harness our students curiosity as a doorway to powerful Learning

We are fortunate that Wayne Craig will be holding a seminar at our school on the 17th March and we encourage you to attend this evening to learn more about the schools approach to learning and

teaching and outline the implications for your child’s future educational needs.

Literacy

Reading- guided, modelled, shared, independent, CAFÉ home reading

Spelling-various approaches/ phonics based

Handwriting-letter shape, size, upper, lowercase

Speaking and Listening

Writing-VCOP

Reading

• The CAFÉ Reading Program at Mentone is taught P-6 and learning focuses on skills of:

• Comprehension• Accuracy• Fluency, and• Expanding VocabularySame language across the school skills build from year to yearStudents and teachers conference ,set goals ,concentrate on specific skills for improvement.Students/ teachers monitor progress

Reading

Home Reading Program Reading folders and Reading diaries are to be at school every day. Students should read to a parent, grandparent, friend or sibling for at least 10 minutes every night. Students are encouraged to record their reading themselves in their reading diaries. The reading log helps teachers, parents and students keep track of the frequency of reading. The diaries offer incentives and rewards for number of nights students have read and help students to celebrate their success. The Grade 1/2 reading program is intended to build enjoyment in reading and increase reading vocabulary, fluency, expressiveness and understanding. Your child’s home reader has been selected to match your child’s current level of reading. Encourage your child to read this until they are proficient. Consistent home reading will help students achieve their reading goals.

Writing

VCOP &BigWrites

Big Write

To all our parents

• 'Big Write' is a strategy for raising standards in writing that has been implemented in thousands of primary schools

starting in the United Kingdom and due to huge success now around the world.

• Big Write & VCOP is a whole school approach has been running for four years at Mentone. Encompassing shared language, and

consistent methodology.

The Big Write Philosophy

Big Write is the development of the ‘writing voice’ through fast, fun, lively and predominantly oral activities.

It is based on the premise that to write well children need to feel confident and motivated. They need to ‘have a go’ nothing is

actually ‘wrong’.

IF A CHILD CAN SAY IT, A CHILD CAN WRITE IT

Development of children’s verbal language as well as the four vital elements VCOP, leads to writing growth.

What is VCOP

C Connectives – The range of ways a child has of joining ideas,

phrases & sentences.

P Punctuation - The range of punctuation a child can accurately use, and to

enhance their writing.

Every week the children concentrate on the 4 elements of Big Writing: V C O P

O Openers - The strategies a child has for

opening sentences; making these more diverse and

engaging.

V Vocabulary -The range of ambitious vocabulary a child knows; WOW words.

Big Write

Big Writes

What is a BIG WRITE?

• Throughout the week children, will build skills and knowledge to complete a big write session. This may take place once a week/fortnight.

• Session is a special atmosphere. (candle, classic music).

• Children then review their work with their teachers and set personalised writing goals so they can build further on their writing skills, in upcoming big writes.

• Sesame Snap.

Big Talk Home study

What is a BIG Talk?

• Children bring home a weekly topic to be discussed.• Special Talk Time.• Encourage rich vocabulary “WOW WORDS”.• Discuss their opinion and yours.• Children may want to make notes.

WOW words?A WOW word is usually an adjective that is a big word or an interesting word. With time your child will expand their vocabulary to replace a common adjective such as ‘big’ with alternatives such as large, enormous, giant, massive, huge and super-sized for example.

The importance of talk

Why is talk important?

• The gift of speech is the greatest gift you can give to your child, apart from the gifts of happiness and good health.

• We talk to get things we need or want: jobs, shopping, medical help, other help, friendship.

• The better we can talk, the better we can write.

How can you as parents help?

Continued …

• Encourage your child to WRITE write letters write a diary take notes about a walk, a trip etc… make lists – to do lists, shopping lists, lists of favourite music, games,

characters, books etc… Use games to help develop vocabulary such as puzzles, crosswords,

word games, anagrams etc…

• ASK your child what target they have to improve their writing.

Maths

Number and Algebramoney, number patterns ,addition, subtraction, multiplication,

division, fractions and decimals

Measurement and GeometryUsing units of measurement length, mass, volume, time, days weeks,

months, shape 2D, 3D, locations and transformations

Stastistics and Probabilitychance, data representation, graphing

Specialist Teachers

Performing ArtsInspiration Station

P.EArt

Sport

The 1/2 Sports Program is run on Thursday afternoons in conjunction with Mr. Cardamone P.E program and is aimed at improving the students: Hand-eye coordination Throwing and CatchingDodging and Invading To achieve the students sports goals the 1/2 team has used Volleyball based activities as their sport in focus for Term 1. The teachers have conducted fun group activities focusing on skills such as:DiggingSettingOverhead ThrowingCatching Matt

Restorative Practices

At Mentone PS we use the Restorative Practices framework to develop a restorative culture, building relationships and connections with students which

will positively impact academic performance.

• A move away from traditional behavior management which focused on punishment and blame.

• empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups,

• students have a voice and are involved solving the problem

• 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?• Build classroom relationships

• Every student has an opportunity to be heard and seen at the start of every day

• Develop Emotional Literacy

• Improve self esteem

• Build student morale

• Increase student confidence

• Fun

Inquiry

Inquiry

Areas of inquiry for our students

Term 1- Past present future/ celebrations. (Local Mentone Walk)

Term 2-Livingthings different places( Ricketts Point)

Term 3 Olympics and study of an Asian country (MCG)

Term 4- Physical Science mechanisms of movement (Billycart incursion)

Remember

We are a team of educators for your child/children

We work in collaboration with each other We are available via appointment to answer

questions Our doors are openWe highly recommend you attending the Wayne

Craig Seminar on 17th MarchPlease support your child’s education in

collaboration with us

TO

Remember

Ensure your child, our students are:motivated

curious about their worldpositive attitude to learning

asking questions focussed on learning goals

understanding what they are learningable to articulate their learning

using knowledge to solve problems and develop further learning

goal setting and monitoring taking risks

confident and resilient

Remember

We hope you have a greater understanding of the learning that takes place daily in your child’s classroom.

Thankyou for your attendance this evening