Literacy at Parkerville
At Parkerville Primary School, we believe that language learning is all interrelated and that students become competent as they are supported to develop the knowledge and skills to interpret and use language confidently for learning and communicating not only in school but in everyday life. Literacy involves students in listening to, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating oral, print, visual and digital texts, and using and modifying language for different purposes in a range of contexts (WA Curriculum).
Western Australian Curriculum
The Pre-primary to Year 10 Western Australian curriculum provides a coherent and comprehensive set of prescribed content and achievement standards which schools will use to plan student learning programs, assess student progress and report to parents.
The Western Australian curriculum currently encompasses ACARA’s Australian curriculum English, mathematics, science and history.
The Western Australian syllabuses remain broadly consistent with the Australian curriculum but have been contextualised to make them more suitable for Western Australian students and teachers.
Given the phased implementation of the Western Australian curriculum, schools may be teaching some learning areas from the Western Australian curriculum supplemented by learning areas described in the former Western Australian Curriculum Framework.
Reading
Our structured reading program includes:
- Explicit teaching of phonological awareness and phonics through Jolly Phonics and Soundwaves;
- Guided Reading practice to improve fluency.
- Explicit teaching of the 12 comprehension strategies (CARS & STARS).
- LiteracyPro Scholastic programme to guide comprehension and provide intervention data
- Scholastic Key Links and Into Connectors
Fluency
The ability to read with fluency and accuracy is encouraged through home and school oral reading programmes and extra support is provided through the ‘Support-A-Reader’ programme.
Spelling
The Soundwaves programme guides our teaching of phonological awareness, spelling rules and vocabulary development. Teachers supplement this programme with the Jolly Phonics for early phonics learning.
Grammar
A focus on grammar and punctuation over the last few years using explicit teaching practises has seen our NAPLAN results improve dramatically. G and P drills are taught every day and then applied in context through writing lessons.
Writing
Writing opportunities are provided through integration across the curriculum. Modelled writing starts the writing process and students are explicitly taught drafting and editing skills. Daily writing using journals or similar occurs across the school.