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Our literacy results speak for themselves. We are blown away with what our Prep Students are able to achieve in one year of schooling. We use a multi sensory approach to Literacy that involves multiple exposures, so the students are exposed to the information over and over until they consolidate their learning. We introduce the single letter phonograms in Term One and then introduce two-letter phonograms in Term Two and Three. Students write on lines from the start of the year and learn how to correctly for each letter and how to construct a sentence. Students take home a sight word ring that proves a great motivation to learn their sight words and move through the levels in Reading. Students develop a love for Reading and Writing and we are incredibly proud of the program that we have developed.
Numeracy is a hands-on and fun experience for our Preps! Our Numeracy lessons are planned and designed to have as many hands-on activities as possible. Being hands-on is especially important in the classroom because it allows students to experiment with trial and error, learn from their mistakes, and understand the potential gaps between theory and practice. And most important, it provides educators with a unique opportunity to enrich the minds of their students in a new and engaging way. We endeavour to make sure students understand that Numeracy can be used in many real-life situations and give them experiences to use their knowledge in 'real-life'.
As we are an accredited International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme School, every student in the school is given opportunities to explore, play, learn and immerse themselves in local and global ideas, and Prep students are no exceptions. In Prep, the students explore these transdisciplinary themes through play.
Scientists have suggested that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done through play, in which case it takes between ten and twenty repetitions. Teachers have designed an Inquiry play-based learning program and area that promotes learning through play.
Teachers plan Literacy, Numeracy, Fine Motor and Unit of Inquiry activities that are changed each fortnight. The children think they are ‘just playing’, but we know that they are doing so much more. Through play, Prep students develop social skills, language skills, creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Activities also develop their fine motor skills, decision making skills, spatial awareness, and imagination.
We are extremely fortunate to have a Prep Playground. This allows Prep students to become familiar with their surroundings in the comfort of their own playground, where they can get to know their peers and always find a staff member or Prep Playground Monitor to assist them. In Term Three, students begin to explore the larger school area and venturing out into the ‘big playground’ in small groups. This allows staff and older students to keep an eye on them and be aware that they are new to the wider school playground. An upgraded playground is coming soon!
Our Prep students have Middle School buddies (Grade Three and Four). We found that when they have Grade Six students as buddies, the Preps were very upset when their buddies left the school at the end of the year. Having Middle School buddies means that students see each other around the school for many years. Every child at our school has a buddy- from Kindergarten to Grade Six.
Prep Students attend Science each week in our Outdoor Learning space. They also attend ‘Garden’ sessions where they are able to participate in various activities including painting, cooking, helping with the animals and planting vegetables and herbs.
We are incredibly lucky to have spacious Prep classrooms with a dedicated space for Inquiry Play-Based Learning.Our classrooms are light and airy, filled with our students’ work. We place great importance on creating engaging and inviting spaces that foster a sense of pride and belonging.
