At Monbulk Primary School our teachers work hard to know and understand each child’s individual skills and strengths, and build a learning program for each student based on their point of need.
We work closely together as teams of teachers to plan learning and teaching activities, sharing resources and ideas so that all children have consistent learning experiences. Our teacher teams use student work samples and data to develop a personalised learning program.
This is further enhanced by our multi-age classrooms, which allow additional support and extension for each student as needed, regardless of their year level. Teachers and students use digital technology on a daily basis at Monbulk Primary School to enhance the student’s learning.
Literacy
In Literacy we explicitly teach Reading, Writing and Spelling basing our learning on the Workshop Model and we make sure that we cater to the needs of all of our students. In the Workshop Model the mini-lesson at the start of the learning clearly sets out what we’re learning and why, and how we will know when we have achieved it. Students work in groups and independently, and share their learning at the end of the lesson.
We teach Writing focusing on the 6+1 Traits of Writing. Students are taught to consider their ideas, sentence fluency, organisation, word choice, voice, conventions and presentation in their writing pieces.
In Reading, we focus on students understanding how to select a Just Right book to enable them to learn from their reading experience. Students develop accuracy and comprehension skills through mini-lesson, independent work and conferencing with their teacher. They track their thinking as they read in a Reader’s Notebook whilst focusing on comprehension strategies, thinking within, beyond and about the text.
Mathematics
In Mathematics we work to develop an understanding of mathematical concepts in students, reinforced with engaging and hands on learning experiences. Students are grouped and regrouped at their point of need. In 2023 we became part of the Primary Maths Science Specialist initiative, and have two experienced teachers leading our mathematics practise, based on the work of Peter Sullivan. Children regularly engage in problem solving tasks which allow for success, challenge and extension. We structure our teaching around the Big Ideas of mathematics; trusting the count, place value, multiplicative thinking, multiplicative partitioning and generalising algebraic reasoning.
Humanities and Science
Our whole school learning sequence takes students on a journey through topics in Geography, History, and Science. Students develop information literacy and critical thinking skills as they learn about the natural world and how we live in the world. It also develops problem-solving abilities and skills for lifelong learning. Students work co-operatively and collaboratively to solve problems.