English

At Holy Spirit Parish School, we believe literacy is the key to becoming an independent and effective contributing member of the local and global community. We are striving to achieve excellence in all areas of Literacy by embracing practices, strategies or programs that have been researched and are in line with the Victorian Curriculum. In English, students participate fully in reading, viewing, listening to, writing, creating, researching and talking about a range of text types dealing with a variety of concepts and topics. It is through the study of English that students learn to more fully participate, explore, think, strategise, analyse, understand, communicate and build relationships with others and with the world around them. English also helps our students to engage imaginatively and critically with literature to expand the scope of their experience. 

Our students are encouraged to set personal goals and group goals to improve  their learning at an individual level as well as with each other …“I am learning, because we are learning …”

 

FOUNDATION TO YEAR 2

In the first three years of schooling, the focus is on developing the foundations for reading, writing and speaking and listening. The specific teaching of Literacy skills is mostly taught in the mornings. The classes have a structure that includes the whole class, small group and independent practice where the instruction is focussed on the individual and group specific needs of the students.

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YEARS 3 AND 4

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The foundation literacy skills are broadened so that the knowledge of language is linked to inquiry units of work that are being studied. A variety of quality teaching strategies are used and making meaning and gaining depth of understanding is the key focus.

 

YEARS 5 AND 6

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As students enter the Middle Years of schooling the emphasis on decoding diminishes and the focus shifts to reading to develop meaning and deeper understandings and knowledge, in the context of all areas of learning.