Learning & Technology
Learning at Karoo is supported by the use of a whole school Instructional Model. The model has been designed by our staff to allow for consistent and collaborative instruction across the school. By using an Instructional Model particularly in English and Mathematics we are supporting a shared language about teacher practice, enriching our skills and professional learning by reflecting, motivating and engaging teachers to consider how their practice can best support student learning.
All learning at Karoo is differentiated (differentiation occurs when the teacher plans a lesson and adjusts the content, the process used and the expected outcomes from the students. The process ensures that learners at different starting points can receive the instruction they need to grow, learn and succeed).
Learning is planned to ensure students’ individual needs, interests, and abilities are catered for. Teachers use regular, ongoing and consistent assessment practices to ensure students’ next planned learning is individual and strives to support continuous improvement.
Literacy
We are committed to providing our students with an engaging, evidence based approach to literacy learning. This approach is consistent across the school and is driven by the Victorian Curriculum and is supported by the Karoo Instructional Model. Students learn to be confident and successful readers, writers, speakers and listeners; they are exposed to a range of strategies that they can draw upon to progress their own learning.
From Foundation we teach an explicit Phonics approach. Students learn letters and the sounds they make, sound patterns are also taught. These skills assist the development of reading, spelling, writing, speaking and listening learning.
We use the 6+1 Traits of Writing to develop authorship skills in our students. The traits of organisation, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, ideas, voice and presentation are the foundations of writing. The traits are taught explicitly in all year levels.
Our reading program focuses on ‘the enjoyment of reading’. We assist students to read by teaching decoding skills. Decoding is essential to reading, it allows the students to ‘figure out’ words they have heard but have never seen in print, as well as sounding out words they are not familiar with. The ability to decode is the foundation upon which other reading instruction is based, this includes fluency, vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Students are explicitly taught speaking and listening skills through a variety of experiences within all curriculum areas. Speaking and listening refers to informal and formal ways oral language is used to convey and receive meaning. Students are taught about the appropriate language for particular audiences and occasions, including body language and voice.
Numeracy
At Karoo Primary School we plan, teach and support our students to develop mathematical skills in order to function effectively in society. Our programs are in line with the Victorian Curriculum and are supported by Karoo’s Instructional Model. Becoming confident and competent with mathematics will enable our students to be able to reason, solve problems, demonstrate understanding and see the relevance of mathematics in everyday life.
Mathematics lessons promote whole class mathematical teaching. Small focus groups to meet the needs of students and opportunities for independent and partner work too. Explicit teaching of mathematical skills, concepts and strategies promote student discussion, open ended and problem solving opportunities. Students are supported to further their learning by using ‘hands on’ resources, we have a great variety of resources in every classroom.
Specialist Programs
The Arts
The Visual Arts program is enhanced by a designated teaching space, this light and spacious room provides a supportive environment to stimulate creativity and engagement. Specific guidance supports the students to explore a wide range of media and equipment. Students will explore the artistic areas of drawing, painting, collage, printing, modelling, construction, threads and textiles. Within these areas an emerging knowledge of skills, techniques and processes are formed. All students come to the Art lessons with a wide range of abilities, these are fostered in a caring, creative and supportive environment.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts program includes music, drama and dance. The purpose built Performing Arts room is designed to support students to move freely as they explore rhythm, pitch, dynamics and melody. A wide variety of tuned and un-tuned musical instruments are a feature of our program. Singing is a major component of the program, students in all year levels learn songs to encourage oral language and confidence.
Dance provides opportunities for creative movement, they learn and create their own choreographed dances and move expressively to different types of music. Students respond to their own and others’ dancing using movement and other forms of communication.
In Drama, students explore mime, expression, improvisation and script writing. Students actively use body, gesture, movement, voice and language, taking on roles to explore and depict real and imagined worlds.
LOTE | Mandarin 诺克斯公园小学热烈欢迎你!
The LOTE (Languages Other Than English) curriculum is offered as an integrated part of the curriculum. It is aimed at engaging students in thinking and reflecting on their own culture, wider civilisations that surround them and humanity in a broader sense. Students understanding of the language is enhanced and their skills developed by listening, understanding and speaking through games, songs, rhymes, role play and the use of technology. Besides communicating in Mandarin, they build an awareness and knowledge of the Chinese Culture.
Science
We aim to ensure that all students have opportunities to learn about scientific concepts in a safe, challenging and engaging environment. Our students in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 participate in Science lessons planned and implemented by their year level teachers. Students in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 participate in a weekly Science lesson with a designated teacher. They have access to an engaging learning environment, which has recently been upgraded to support students’ learning.
The focus throughout the school is for all students to gain a sound understanding of scientific concepts and how these relate to their lives. To assist in this process, we utilise the Australian Academy of Science- Primary Connections resources that link science with literacy, and enable students to achieve a comprehensive grasp of the basic scientific principles. This program compliments the main subjects within the Victorian Curriculum.
Physical Education
At Karoo Primary School we understand that Physical Education helps to develop students in many ways. Physical Education helps to develop sporting skills as well as personal and interpersonal learning. It is crucial that students develop basic fundamental motor skills such as running, hopping, jumping, skipping, catching, throwing, kicking and balancing. They are then able to develop the capacity to link these skills into more complex and coordinated movement sequences. Further development provides the opportunity to develop increasingly complex motor skills and begin to apply these to modified games and specific sports.
Students in Years 3-6 begin their involvement in major games, leading to their participation in team sports. They become familiar with the rules of many different sports, understand the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship in a setting that supports them to represent our school both as individuals and as a team member.
Students have access to excellent facilities including two large indoor spaces, well defined outdoor play spaces and courts and an athletics track.
Our intent is to prepare our students for a healthy and active lifestyle through the development of skills, knowledge, teamwork and a positive attitude.
