English
English is central to the learning and development of all students at CSPS and we place a strong emphasis on developing literacy skills.
Our English curriculum aims to ensure that students learn to listen, read, view, speak, write, create and reflect, through explicit teaching, independent tasks and inquiry learning.
Literacy sessions enhance communication skills and create imaginative thinkers, while developing an appreciation of the spoken English language and literature. Content and skills are explicitly taught using a variety of strategies catering for individual needs with modelling, guided practice, independent practice and active reflection common elements of reading and writing instruction.
In line with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 F–10, we report on student progress in the areas of reading and viewing, writing and speaking and listening.
Through the ongoing professional development of all staff, we continue to provide effective literacy teaching and learning experiences based on the most current, evidence-based research.
Strong family relationships where students are supported at home in their literacy is valued. Daily opportunities for students to read, write and engage in speaking and listening experiences is encouraged.
InitiaLit
InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. InitiaLit at CSPS is a sequential three year program, covering Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2. InitiaLit is designed to be implemented everyday across the whole school year.
The Foundation and Year 1 InitiaLit programs focus on two main components:
- Phonics, to systematically and explicitly teach the basic and advanced alphabetic code in a set sequence. In addition to learning letter-sound correspondences and how these are applied to reading and spelling, children will be introduced to common morphemes and simple grammatical concepts.
- Vocabulary, oral language and listening comprehension through quality children’s literature. Detailed lessons, including writing tasks, are provided for each of the storybook titles selected for use with the program.
The Year 2 InitiaLit program focuses on consolidating children's reading and spelling skills, working specifically on reading comprehension, fluency, spelling and vocabulary.
Reading
At CSPS we immerse students in authentic reading experiences that focus on the strengths and needs of each individual student. We utilise the ‘Reader's Workshop’ framework for reading instruction which allows students to spend an extended amount of time reading texts that interest them on a daily basis. We provide opportunities for students to listen to, engage in and talk about literature as they develop reading and comprehension skills. The ‘Reader’s Workshop’ model helps to foster a love of reading and provides students opportunities to practise reading strategies independently and with guidance. Whether learning to read or reading to learn, our focus is always on meaning making and enjoyment of literature.
Writing
With our ultimate goal being to develop life-long passionate writers, we strive to foster a love and appreciation of writing and provide students with opportunities to engage in the writing process. We use the supportive structure of the ‘Writer’s Workshop’ framework to immerse student in authentic writing experiences that explore a variety of text types. Students use authors as mentors as they delve into the traits of writing, which informs the decisions they make about their own pieces as they learn to entertain, inform and persuade audiences. Students use their Writer’s Notebook to record what they notice, observe, think about and experience. A sense of responsibility for their learning is developed as students set goals, track their progress, assess their success in writing and consider the next steps in their learning.