Literacy
At Donburn Primary School, students engage in a two hour student-centred Literacy program each day. Students are supported through a gradual release of responsibility to develop confidence and independence, as they take part in a wide range of differentiated reading, writing, spelling, grammar and oral language tasks to build and strengthen their literacy skills. All learning tasks are designed with authentic purposes and inspire students to become passionate readers and authors and literate members of the broader community.
Reading and Viewing
Students participate in one hour of reading each day involving a variety of whole class, small group and independent tasks. These tasks are scaffolded and differentiated to ensure learning is at the point of need for each child. Working alongside students of like ability, students read, listen and respond to a variety of rich texts, developing comprehension skills and reading stamina as well as a keen interest in literature. Students regularly meet with their teachers to set and work towards individual goals and are supported to understand, interpret, analyse and critique a wide range of texts and media.
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a school-based, short-term intervention designed for English speaking children who require additional support in Literacy after their first year of school.
At Donburn, students are selected for Reading Recovery based on individual measures of assessment and teacher judgment. Their classroom literacy program is then supplemented with daily one-to-one lessons of thirty minutes. The series of lessons run for 12-20 weeks with a specially trained teacher. The lessons consist of a variety of experiences designed to help children develop effective reading and writing strategies. Reading Recovery continues until the child can read within or above the class average and has demonstrated the use of independent reading and writing strategies.
Writing
Our Writing program provides students with the opportunity to discover and explore a variety of genres and styles of writing. Students create a range of texts for different audiences and purposes, working through ‘The Writing Process’ to plan, compose, record, revise, edit and publish cohesive, detailed pieces.
Students examine a variety of mentor texts to inspire and guide their writing. Engaging with high quality literature assists students in establishing connections between reading and writing and developing greater understanding of various writing conventions and techniques. Students are supported through a range of instructional approaches including modelled and shared writing as well as guided and independent practices to differentiate learning, develop individual goals and meet students at the point of need.
Speaking and Listening
In addition to daily Speaking and Listening opportunities in class activities and discussions, students also develop their oral language skills through structured programs including:
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Students with a language background other than English, speak a language other than English at home as their main language or who have been enrolled in an Australian school for less than five years are supported at Donburn through our EAL program.
Our qualified EAL teacher works closely with students who:
This program provides EAL students with the necessary supports to develop their understanding of oral and written English in line with the EAL Standards of the Victorian Curriculum.
Multicultural Educational Aide (MEA) Support
Multicultural Education Aides provide an invaluable service to our EAL students and school community. Multicultural Education Aides assist with communication between the school and parents of students from language backgrounds other than English. They also assist students in the classroom or on a one-to-one basis.
MEAs are able to assist with:
Additional Information
For handy tips and ways you can help your child develop literacy and numeracy skills at home please visit – Literacy and Numeracy Tips to Help Your Child from the Victorian Literacy Portal.
Reading and Viewing
Students participate in one hour of reading each day involving a variety of whole class, small group and independent tasks. These tasks are scaffolded and differentiated to ensure learning is at the point of need for each child. Working alongside students of like ability, students read, listen and respond to a variety of rich texts, developing comprehension skills and reading stamina as well as a keen interest in literature. Students regularly meet with their teachers to set and work towards individual goals and are supported to understand, interpret, analyse and critique a wide range of texts and media.
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a school-based, short-term intervention designed for English speaking children who require additional support in Literacy after their first year of school.
At Donburn, students are selected for Reading Recovery based on individual measures of assessment and teacher judgment. Their classroom literacy program is then supplemented with daily one-to-one lessons of thirty minutes. The series of lessons run for 12-20 weeks with a specially trained teacher. The lessons consist of a variety of experiences designed to help children develop effective reading and writing strategies. Reading Recovery continues until the child can read within or above the class average and has demonstrated the use of independent reading and writing strategies.
Writing
Our Writing program provides students with the opportunity to discover and explore a variety of genres and styles of writing. Students create a range of texts for different audiences and purposes, working through ‘The Writing Process’ to plan, compose, record, revise, edit and publish cohesive, detailed pieces.
Students examine a variety of mentor texts to inspire and guide their writing. Engaging with high quality literature assists students in establishing connections between reading and writing and developing greater understanding of various writing conventions and techniques. Students are supported through a range of instructional approaches including modelled and shared writing as well as guided and independent practices to differentiate learning, develop individual goals and meet students at the point of need.
Speaking and Listening
In addition to daily Speaking and Listening opportunities in class activities and discussions, students also develop their oral language skills through structured programs including:
- Show and Tell – Foundation
- VIP of the Week – Year 1
- Daily News – Year 2
- Public Speaking – Foundation to Year 6
- Students present a pre-prepared speech to their peers each term in response to a common topic.
- Year 5 and Year 6 students are also selected to take part in Donburn’s Annual Public Speaking Evening, where they are mentored and adjudicated by local members of the community to develop their confidence and skills as presenters.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Students with a language background other than English, speak a language other than English at home as their main language or who have been enrolled in an Australian school for less than five years are supported at Donburn through our EAL program.
Our qualified EAL teacher works closely with students who:
- are learning English as a second or additional language
- are not as proficient in English as a student of the same age who has been learning only English
- exhibit English language structures and features that are typical of those in the process of learning English
- needs assistance in classroom activities because of their stage of English language development.
This program provides EAL students with the necessary supports to develop their understanding of oral and written English in line with the EAL Standards of the Victorian Curriculum.
Multicultural Educational Aide (MEA) Support
Multicultural Education Aides provide an invaluable service to our EAL students and school community. Multicultural Education Aides assist with communication between the school and parents of students from language backgrounds other than English. They also assist students in the classroom or on a one-to-one basis.
MEAs are able to assist with:
- effective communication between students and teachers in the classroom
- integrating EAL learners into school activities by helping them understand school expectations and goals
- assisting teachers understand the home cultures and the expectations families have of the school and of education in general
- assisting newly arrived families in their settlement into the new educational community.
Additional Information
For handy tips and ways you can help your child develop literacy and numeracy skills at home please visit – Literacy and Numeracy Tips to Help Your Child from the Victorian Literacy Portal.
