Curriculum
How we teach Reading
At Banum Warrik, we explicitly teach students how to read by developing:
- Phonemic awareness (sounds they hear)
- Phonics (decoding)
- Fluency (reading rate, expression)
- Background knowledge of topics
- Vocabulary (word meanings)
- Comprehension (understanding the meaning of text)
When learning to read, teachers build student competency by ensuring they use appropriate decodable texts alongside rich and engaging books to build their understanding of the world around them.
How we teach Writing
At Banum Warrik, we explicitly teach students how to write by developing:
- Phonemic awareness (breaking words that are heard into sounds and syllables)
- Phonics (encoding – representing sounds with spellings)
Transcribing (correctly forming letters and using spaces and punctuation) - Fluency (building automaticity)
- Background knowledge (of topics and written language structure)
- Vocabulary (words and their meanings)
- Written Expression (the ultimate goal!)
All elements are identifiable in each of our writing lessons, from Foundation to Grade Six.
How we teach Mathematics
What is important to us when teaching Mathematics?
Mindset makes a difference – anyone can learning Mathematics!
Mathematics is challenging – no one is born knowing how to solve mathematical problems! We encourage students to develop a productive disposition. Students will achieve success if they face challenges with a positive mindset and the right amount of effort and persistence.
Mistakes are important!
A significant characteristic of highly effective learning is the presence of mistakes and their role in transitioning learners from beginners to experts. Brain activity significantly increases when a student is challenged. Let’s grow those brains!
Number skills underpin all mathematics!
Understanding of numbers, their size and what their names mean underpins almost every use of mathematics in everyday life. We endeavour to ensure students develop a deep and fluent understanding of numbers to set them up for success in all areas of Mathematics.
Knowledge Rich Curriculum
Our students will engage in a rigorous curriculum, where we build key knowledge of the world around them.
We ensure that our students engage in integrated units of study, where Reading, Writing and Mathematics are connected through meaningful, real-world contexts.
A sample of our upcoming units include:
Culture and Community: investigating culture and how it shapes our school and local community.
The Animal Kingdom: investigating animals from pets, native animals, global ecosystems and adaptions.
Thrive to Survive: investigating how we enrich the lives of animals around us.
Past to Present: investigating the past and the impact it has on present and future.
