Literacy
At Bolinda Primary we promote literacy skill development in reading and viewing, writing, and speaking and listening in a supportive and stimulating environment. Planning for the Literacy Program is based on the Victorian Curriculum. The school has a whole school focus assessment overview that directs the planning of the individual student’s needs.
Reading
Our early years program is based on a scientifically backed synthetic phonics program call ehd Little Learners Love Literacy program. This ensures that students have all the building blocks of reading before tackling more difficult concepts in texts later in their schooling. Using this strategy, students are given the very best opportunity to build a solid foundation in their reading.
As students move through their primary school years, our program incorporates increasing amounts of complex texts, containing world knowledge, science, history, politics, mythology and geography. This ensures students leave primary school with a rounded knowledge of the world in which they live.
Writing
Our writing is based on VCOP (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation) designed to make writing fun so children want to write and to be continuously challenged throughout the writing journey. Teachers are involved in writing moderation sessions once a term to ensure consistency and support in writing across the school.
Spelling
Students are explicitly taught spelling patterns and strategies based on our synthetic phonics program and taught at their point of need.
From Foundation to Grade 6, we utilise the Little Learners and THRASS phonetics teaching tools. Our spelling results in NAPLAN have indicated that our spelling practices are working with the students.
Summary
Reading Intervention and Literacy support programs are provided through our Personalised Learning Approach.
Parent involvement is supported and encouraged in the classroom and as reading helpers.
Bolinda PS is well resourced in all classrooms and our school library. Students are given an opportunity to attend library sessions on a weekly basis.