Literacy



Literacy at Leongatha Primary School

At Leongatha Primary School we believe that success in literacy is essential for all students. Our aim is to create lifelong readers and writers, fostering a love of literacy, and developing the skills to become literate.

Literacy continues to be a key focus area in our current Strategic Plan. Staff are regularly involved in professional development to ensure they are up to date with current educational research and practices. They are supported in implementing rigorous programs where they are all expected to be able to articulate what their students are learning, how they are progressing and where to take them next. All staff are committed to achieving the highest possible outcomes for our students.

As active learners, our students understand the learning intentions and use success criteria to ensure they are working towards achieving their learning goals.

Understanding how to assess and monitor student progress is critical to this success. Through explicit teaching, staff are able to identify individual needs of students and can develop appropriate programs to cater for these.

Reading

In our reading workshop sessions, expect to see a community of learners where the students are involved in authentic reading activities and a high level of student engagement is evident. Teachers guide students to become more effective readers using the Reader’s Workshop model which consists of:

  • Mini Lessons
  • A variety of Reading Conferences:  Individual/small group/assessment.
  • Independent Reading
  • Responses about reading

Using the workshop, students learn how to work collaboratively with others and develop a real sense of ownership and responsibility over their literacy learning.

Writing

In our writing workshop sessions, students develop writing strategies, learn about the writer’s craft and use writing as a tool for learning and communication. They practice writing in different genres and apply conventions to communicate information clearly to a variety of audiences.

Again, students are active learners in this process, taking ownership and responsibility over their progress.

Teachers guide students to become more effective readers using the Writer’s Workshop model which consists of:

  • Mini Lessons
  • A variety of writing conferences – individual/small group/assessment
  • Independent Writing

Speaking and Listening

Speaking and Listening refers to the various formal and informal ways oral language is used to convey and receive meaning. It involves the development and demonstration of knowledge about the appropriate oral language for particular audiences and occasions, including body language and voice. It also involves the development of active-listening strategies and an understanding of the conventions of different spoken texts. Staff at Leongatha Primary School are committed to giving children authentic opportunities to learn and improve their skills in Speaking and Listening not only through Literacy sessions but in all areas of the curriculum.
At Leongatha Primary School, we are Learning for Life!

Reading Intervention Program – Tutor Learning Initiative

In 2021 Leongatha Primary School implemented a Reading Intervention Program as part of the Tutor Learning Initiative. The program aims to assist students that need additional literacy support.

LPS is utilising Macquarie University’s research-based MacqLit and MiniLit programs. 66 students are involved in the special teaching program, years 1 and 2 in MiniLit and years 3 to 6 in MacqLit. 20 students are also completing the Reading Tutor Program. These programs provide targeted one on one or small group instruction 3 to 4 times per week. These frequent, hour long, intensive sessions allow students to focus on identified areas of need.

For children who are struggling to learn to read, intervening early is the best way to prevent reading problems from becoming more established. Parents and teachers have already noticed growth in both student confidence and reading skills for those that have been selected for the programs.

Tutors are Michelle Hughes, Sue Harper, Alison March and Brooke Brown