English & Maths

English

The development of strong literacy skills is central to the learning and development of all students at Fyans Park Primary School, driven by our whole school goals set in our Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan.

Our literacy program enables our students to be confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens, not only in our school community but also in the global and ever changing world in which we live. Our teachers work collaboratively in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), meeting weekly to plan and deliver differentiated learning opportunities that are grounded by research and tailored to individual needs. 

We believe in providing a comprehensive reading experience that draws on the ‘Big 6 Ideas in Reading’ (Konza, 2014) as part of a structured literacy approach:

Oral language – knowing and using spoken words to express knowledge, ideas and emotions
Phonemic awareness –which is the knowledge of sounds (phonemes)
Phonics – knowing the sound (phoneme) and letter (grapheme) relationships
Fluency – reading accurately and at an appropriate rate with expression
Vocabulary – understanding words in isolation and in context
Comprehension – making meaning from text which includes knowledge building and developing knowledge of grammar & knowledge building. 

Our approach to Writing is guided by the principles of the 6+1 Traits of Writing framework, which provides a comprehensive structure for understanding and improving student writing. Through intentional instruction and meaningful experiences, we aim to empower students to become confident, expressive, and effective writers. Our spelling instruction covers essential skills and knowledge in phonics (sound – letter relationships), orthography (spelling patterns), morphology (words and their parts), etymology (word origins) and semantics (word meanings).

Assessment practices inform teachers of individual student needs and teachers work together to moderate student learning outcomes to ensure consistency in assessment and teaching practices. Individual Learning Plans are developed for students who may require additional support or extension in their learning.

Mathematics

The development of strong numeracy skills is central to the learning and development of all students at Fyans Park Primary School, driven by our whole school goals set in our Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan.

Our teaching and learning program provides students with access to important mathematical ideas, knowledge and skills that they will draw on in their personal and work lives.

Teachers use various assessments to establish the individual needs of all students, and together work collaboratively in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to plan and deliver a range of engaging and authentic learning opportunities. Students’ learning is scaffolded using hands on, concrete materials and they develop efficient written and mental strategies that can be used to solve problems involving number, measurement and geometry and statistics and probability. They are supported and encouraged to explain their mathematical thinking to demonstrate understanding of concepts. Teachers are guided by the Victorian Curriculum and use the continuum of learning that focuses on developing increasingly sophisticated and refined mathematical understanding, fluency, reasoning, modelling and problem-solving. These capabilities enable students to respond to familiar and unfamiliar situations by employing mathematical knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and solve problems efficiently.

Assessment practices inform teachers of individual student needs and teachers work together to moderate student learning outcomes to ensure consistency in assessment and teaching practices. Individual Learning Plans are developed for students who may require additional support or extension in their learning.

For more information on numeracy programs used at Fyans Park, please refer to the ‘Links’ page.