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LEAPING INTO LITERACY
“Leaping into Literacy” Blackwater North State School’s entry in the Early Phase Section of Showcase, 2005.
Summary Statement of Outcomes:
The outcomes for our school in developing the Leaping into Literacy program are many. However the most significant is the development of a successful set of intervention and teaching practices which have increased the literacy and numeracy results in the first two years of schooling. These practices include the development of a:
School
developed Sightwords Program;
Implementation
of the ELF (Early Literacy Fundamentals) Program;
Screening
device used for all students;
Sensory motor
program for all students;
Uninterrupted
teaching blocks for literacy; and
A whole school
emphasis on consistent literacy teaching.
The development of these practices has resulted in significant improvements in the School’s Year 2 Net data. Results have improved most dramatically in the reading area. Teachers feel tremendous pride in being able to lift the results from 2002 when 51.9% of all students were caught in the Net to 2004, when only 26.8% required intervention. Our school opinion survey results have also shown similar improvements with upward trends each year.
"Recess Rescue" has been Blackwater North's Showcase winning program in inclusive education. The program, coordinated by volunteering staff and run by staff and students, offers children from Year 1 to 7 the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports, chess, lip sync, drama club, signing choir, debating, gardening and a radio station. The library also offers students a range of games, activities and story reading by the library monitors to supplement the program.
"Recess Rescue" has contributed significantly towards reducing major lunchtime misbehaviours. The involvement of the staff in the students' lunchtime has enhanced rapport and allowed mutual respect to dominate.
Other significant developments include students:
Learning new sports and games
Getting
active
Learning
team responsibilities
Developing
skills for specific performance related events ie. gymnastics display and school
musical
Developing
social and communication skills
