North Shore Primary School staff are both innovative and committed to challenging current practices. Participation in ongoing professional learning has ensured that our team are able to develop a broad range of programs that aim to meet the needs of a wide range of learning styles.
At North Shore Primary School, we have decided to ensure that our students get the best possible chance of succeeding in Reading and Maths. Our teachers are involved in Literacy and Numeracy Coaching to explore strategies to help students break through the challenges that they experience in their learning. Considered assessment of, for and as student learning helps to inform students, teachers and parents of the progress that is being made and also helps to design interventions that can assist a student if they have difficulties.
In our Junior School (Prep-Year 2), learning programs are centred on building the foundation for learning. This aims to also build confidence and enjoyment in learning. From 9am to 1:30pm each day, students are engaged in literacy and numeracy tasks. These sessions use language support strategies such as the Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check approach to spelling words, the THRASS language program, Mathletics, problem solving mathematics activities and often incorporate technologies such as calculators, computers, etc. In the afternoon, students participate in Developmental Curriculum which is sometimes called Play Zone. Through structured play, students are able to build skills that will eventually form the basis for inquiry-based learning that is central to learning programs in upper primary and secondary school.
In our Senior School (Years 3-6), students are placed into like-needs groups we call toolbox groups. As research has shown, literacy and numeracy are vital tools for success in life, which is why we call them toolbox groups. Each Year 3-6 teacher is involved in delivering learning programs during the 9:30am -1:30pm Toolbox time. Groups have less than 15 students per teacher on average and are supported by Classroom Aides. In the afternoon our students are involved in personalised learning programs.
