English

English at Aldinga Primary School encompasses Listening and Speaking; Writing; Reading.

 Listening and Speaking

This fosters student’s ability to use spoken language effectively: recount events, describe and explain ideas, develop audience skills, participate in discussions, follow directions, explain, persuade, narrate and report.

 Writing

This includes all aspects of written language – ie Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Handwriting (correct formation of letters, development of a practical and legible style), Study of different Genres – Exposition, Explanation, Narrative (prose and poetry), Recount, Report and Procedure writing.

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Reading

A range of skills are explicitly taught (eg. decoding, using context clues, fluency, expression) fostering an enjoyment of reading and the ability to read to gain information or cater to an audience. We also develop students’ ability to critically analyse literature.

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Specific programs implemented at Aldinga School

Accelerated Literacy

Accelerated Literacy has been a focus at Aldinga School since 2006.  Accelerated Literacy (AL) is a way of teaching which helps students read and write complex texts with the support of their teachers and peers.

Each class studies one text per term and this text becomes a tool for teaching reading, spelling, writing, handwriting and oral language around the text in a sequence of lessons.  Accelerated Literacy focuses on how writers write and why they make the choices that they do.

Teachers involved in this program have attended 4 days of Intensive Training and are supported by observations and discussion with an AL consultant for a minimum of 2 years to refine their understandings and practice. Currently AL is taught in 6 Reception to Year 4 classes

First Steps – Staff will undertake training in the First Steps program in 2008.

Fast Track Reading - Fast track reading is an intervention program for delayed readers in all year levels. It is used in addition to the core reading program. The programs components provide struggling readers with phonics instruction and word study strategies, comprehension instruction to help them make meaning from text, and fluency instruction and practice to improve automaticity.

Letterland - Is a program that introduces alphabet sounds through characters. Children enjoy relating to these characters and this enables them to remember the letter sounds.

Jolly Phonics - A program that teaches the letter sounds in an enjoyable and multi sensory way and enables children to use them to read and write words.

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Other useful Literacy links:-

Premiers Reading Challenge -  http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/prc/

SA Literacy & Numeracy Network - http://www.thenetwork.sa.edu.au/

Lexile Framework for Reading - http://www.lexile.com/EntrancePageFlash.html?1

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