3/4 Information Session - Wednesday 10 February 2016

We would like to thank all of the parents/carers that were able to attend our information session last Wednesday. We understand that many of you were unable to attend, so please find a brief summary of our session below. We also handed out a couple of resources for home that can be picked from the classroom. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s teacher.

• Introductions/Roles

Kylie Evans (Dumbledores), Brooke Hall  (Resourcing Support), Natalie Murphy (Hufflepuffs), Melissa Markos (Ravenclaws), Rachel Van Audenaerde (Slytherin), Emily Vernon (Gryffindor) and Merriel Hossack (Learning Support Assistant).

• BLOG

Please take the time to regularly check our Blog. Tip- subscribe by entering your email address to receive alerts. Students are encouraged to discuss posts with their family and answer the questions at the end of each post.

• Timetable - ‘Typical’ Week

Students participate daily in reading, writing, maths and inquiry. A visual timetable is displayed in all classrooms. On Wednesdays, students participate in Japanese, Performing Arts and Library.

• Maths Structure

Students are split into year groups. Flexible groupings ensure students are able to be supported in their learning, whether this is consolidation, enrichment or extension, as they work towards their individual goals.

Year 3 Maths teachers - Natalie Murphy, Brooke Hall and Emily Vernon

Year 4 Maths teachers - Rachel Van Audenaerde, Melissa Markos and Kylie Evans

• English Structure  

Readers’ Workshops and Work on Writing (WOW!) sessions begin with a 15-20 minute mini lesson where explicit skills are taught. This is followed by 30 minutes of independent, guided practise. During this time teachers are either conferencing one on one with students or taking small focus groups.

Students participate in daily Word Work (spelling) sessions. They are grouped according to their needs and participate in a range of explicit lessons focusing on phonics, prefixes, suffixes and word derivations.

• Inquiry Planner/Genius Hour

Each term students participate in a History/Geography Inquiry and a Science Inquiry.

Geography Inquiry, ‘Beyond the Bin’

We are investigating how people can use places and environments more sustainably.

Science Inquiry, ‘Melting Moments’

This inquiry explores how solids or liquids are influenced by temperature. Students experience the way items from their everyday lives can change.

Genius Hour

Genius Hour is an hour given on Wednesdays, to allow students to follow their passions and learn about topics that interest them. They develop a driving question, e.g. Is it possible to make a sugar free lolly that tastes good? Students then choose a way to present their learning to the class, e.g. model, information book, video, web page.

• Social and Emotional Learning - Overview

TERM 1	TERM 2	TERM 3	TERM 4
Self-Awareness	Self-Management	Relationship Skills Social Decision-Making	Social Awareness

• Student Welfare  

Students participate in the ‘Peg Chart’ reward system in the classroom. They earn raffle tickets when they display our Fraser SCARF values. Raffle prizes include books and stationery  items.

Students can continue to earn Wrist bands on the playground when they display our Fraser SCARF values.