Primary Curriculum

We believe that students learn best by being actively involved. This means providing students with a variety of experiences in the context of themes. The themes are: personal information: me, my family, friends; body and health; school and classroom; food and shopping; transport and road safety; animals; the world around us.

Through these themes students gain knowledge and develop skills in:

• Communication
• Reading, writing, speaking and listening
• Language development, that is the structures and grammar of language

Speaking and Listening

A heavy emphasis is placed on the children first learning to speak in English and communicate orally as this is a prerequisite to the development of reading and writing skills.

Reading

Reading skills are learnt through a variety of methods. Some of the strategies include:

• Class books, based on experiences or a particular language function e.g. action words
• Wall stories where students write and read together with the teacher
• Taking books home where language structures are repeated
• Regular visits to the local library
• Silent reading, looking at print, gaining cues from pictures
• Reading labels and signs

Writing

• Students begin with writing single words, leading to phrases, sentences and stories
• Students own handwriting and the computer are used for publishing students writing

Domains (Subject) Areas

Students study aspects of science, music, art, drama, maths and information and communication technologies.  Where possible these are taught within the themes mentioned above e.g. maths involving money would be taught within the theme: food and shopping.

Homework

Homework is set to reinforce work done in the classroom. Books are given to students to read at home and there may be small tasks to complete at home.