Teaching & Learning
LITERACY
At Meadows Primary School, we aim to empower all students to become confident, engaged and critical literacy learners. We know that including the diverse languages, cultures, identities and voices in our community empowers and strengthens our literacy and language learning.
We target reading, writing and oral language using a combination of cognitive science research and high impact teaching and learning strategies so that all students at MPS have an equitable opportunity to become fluent readers, automatic spellers, articulate speakers, active listeners and confident writers. We look to the Science of Reading and Learning research in our whole school literacy teaching by prioritising the big six in our literacy blocks
NUMERACY
Numeracy can be found in all areas of our lives and so it is vital that ALL our Meadows students become competent and confident in mathematics. Through explicitly teaching mathematics skills and processes our students will:
* Develop competence and an appreciation of mathematics
* Acquire mathematical skills and knowledge, that can confidently be applied in their everyday lives, and
* Become flexible thinkers
At Meadows P.S., students engage with a minimum of 5 hours of numeracy each week, shared evenly between number and non-number and often combined during our Problem-Solving sessions on a Friday. We use daily review and fluency each day to continually revisit taught curriculum to enable out students to become more proficient in all concepts and skills so that more complex problem solving and reasoning can occur.
VISUAL ARTS / PERFORMING ARTS
In 2023, students at Meadows Primary School will receive a semester of Visual Arts, and a semester of Performing Arts.
The Visual Art program challenges all children to achieve their creative potential in an enjoyable and supportive environment. Everyone is an artist! Through Visual Arts, children develop an understanding of the various art forms through art appreciation, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles; using the Visual Arts elements of line, shape, tone, colour and texture. All students’ learn to make choices when experimenting with materials, tools and techniques by documenting the process in their Visual Art diaries. At Meadows Primary School, these experiences will allow for the development of a life long appreciation and understanding of the Visual Arts.
Students take part in program that is sequentially organised; the activities are designed to gain knowledge, skills and understandings relating to Drama and Music. In all strands of the Performing Arts, students learn about themselves, different cultures, creativity, the environment and celebrations.
HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students participate in one hour of Physical Education per week. Students from F-2 primarily focus on developing their Fundamental Movement Skills. They learn how to move their bodies and apply these skills to various games. Students in grades 3/4 continue to develop their Fundamental Movement Skills but do this within the context of various sports. Grade 5/6 students learn about the rules and skills for various sports. They apply these when partaking in Interschool Sports every week and for Gala Days.
STEM
All students participate in a one-hour session of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) per week. STEM provides students with the chance to develop their critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and design. Students are also exposed to Coding using IPads, Beebots, Spheros, Minecraft, and Makey Makey's as well as performing a variety of fun and challenging unplugged coding tasks.
AUSLAN
Auslan has been introduced as the preferred LOTE language at MPS in 2023. Students in F - 6 will participate in one 50 minute Auslan class weekly throughout 2023. Meadows Primary School use an Australian company to support the delivery of Auslan so that it is in line with Victorian Curriculum requirements.
You can find out more about this program at www.auslaneducationservices.com
