Literacy Program
At Boronia K-12 College, our primary years literacy program is grounded in the belief that a robust vocabulary and exposure to diverse literature are essential for students to access instruction, independently comprehend texts, and communicate effectively in writing.
Oral language serves as the cornerstone of literacy learning. It is vital for overall student development and wellbeing, with successful language use being fundamental to classroom learning. We emphasize building vocabulary and oral language skills early in primary education to set the stage for success across all learning areas.
Once foundational skills are established, we expand students’ abilities to decode and comprehend texts. We track student progress from primary through secondary levels using the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarking System. This system provides:
- Detailed Tracking: One-on-one formative and summative assessments to document student progress.
- Precise Tools: Observations and quantification of specific reading behaviours.
- Responsive Instruction: Data-driven planning for targeted teaching strategies.
To enhance reading skills, we foster shared reading experiences with teachers, peers, and parents. In classrooms, assessment data helps create dynamic student groupings based on identified reading strategies.
As students advance, we use the Fountas and Pinnell Network of Processing Systems to delve deeper into texts, encouraging analysis, connection-making, inference, and discussion about the author’s craft.
Independent Reading is a key component, allowing students to practice reading strategies in a self-directed manner. Students select ‘Good Fit’ books—texts that match their reading level and interests—to foster fluency, choice, and a love for reading. This contrasts with the instructional-level books used in guided reading sessions.
Writing instruction is closely integrated with reading. Students learn to replicate specialized vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures from their reading into their own writing. We provide explicit instruction on the writing process, spelling strategies, and use the 6+1 Writing Traits framework to teach and critique writing across genres.
Collaboration between primary and secondary literacy teachers ensures a smooth transition and continuity in learning, while providing opportunities for meaningful extension tasks.
Numeracy Program
Numeracy is a fundamental part of the curriculum at Boronia K-12 College, aiming to equip students with practical skills and problem-solving strategies for real-life scenarios.
Mathematics lessons are conducted daily, employing various approaches, programs, technologies, and hands-on materials to cater to diverse learning styles. We use Essential Assessment, an online tool, to identify individual student needs and tailor teaching sequences accordingly.
Our curriculum integrates the Victorian Curriculum for Mathematics (Number and Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability) through problem-solving tasks, open-ended questions, investigations, and engaging activities. Differentiated tasks are designed to meet the needs of all students.
In alignment with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme framework, our literacy and numeracy instruction are delivered through both explicit, skills-based learning and authentic, real-world applications.
For more information on our literacy and numeracy programs and our educational philosophy, please contact the college to arrange a meeting with a member of our leadership team.