Term 3 Reflections

PD/PE:
Physical Development is taught during Release from Face to Face time.
Physical Education is taught during Release from Face to Face time.

Creative Arts:
Lack of time was a significant factor hindering the Creative Arts program again this term.
Students still enjoyed the music program, however due to the gap in between lessons I often
had to go back and significantly revise what we had completed in previous lessons before
teaching new contact. I again found the art program challenging this term and often not
practical given the lack of time we had to teach. Students in 5M love completing artworks
and I will endeavour to ensure there is adequate time in Term 4 for these activities.
Science and Tech:
Science is taught during Release from Face to Face time. We completed Genius Hour this
term with the overall topic of Canberra. Students had limited time and most did not
complete their projects fully in the required time. Students were still engaged each week
and thoroughly enjoyed the self paced projects. In the computer room we continued to work
on self-paced technology tasks. Students also had the option to work on Genius Hour
Research and/or their projects for the term. We will continue to work on the self-paced
tasks during computer time in Term 4.
HSIE:
HSIE this term was engaging for students and added to the excitement of the upcoming
excursion. Students learnt a lot about the Government and loved doing the role plays. They
also completed a project on How I Will Run My Country. Although we did not complete the
ending of the unit I honestly believe this was the most engaging HSIE unit students have
completed so far this year. I also believe they learnt a lot from this unit and everything was
reinforced when they visited Parliament House in Canberra.




Literacy:
5M Literacy sessions were successful during Term 3. In spelling there were 6 ability based
groups formed. These were formed as a result of continual testing in Term 2. Students in
group 1 are working at a Year 6/7 level, students in groups 2,3 and 4 are working at a Year 5
level, students in group 4 are working at a Year 4 level and students in group 6 are working at
a Year 3 level. Spelling groups began with a specific focus on working with a partner and peer
marking. Students completed Look, Cover, Write, Check and then swapped with a partner and
marked theirs as well as provided their partner with feedback. Once all students completed
this activity they would then break into their groups and complete daily spelling activities.
Each Monday we would focus on a spelling choice for that week and look up in the dictionary
any words we were unsure of definitions of.
Reading groups also continued this term with great success. Again, there were 6 ability
based groups. Students in group 1 are working at a Year 6/7 level, students in groups 2,3 and
4 are working at a Year 5 level, students in group 4 are working at a Year 4 level and
students in group 6 are working at a Year 3 level. Reading activities ranged from NAPLAN
practice to novel reading to grammar and comprehension cards. Creative writing was also
included in reading groups. Students continue to borrow D.E.A.R. books from the library and
some are bringing them from home. I will continue to monitor certain students and encourage
them to read on a more regular basis at home and not just when they are told to read at
school.
Students were engaged in our units of study in Literacy. They enjoyed finishing the Heroes
unit and students produced some excellent work. The Theme Park Unit was excellent,
however, again due to time constraints this unit was not finished. I did feel we have begun
teaching more of the text type now. Most students really understand about persuasive
devices and a post test will be carried out early Term 4 to assess this understanding.
On review of students writing samples, I am still concerned at the lack of punctuation and
grammar skills students have, the common spelling mistakes and lack of proof reading that is
still very evident.





Maths Reflection:
The 5M maths group try very hard to succeed and enjoy positive encouragement and praise.
We had 2 more students move up a maths group which was very exciting. The Term 3 focus
was building students understanding of number concepts.
We continued with maths mentals and times tables. There were two levels of maths mentals.
The first based from a Year 2 book. The second based on a Year 3 book. We lost Mr Smith
this term due to funding, however his 6 students are still at a Year 2 level and continue to
receive modified work. We continue to have a focus on one timetable a week. We will
continue learning mentals and times tables again in Term 4 to help students with recall
problems.
I focused on hands on activities using concrete material in order to raise student awareness
of concepts. Students enjoyed these activities. We also incorporated interactive games
based around the topic being studied that week.
Each Friday we completed NAPLAN problem style questions and together we worked out the
best way to tackle and answer the problems. Low literacy levels are still a major hindrance
for students to try and accomplish this task.
Term 4 will see us continue to do maths mentals and times tables daily. We will focus on
revisiting Measurement and Space and Geometry concepts. A continued focus on answering
questions in test conditions and two step problems are needed in order to support and
further develop students skills and knowledge.