In the Classroom
The Prep classroom is an exciting and stimulating place where your child will be challenged and supported. Teachers aim to create a safe and happy environment in which children are valued, praised and encouraged to ‘have a go’.
Classrooms are designed to welcome your child, spark their imagination and arouse their thinking. They feature colourful displays of children’s work, learning materials and artwork, books, computers, construction materials and art supplies.
The curriculum
The Prep curriculum emphasises literacy and numeracy skills, and includes a two-hour daily literacy block and a one-hour daily numeracy block.
Literacy is not just the ability to read and write. It’s also the ability to understand and interpret information presented in different ways and in different formats.
Numeracy is not just the ability to do maths in the classroom. It’s also about being able to reason with numbers and measures in everyday life.
Students also develop physical, creative, information and communications technology skills as they are encouraged to explore their world and build confidence and resilience.
Your child will sometimes work with the whole class, and at other times be grouped for sessions with children who have similar learning styles and knowledge. As your child develops, they will learn to work independently and collaboratively in small groups. See: Prep to Year 4
Australian curriculum
Work is taking place Australia-wide on the development of a national curriculum. All federal, state and territory governments have committed to the development of a Prep to Year 12 national curriculum, initially in the areas of English, mathematics, science and history. The curriculum in these areas for Prep to Year 10 will trialled in some schools in 2012 and will introduced into all Victorian schools in 2013. See: The Australian Curriculum
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework describes the key knowledge and skills for children from birth to eight years. It describes how families and professionals can work together to support children’s learning and development. It links to the standards that apply for all students from Prep to Year 10 in Victorian schools, called the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. See: Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
Helping your child in the classroom
The Prep year is a significant shift in environment for your child and all school staff are committed to working with you to ensure that your child is supported throughout the year.
To help your child in the classroom:
- Share with your child good stories and memories of your own school days
- Be positive about school, teachers and learning
- Talk about the types of activities they will take part in during the school day
- Talk about friendships and how to be a good friend
- Take your child to your local library and choose books together
- Talk about the letters, words and numbers your child sees when shopping, on television, in books and on computer screens
- Encourage your child’s curiosity by asking questions and encouraging questions in return
- Introduce yourself to the families of other children.
See: Being Involved
Victorian Essential Learning Standards
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) provide a set of common state-wide standards that schools use to plan student learning programs, assess student progress and report to parents from Prep to Year 10. See: Victorian Essential Learning Standards
Information and communication technology
Children are engaged by new technology and many are confident users of it. Knowing how to use technology helps children with the fundamental skills of reading, writing and mathematics, and also forms part of the skill set children need for life in the 21st-century
The internet has opened up new spheres of learning and connects students to people, information and places around the world.
Victorian schools are leading the way in digital learning. At school, children are using computers and other devices such as digital cameras and a range of online resources and software for learning and teaching. Starting from Prep, schools are integrating Information and communication technology (ICT) into their curriculum in ways that not only increase children’s digital literacy, but enhance their ability to create, investigate, collaborate and share knowledge. In some cases, ICT is overcoming barriers of isolation created by living in a remote location or having a disability.
The Victorian Government has invested significantly in providing schools with digital facilities and equipment, including funding for schools to buy new computers. Every government school in Victoria has been upgraded to high-speed, fibre-optic broadband through the Victorian Government’s VicSmart initiative. This means that your child will have easy access to the best internet learning materials available worldwide. See: Fuse Connect Primary Students
Ultranet
The Ultranet enables parents to become partners in their child’s education, giving you online access to your child’s homework, attendance, assessment, curriculum and teacher feedback at any time. See: Ultranet
If you would like to develop your computer skills, contact your local community centre. For more information about adult community education, see:
Languages
Knowing another language is valuable. As well as opening a door to the culture of other people and places, it can help with English literacy and career opportunities. Victorian government schools are expected to provide languages programs as part of the core curriculum.
The most commonly taught languages are: Italian, Japanese, Indonesian, French, German, Chinese (Mandarin) and Auslan (language for the hearing impaired). Other languages include Greek, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Turkish, Karen, Macedonian, Korean, Swahili, Maori, Indigenous languages, Dutch, Afrikaans and Thai.
School councils choose which language(s) to teach in response to local community needs, interests and available resources.
The Victorian School of Languages (VSL) and Community Languages Schools (CLS) offer language classes to school-aged children outside of school hours. See: Community Languages Schools
English as a Second Language
Many students start school speaking a language other than English at home. A range of services are provided in schools to support students whose first language is not English. See: English as a Second Language
Special religious instruction
Your child’s school may offer special religious instruction in one or more recognised faith-based religions. Attendance is not compulsory. You can choose whether or not your child participates in these classes by completing and returning the GC 566 form available at your school. Classes are taught by accredited instructors approved by the Minister for Education.
Prep assessment
During the normal school day activities, teachers may ask your child to perform certain tasks so they can assess their development, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Children are regularly assessed in a range of tasks that are more like fun and games than ‘tests’ in the early years of school.
Prep entry assessment
When a child starts school they are assessed so that the teacher can design a learning and teaching program that best suits their individual needs. Early in the school year, your child’s teacher will request an interview with you to discuss how your child is progressing. You can use this discussion to raise any questions that you may have and it is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts with the teacher on the following:
- Your child’s kindergarten or child care experiences, and what your child has already learnt
- How independent your child is
- How easily your child mixes with children of various ages
- The languages your child speaks and understands
- Your child’s particular health and medical requirements
- Family events that may be affecting your child (for example, births, deaths, separation, divorce or other changes in family circumstances).
See: Prep to Year 4
English Online Interview
All Victorian government schools assess students in Prep and Years 1 and 2 against the expected VELS English Standards (reading, writing and speaking and listening). See: English Online Interview
The National Assessment Program
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) takes place in all government and non-government schools each year. See: National Assessment Program
For a copy of this information, see: In the Classroom (PDF - 586Kb)