1. St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School
PREP 2017

3. Learning Intentions
To provide clarity on tasks and activities which can be undertaken at home in order to best prepare children for the commencement of prep.
To present a clear overview of curriculum and general expectations of children in the prep year of schooling

4. Success Criteria
Parents will have a clear understanding of tasks and activities which can be undertaken at home in order to best prepare children for the commencement of prep.
Parents will appreciate the curriculum and general expectations their children will be required to work within in the prep year of schooling.

5. Primary Learning Leader
Curriculum
Lisa Gallagher
Primary Learning Leader

6. What your child will learn at school in the Prep Year….

7. What does Prep look like in the 21st century classroom
Prep Teachers

8. Curriculum
“In the Prep year, priority in the Australian Curriculum is given to literacy and numeracy development because these are the foundations on which further learning is built. The foundation for the Literacy general capability is built primarily in English; and the foundation for the Numeracy general capability is built primarily in Mathematics. However, both Literacy and Numeracy capabilities are reinforced and strengthened through learning in all areas of the curriculum.”
Australian Curriculum Key Learning Areas:
English
Mathematics
Science
Humanities and Social Sciences – History and Geography
Health
Physical Education
Digital and Design Technologies
The Arts – Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts and Media Arts
Brisbane Catholic Education Curriculum:
Religious Education 2.5 hours per week

9. 5 Contexts for Learning in the Prep Year
INVESTIGATIONS
REAL LIFE SITUATIONS
FOCUSSED
LEARNING
ROUTINES
&
TRANSITIONS
PLAY
QUALITY LITERATURE TO SUPPORT LEARNING DEVELOPMENT IN ALL CONTEXTS.

10. Five Contexts for Learning & Development

13. What can I do to support my child prior to them starting Prep?
Parents are the first educators of their children and are amazing advocates who want the best for their child. You can help to make your child’s transition to the Prep year a positive experience just by doing a few of these simple suggestions…

14. PHYSICAL AND MOTOR DEVELOPMENT COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT
LEARNING DEVELOPMENT

15. As your child transitions into the Prep year, our staff will work alongside you and your child as they continue to develop these skills within our school environment.

16. A few final suggestions...
IMPORTANT

20. “Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud. From birth.
Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read. Or the same story a thousand times!
Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.

21. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners. Read the stories that your child loves, over and over, and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations and volume and speed, on each page, each time. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.

22. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books. Please read aloud every day because you just adore being with your child, not because it’s the right thing to do.

23. Visit Quality Literature Websites such as www.storylineonline.net

24. &

25. Family Activity Ideas…
Set up a play date for your child to play with a friend
Check out the local library and let your child choose books to borrow
Take a ball to the park to throw, catch and kick together
Organise a picnic with a packed lunch and encourage your child to open it and eat it themselves.
Sing, read and act out nursery rhymes whenever you can.
Take your child out for the day and have them retell the events of the day or make a photo snapshot book of the day they can enjoy over and over again.

26. Speech Language Development
Jenny Hillier
Speech Pathologist

27. Speech and Language Development
What should you expect and what can you do?

28. Speech and Language: what’s the difference?

30. Language Comprehension A typical 4 year old will….
Understand: "Who?", "What?" and "Where?"
Understand explanations for things they see
Understand events that they haven’t directly experienced
Understands time concepts; yesterday, tomorrow, weekend
….Hearing difficulties may become evident at this age
If in doubt about hearing… pursue SLP assessment
Caroline Bowen

31. Expressive Language A typical 4 year old will….
Have a 1500 – 1600 word vocabulary
Combine four or more words in sentences
Talks about things that have happened away from home (preschool/ friends)
Sing a song or say a poem from memory (“Wheels on the Bus”)
Speak fluently and clearly so that "other people" understand
Caroline Bowen,
2008 Super Duper Publications

32. Language Comprehension A typical 5 year old will….
Understands why questions and how questions (in context)
Enjoy stories and can answer simple questions about them.
Hear and understand nearly everything that is said (within reason)
Follow multi-step instructions
….If in doubt, see a Speech Language Pathologist
If in doubt about comprehension…. Pursue SLP assessment
Caroline Bowen

33. Expressive Language A typical 5 year old will….
Have a 2,200 – 2,300 word vocabulary
Construct long and detailed sentences:
"We went to the zoo but we had to come home early because Maddy wasn't feeling well”
Tell a long, imaginative story, using "adult-like" grammar.
Communicate easily with familiar adults and with other children.
Engage strangers in conversation when you are out together.
Caroline Bowen,
2008 Super Duper Publications

34. Why are these things important for school? Prep students…..
Learn sounds that correspond to letter names
Follow instructions in a busy classroom
Asked questions throughout the day
Engage in conversation with peers and adults
Need to relay events
Describe feelings
Understand stories and answer questions
The prep year is a year of exploring with new language, vocabulary and concepts being taught every day.
Student’s need to be able to:
follow teacher’s instructions
Respond to questions
Engage with peers
Communicate clearly with teachers and peers

35. So what can you do to help?
Speech slowly and clearly
Reduce the number of words that you use
Give one instruction at a time
Model back correct word endings e.g. “It fly away” – “Yes, it flew away! It flew up in the sky!”
Model back correct speech sounds e.g. “I see a little tat” – “A little cat! It is a cute cat”
Phonological awareness
Phonics
Reading fluency
Vocabulary knowledge
Reading comprehension

36. Read at home and make it fun!
What else can you do?
Read at home and make it fun!
Play with words…..
Listen out for rhyme
Clap out syllables together e.g. bu – tter- fly
Point out the first sounds in words that match their name or the dog’s name!
Play with words – substitute words and let them fix it up… singing them, stretching them out, playing simon says, playing word tennis

37. Deb Bone Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Prep – the beginning of your journey
Is my child ready for Prep?
Why Prep
Prep is where the foundation for all building blocks of development and learning is consolidated
It is key for the development of confidence at school
Essential to start school in a positive way experiencing success

38. Skills needed Sit on a chair and carpet to listen
Share toys and attempt play
Focus for more than 5 minutes independently
Following 2 step instructions
Go to the toilet independently
Hold a pencil and attempt their name, draw a circle, cross, horizontal and vertical lines
Hold scissors and cut along a line
Complete a 4 piece puzzle
Communicate their needs
Catch a medium size ball, jump and hop

39. How do I get my Child Ready?
Play with your kids
Go outside and explore
Get messy
Go to parks
Sit with your child and play with playdough, draw, try stencils, play simple turn taking games like I spy, ‘Simon Says’, ‘I went shopping and I bought…’
If your child is struggling – talk to your GP or call an OT to have their development assessed for Prep readiness
Set your kids up for success

40. Social Emotional Well Being
Pam Sweeney Guidance Counsellor
Play with words – substitute words and let them fix it up… singing them, stretching them out, playing simon says, playing word tennis

41. Plans and Partnership
Mark Creevey
Principal

42. Thank You
Good evening