Dear Parents Guardians and Caregivers

Thanks to all of you, for your continued patience and understanding during this extended lockdown. The last couple of weeks have been particularly challenging for us all. I hope everyone is being kind, especially to themselves! Don’t judge yourselves too harshly if you’re struggling a bit, having a less than productive day or have eased off on things like housework, cooking or even Remote Learning. We cannot replicate at home the learning that happens at school (as it runs normally) as so much of it is dynamic, interactive, responsive to the situation, collaborative and social. 

For example, in a typical reading lesson where the focus or learning intention is to extend the children’s knowledge of inferring from text (thinking about and guessing what the author is suggesting, not directly stating), an appropriately leveled text will be read aloud to the class. The teacher will model reading strategies by ‘thinking aloud’ while reading, showing the children how to infer (I wonder what that character was feeling? I think….because the text says…). Specific questions will be asked to encourage the children to infer themselves (Why do you think that happened? Do you think that was deliberate?). The teacher will ask students to Think, Pair, Share- turn to a partner and discuss the teacher's questions, thus giving every student a chance to engage actively in the learning. The teacher listens to the children’s discussions and gauges their current understanding so they can adjust the lesson accordingly. Children share responses with the group. They learn from each other. This exercise can occur a few times with the teacher making questions more complex or simple according to how the students are responding (and make mental notes of directions for future lessons to deepen the learning). Students then usually work independently or in groups on tasks to practise the skill. They read texts appropriate to their ability and respond to them through various activities. The teacher will work with a particular group on a text that presents just enough challenge for the students to interpret, with support and direction from the teacher. The teacher will monitor the other students, checking their work and giving feedback. Along with support from the Education Support Officers, they will provide assistance where needed and observe whether the tasks are at the right level of challenge for each child and make adjustments as required. Even though lessons are carefully prepared and planned, informed by formal and informal assessment, teachers need to respond to what is happening in front of them and adjust accordingly. Obviously this is very hard to replicate with young students at home!

The Remote Learning packs have been created for ease of use and management (this is not how we teach at school!). We have tried to include appropriate tasks for each student to assist them in practising and consolidating their skills, mainly in reading, writing and mathematics. Therefore students in the one class do not all have the same pack. Students onsite during lockdowns are supervised to follow the Remote Learning Program. Staff really appreciate all the efforts of parents to help the students with their tasks. We realise that it is hard to take the role of ‘teacher’ as well as parent. 

We encourage you to continue to be the teacher you already are to your child/ren and to try to enjoy this time with them. Read, cook, garden and enjoy nature with your child/ren as you take a break from the ‘busyness’ of life. Make, create, sing, dance and play with your child/ren. Strive to keep being the kind, calm, role model your child needs through this challenging time. This is how you will teach them, your child is learning from you every day. 

Please see attached some resources from ‘Emerging Minds’ that may be useful for some of your families wanting to talk with and support their children about the current situation.

We hope the Google Meets have provided the children with a sense of connection to the school, their teacher and classmates and encouraged them to engage with learning. We all hope and pray that we will be back together again at school soon!

Joanne Coldebella

Acting Principal