Learning Areas

Literacy at River Gum Primary School is a whole school approach based on the work of Gail Boushey and Joan Moser’s Daily 5 and CAFÉ in conjunction with Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop based on Lisa Keskinen’s work. Teachers use these strategies and approaches giving students individual goals for reading, writing and speaking and listening. Teachers are continually assessing and updating through conferencing and strategy groups.

At River Gum Primary, our Mathematics program draws on the work of Professor Diane Siemon, in particular, her ‘Big Ideas in Number’ work. Students are given an individual learning goals making their learning personalised and meaningful. Students are encouraged to monitor their own learning through the use of success criteria where they are able to check in with the teacher when they feel they can demonstrate a new concept confidently. Teachers are continually assessing and updating through conferencing and strategy groups.

The program aims to support the Stephanie Alexander philosophy of introducing pleasurable food education into the lives of our children through growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh seasonal food. Dishes cooked will reflect the vegetables, herbs and fruits grown in the garden season by season. The program is designed to be fully integrated into the school curriculum as it offers infinite possibilities to reinforce literacy, numeracy, science, cultural studies and all aspects of environmental sustainability. The program also delivers great social benefits to all students.

Students at River Gum participate in dramatic games centred on use of voice, facial expression, movement and space. They have also focused on theatrical routines such as physical and vocal warm ups, working on articulation and projection, and phonic work. Students explore roles, characters and dramatic action through dramatic play and improvisation. After watching performances, students are encouraged to express what they enjoy and why. This culminates in an annual full school production. To have each child walk out onto the stage and see that they are of value, that they are worth looking at, that they are worth listening to, and that their community – who have come to see them – values them.

Music at River Gum Primary School is based on Musical Futures approach to teaching and learning. It reshapes the way that both students and teachers engage with music in school. Musical Futures increases the numbers of students wishing to participate and continue with music, independent learning skills, self-esteem and leadership skills.

At River Gum Primary we concentrate on developing positive attitudes towards physical activity and developing lifelong habits of participation and the importance of sportsmanship. It is where students learn about life skills, conflict resolution, ‘playing by the rules’ and respecting others.Through formal sports and games students develop and improve their fundamental motor coordination skills. They participate both in school, cluster and district sports events. The program enables students to experience success which assists in promoting self-confidence.

At River Gum Primary School STEM and Digital Technologies provides students with a complimentary learning space to develop a variety of thinking skills. Through Inquiry based learning tasks, students’ curiosity and ideas are encouraged to be followed so individual discoveries can be made. STEM knowledge and skills are critical to facing current and future challenges. STEM and Digital Technology education is seen as vital for all our young people’s futures, regardless of their intended pathway. We use various technologies such as iPads, notebooks, Lego, and interactive boards to enhance the learning of our students providing various platforms for them to practice and build their skills. Students will learn the importance of internet protocols and strategies when exchanging information across the internet as well as learning to be safe on the internet, allowing students to share and challenge their own and others ideas and solutions with students state-wide.