Whole School Programs

Whole School Programs

At Cosmos Primary School, we have developed our own Whole School Programs to complement and enhance our Core Curriculum. These unique programs are designed to enrich our curriculum resources, while providing a platform for our educators to implement the latest evidence-based practices drawn from educational research and cognitive psychology.

Key elements of our Whole School Programs are inspired by the science of learning. For instance, our approach to reading and communication is informed by the "Science of Reading" movement, and is embodied in the R.E.A.D and S.P.E.A.K programs, which emphasize the development of literacy and language skills. Likewise, in mathematics, we have adopted the "Maths Mastery" approach, which champions deep understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem solving over rote memorization.

We also recognize the importance of the written word in communication, which is why we have the Write Right program initially dedicated to handwriting skills, but later touching on generating text. This ensures that our students have the necessary tools to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and legibly.

Our Whole School Programs extend beyond academic learning to include "Skills of the Mind" and "Skills of the Heart". The former focuses on enhancing cognitive skills, such as metacognition and critical thinking, helping our students to become more reflective and strategic learners. The latter prioritizes social and emotional development, fostering traits such as empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence, which are vital for success in school and life.

Our commitment to a well-rounded education is further demonstrated through the M.U.S.I.C and M.O.V.E initiatives, which cater to the important co-curricular areas of music and physical education. These programs highlight our dedication to nurturing not only our students' intellectual growth but also their physical, creative, and emotional development.

In essence, our Whole School Programs represent an innovative, holistic approach to education that reflects the best practices in contemporary pedagogy. By embracing these programs, we aim to provide our students with a rich, engaging, and empowering learning experience.

R.E.A.D (Reading for Engagement, Appreciation and Discovery)

The R.E.A.D program fosters a love for reading and improves reading comprehension skills through targeted activities, shared reading experiences, and access to a diverse range of texts. The program comprises two stages: "Learning to Read" and "Reading to Learn."

In the "Learning to Read" stage, students develop the basic skills necessary to understand written language, such as phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The program uses a variety of methods, such as explicit instruction, interactive activities, and games, to teach students the five pillars of reading. These skills provide them with the tools they need to read effectively and to understand and appreciate written texts.

In the "Reading to Learn" stage, students use reading as a tool to acquire new information and knowledge, expand their understanding of the world around them, and become critical thinkers. The program focuses on engagement, appreciation, and discovery. Students have access to a wide range of reading materials and activities, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, which help them to develop their reading skills and to appreciate the written word.

S.P.E.A.K (Speaking for Personal Empowerment and Articulation of Knowledge)

The S.P.E.A.K program focuses on developing students' oral communication skills, including listening, speaking, and presenting, through engaging activities and opportunities to practice in a supportive environment. The program comprises two stages: "Learning to Speak" and "Speaking to Communicate."

In the "Learning to Speak" stage, students develop the basic skills necessary to effectively communicate, including pronunciation, grammar, fluency, and vocabulary. Through interactive activities, role-playing, and oral presentations, students learn the foundational skills of speaking. These skills provide them with the tools they need to express themselves effectively and to articulate their thoughts and ideas with clarity and precision.

In the "Speaking to Communicate" stage, students use speaking as a tool for communication and self-expression. The program focuses on engagement, persuasion, and self-discovery. Students have access to a wide range of speaking activities, such as public speaking, debates, and group discussions, which help them to develop their confidence and communication skills. They learn how to express themselves persuasively and how to structure an argument.

M.A.S.T.E.R (Mathematics Advancement through Strategic Thinking, Exploration, and Reasoning )

Our Maths mastery approach focuses on five key strands to ensure a well-rounded and effective mathematical education.

Counting & Number Sense:

Starting from early years through key stages, we emphasize a deep understanding of counting and number sense. Our activities promote spatial thinking, the concept of one more/one less, anchoring to 5 and 10, and understanding part-part-whole relationships.

Fact Fluency:

This forms the bedrock of our program, fostering students' quick and accurate recall of basic arithmetic facts. Tools like numbersensemaths.com, Numbots, and Times Tables Rockstar aid in developing these fundamental skills.

Problem-Solving:

We underscore the application of mathematical concepts through problem-solving. Utilizing contextual word problems in line with Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) math, students are encouraged to form their own problem-solving strategies.

Reasoning:

Our program enhances reasoning skills through Math Talks, fostering a culture of collaborative learning and critical thinking, where students express and justify their mathematical thoughts.

Each strand of our program follows the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) teaching approach and aligns with the Learning Trajectories framework by Clements and Sarama. Additionally, the M.A.S.T.E.R program complements our core White Rose Maths Curriculum, creating a consistent and immersive learning experience.

M.U.S.I.C (Music for Unlocking Student Imagination and Creativity)

The M.U.S.I.C program is a comprehensive music education program designed for primary school students. The program is based on the American adaptation of Orff Schulwerk, which emphasizes the integration of music, movement, speech, and drama to create a holistic and interactive learning experience. The program utilizes four stages to organize the process of teaching music: Imitation, Exploration, Improvisation, and Composition. Each stage establishes the fundamental building blocks for children to develop musical literacy.

Write Right/Type Right

The Write Right/Type Right program is a structured and comprehensive handwriting program that follows a 5-step journey to help students develop legible, fluent, and comfortable continuous cursive handwriting. The program is built upon the principles of the National Handwriting Association's curriculum guidelines and incorporates the P Checks and S Factors guidelines to ensure a successful handwriting journey for all students. The program progresses beyond handwriting to focus on text generation and further develops students' skills in composing written content.

In the later stages of the program, students learn how to effectively organize their thoughts and ideas, as well as how to structure their writing for different purposes and audiences. They are also introduced to various writing techniques and strategies, such as brainstorming, outlining, and drafting.

Through engaging activities and exercises, students practice writing in different genres, such as narratives, persuasive essays, and informative articles. They are encouraged to express their creativity and personal voice while also learning the importance of clarity, coherence, and proper grammar and punctuation.

By the end of the program, students will have developed strong foundational skills in both handwriting and text generation, equipping them with the necessary tools to effectively communicate through written language.

Skills of the Heart

The "Skills of the Heart" program at Cosmos Primary School is a comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program based on the CASEL framework. The program is designed to foster social and emotional competence in students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The program incorporates the five CASEL core competencies into its curriculum: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. 

Skills of the Mind

The "Skills of the Mind" program at Cosmos Primary School is a comprehensive program based on the principles of effective learning and metacognition. This program is designed to enhance cognitive and metacognitive skills in students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. It incorporates various strategies and practices to develop key skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, information processing, and goal-setting. By focusing on metacognitive awareness and self-regulation, the program aims to empower students to become more effective learners and thinkers.