Levels P-2
The focus of the program should be on literacy, numeracy, play-based learning and physical activity.
In the first stages of these programs, the aim should be to provide literacy activities that take a total of about 45-60 minutes, with 30-45 minutes allocated to each of numeracy, play-based learning and physical activity.
1. Daily literacy program: activities focused on reading, writing, speaking and listening. This can include, for example, spoken book recordings.
2. Daily numeracy program should include basic counting and measuring activities that can be conducted using everyday materials.
3. Daily play-based learning activities. These include free drawing and painting, colouring, folding, collecting, grouping and making and listening to sounds, including, where possible, music.
4. Daily physical activities that can be completed indoors, for example, simple exercises and dance movements.
Levels 3-6
This can be done through subject-based learning and integrated and inquiry-based activities. Students should also be provided with suggestions for physical activity, for example, simple exercises or simple dance routines.
In the early stages of these programs, the aim should be to provide daily activities that focus on:
1. literacy for a total of 45-60 minutes
2. numeracy for 30-45 minutes
3. physical activities for 30 minutes
The aim should be to provide these learning activities for about 90 minutes each day.
Everybody's home life is different, and so we will generally not be scheduling specific lessons at specific times. However, routine is crucial for your child's learning and for their mental health. Sit with your child or children and work out a daily schedule that can be followed, so that they know what to expect each day and get into a routine with their learning. We recommend around 3 hours dedicated time each day to their academic learning, as guided by the resources we push out each day.
Your child may have a regular place for doing homework under normal circumstances, but this space may or may not be suitable for an extended period of time. We encourage families to establish a space or location where their children will learn most of the time. It should be a place that can be quiet at times and have a strong wireless internet signal, if possible. Above all, it should be a space where your child can work and concentrate effectively with no external distractions.
Your child will need access to a digital device in order to access the content from their virtual classroom. If you have no way of providing this, please contact the school via old.orchard.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
General communication will happen through our Level websites and each class' Google Classroom space, as well as through the Sentral communication channels. Teachers will communicate anything specific with parents through email, when and as necessary. The frequency and detail of these communications will be determined on a needs basis. We ask parents to remember that teachers may be communicating with many other families at the same time and that, while they love to hear from you, communications should be essential, succinct, and self-aware. Remember to also check Sentral regularly for news or notifications from the school.
Remind your children to be polite, respectful, and appropriate in their communications and to represent your family’s values in their interactions with others. Help your child maintain contact with friends when circumstances permit. Each virtual classroom space allows for students to post comments, but please remind your child that these should relate to their learning, and that all purely social interactions should be done through other forums.
Make sure your children remember to move and exercise. This is vitally important to their health, wellbeing, and to their learning. Think also about how your children can pitch in more around the house with chores or other responsibilities. Don’t let your children off the hook – expect them to pitch in! Where possible, our teachers will base the learning sent home around common household items and tasks to make the learning authentic and engaging.
Please email your child’s teacher so that they are aware your child will not be able to complete their learning for the day.
Please email the class teacher if you have questions related to:
A piece of work, resource, learning activity (however, we encourage the students to ask for help themselves through Classroom if they don't understand something)
Personal or health concern
Any academic concern
Any issues with technology