Parent UPDATE

The Primary Section 

Language and Literacy

Who says literacy work can’t be fun?! Primary students enjoy themselves while practicing sentence formation, word matching, and story sequencing. Through hands-on activities, students take joy in learning, which makes them excited to come to school and try their best.

Students and teachers at Discovery have also been prioritizing non-fiction writing. Non-fiction writing prepares students for more rigorous writing tasks they will do in secondary school and beyond. Non-fiction students learn how to synthesize information and organize it into coherent thoughts - both of which are critical thinking skills in high demand in the job market. 

For example, in Ms. Laura’s Year 5/Year 6 class, students are practicing their biography writing skills. Students were tasked with interviewing a parent or family member and writing an essay about them. They were then given feedback on their writing and had the opportunity to write additional drafts and their finished products were well-organized insights into their parents' lives!

Classroom Habits and Routines 

Teachers have successfully created strong classroom routines and habits so that students are always prepared for learning and positively developing their character. Once students have mastered these routines, they are able to productively participate in classroom activities. For example, in Ms. Flaviah’s Year 1 class, 5-year-old students were able to conduct an interview of an elderly woman for their “Growing Up and Growing Old” unit in Global Perspectives. They asked questions about her previous jobs and her family and took ownership of their learning and their curiosity.

Problem Solving and Fluency in Math

Students practice their problem solving and fluency daily in class, like in Ms. Naomie’s class where they practice number sense and place value while using age-appropriate, Discovery provides manipulatives to strengthen their skills. Students in every grade level learn about and practice with place value by using hands-on activities and manipulatives. Place value is the foundation of problem-solving abilities in the primary years. Discovery also encourages students to work independently, which builds stamina and focus. 

Additional Term 1 Priorities

• Reading levels: Students will focus on reading fluency, phonics, and comprehension to improve their overall reading level in class. 

• Oral Language: Students regularly give speeches, ask meaningful questions, and learn how to respond in a critical and thoughtful way using their voices. 

• Developing stamina: Students practice independent work where they learn necessary problem-solving skills.

• Individual tracking: Our staff will be analyzing student performance data to ensure that our teaching and learning prepares students to be successful. We will have a specific emphasis on using our Accelerator Periods to target specific learning gaps or stretch students as needed. 

How to Support Your Child This Academic Year

• Coach and support them to develop appropriate social and emotional/self-regulation skills (character development). 

• Ensure that they read books at their level daily and alternate with reading books aloud to them that are above their level (consider classic children’s novels by authors like C.S Lewis, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl).

• Engage in daily conversations about what is happening at home and at school.

• Ensure that they get at least 10-11 hours of night-time sleep.

• Click here to read more about how to support your primary child’s academic progress.