Thulimbah
State School provides an educational program based on the Australian Curriculum
(ACARA). We use Education Queensland’s Curriculum into the Classroom (C2C) teaching
units as a resource for all learning areas and deliver the curriculum using
Explicit Instruction and the gradual release of responsibility model. In 2016
we delivered Spelling Mastery as a school wide program and a new Phonics
program in Prep.
Our focus is on maintaining high standards in literacy and
numeracy as well as building on each child’s strengths. English
is explicitly taught in a 2 hour block daily and Maths is taught in a 1.5 hour
block. Children in years 3-6 participate in Italian and all students
participate in P.E., Music and instrumental. All students are supported through
differentiated lessons to achieve their potential.
Our Assessment and Reporting
schedule can be found on our website and includes Pat assessments in Reading,
Mathematics, Spelling, Vocabulary and Grammar and Punctuation. We track our
data and provide students with feedback on a regular basis. All learning areas
have curriculum boards in each classroom which display learning intentions and
success criteria. Students keep their summative assessments and tracking sheets
in their Goals and Achievement portfolios.
Technology
At Thulimbah computers and other communication
technologies are used to assist students learning. Students use ICT’s on a daily
basis to build skills in the areas of literacy and numeracy by completing
online digital tasks set by classroom teachers. Students also use a variety of
publishing and presentation software to engage with their intended audience. Students are taught how to critically use the internet to collect information.
iPads are used to complement literacy and numeracy concepts.
In 2016 Thulimbah
created a dedicated Computer Lab and increased our computers from 6 to 16. 4
computers were also placed into the P-2 classroom and a schoolwide ICT program
was designed. The school purchased Bee Bots and other coding games and
delivered the Digital Technologies curriculum using code.org. In 2018 Thulimbah
will be one of the first schools to do NAPLAN online and preparation for this
has also begun.