Pine Community School
Curriculum
Students have
different general and specific abilities, different interests and
different rates of learning. These individual needs are recognized,
although group learning for social and academic development is also
desirable.
It is important
that a child discovers how to learn. The teacher's job is not only to
teach but also to allow students to learn, to provide resources and to
create opportunities for new interests to develop.
Programme
Language
A language
experience approach is used, where enthusiasm, vitality, spontaneity
and originality are intrinsic elements. Students explore language
functionally and creatively through:
* listening -
learning to follow directions, solve problems, develop critical thinking
* talking -
discussions and drama
* reading -
visual perceptual games, dictionary work, silent reading, research
skills
* writing -
creative verse and story writing, everyday notes and messages
Maths
A basic discovery
approach is used providing a wide variety of concrete materials to
discover mathematical relationships in number, numeration, operation
and applied numbers.
Science
Activities are
developed to enlarge students' interests in the environment, to
encourage students to question, to formulate ideas and to look for
similarities and differences.
Scientific concepts of change, cause and
effect, time and energy are explored in cooking, Lego, gardening,
experiments, etc.
Social Studies
A humanistic
approach is utilized in the traditional history and geography areas, to
develop awareness of individual differences and interpret interpersonal
relationships. Comparative studies of different home and family
environments and values are included.
Environmental
awareness is developed through nature walks, camps, working in the
garden, etc and is an important aspect of the social studies programme.
Physical Education and Sport
Daily games and
skipping provide opportunities for physical development to improve
co-ordination, strength and ball handling skills in a non-competitive,
enjoyable way.
Once a week the
whole school enjoys a sporting activity. First and fourth terms, we go
swimming at the Enoggera Pool on Wednesday afternoons. During second
and third terms the sporting activity varies, depending upon the
students' interests. These activities include roller-skating,
ice-skating, bowling, gymnastics, volleyball or indoor soccer.
No formalized
inter-school competitive sport is engaged in but those wishing to be
involved in these are encouraged to join community sporting facilities.
Art
The natural
spontaneity of students' art work is encouraged (rather than copying of
forms or the colouring-in approach). The natural uninhibited expression
that a child uses, develops a sense of originality and style. Different
art media are introduced to enhance this developing style.
Other Activities
Craft, pottery,
music, languages other than English, gardening, woodwork, cooking,
photography, sewing etc. are provided as part of the school programme
depending on the specific skills and interests of staff and parents.
Evaluation
Evaluation in
terms of numbers and percentages is not considered reliable and major
emphasis is on the process of learning rather than the product.
Evaluation is
therefore qualitative and refers to interests, aptitudes and abilities
and is constructive, well documented and is clearly communicated to
both parents and students.
The individual
rate of learning might not correspond with the levels of the state
primary school, however the school aims to develop basic literacy and
numeracy skills and cover the other areas defined in the Queensland
Education Department Curriculum Guidelines by the end of the student's
primary schooling.