2023 - Our First Full Year
What a year it has been for Ms Calleja’s Classroom! There has been so much happening with our learners of all ages. We have been so active, expanding our skills, minds and social circles. The building has come to life around us and it seems that each week there is something new to see (or some new mess to walk around!) A big thank you to the families who we see week in and out. It is hard work being a parent and you are all doing a wonderful job for your kids. It is hard being a kid too – there is so much to learn, but with curiosity and a great attitude, we can do all things if we keep at it. As, for me…I am so proud of what we are all creating here. I think we have earned a lovely rest over Summer. Having said that, I will be back at my desk after New Year, ready to answer your questions or meet new students and their families.
Growing Together
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Growing Together 〰️ 〰️
Small Group Tuition - Little Ones
I am tempted to call this group “The Chicken Gang”. Our reward after 45 minutes of solid phonics, handwriting, language games, reading and talking is always to go visit the chickens and collect eggs. This group, too, are leading the way in borrowing books from our cubby library. What champions! This term we have read the following books:
Erandi’s Braids
My Place
Scary Night
Molly’s Jolly Brolly
A Giraffe in the Bath
My Aussie Mum
Who Wakes Rooster?
This Book Ate My Dog
Alexander’s Outing
Edward the Emu
We have worked on the phonemes/graphemes oi/oy/ar/ow as in oh/ee/ea/double consonants/many vowel digraphs/long i/long e/magic e/ou/ow as in cow/eu/ew/u
We have worked on handwriting, sentence writing and group work skills.
Small Group Tuition - Primary
I think I’ll call this group “The Bandicoot Bandits” as they are sociable and hop about having fun.
We have studied Countries, Customs and Cultures this term and have covered the following topics: Holidays and Festivals, Countries A-Z, Swan River Colony, Halloween, Japanese Wabi-Sabi, Whales and the Whaling Industry, Time Travel and Travel Writing, Latin, Greek and French Root Words,
We read “My Place” by Nadia Wheatley and “Celebrate With Me” ed Laura Gladwin, “The Cradle of the Economy”, “The History of Halloween” on Reading A-Z, “Who Wakes Rooster?” by Clare Hodgson Meeker, “BBC Bitesize” article on Travel Writing, newspaper travel articles. We watched informative clips on wabi-sabi, played phonics games on education websites, watched a series called “My Place” and “Back in Time for the Corner Shop”.
We wrote travel pieces, journal entries, study notes, made spelling notes, made cards and did worksheets. This has been a jam-packed term full of fun and learning adventures. Well done Primary kids!
Small Group Tuition - Lower High School
For now, I will have to call this group “The Lone Wolf” as it only had one student in it for the term. I have been so pleased with how he has persevered with his learning and enjoyed coming even though there were no other kids to bounce off this term.
Here’s what we studied: Holidays and Festivals, Latin, Greek and French root words, How to Write a Postcard, Stretching and Expanding our Writing, Travel Writing, Note taking, Spelling, Grammar, Local History exploration – we even had an excursion to two cemeteries to see all the early settlers in the Swan Valley. We studied many of the texts that the younger ones looked at, but with greater depth. I look forward to this group expanding next year.
Small Group Tuition - Upper High School
This group should be called “The Magpies” as they happily searched though texts to collect “shiny things”. Magpies are clever and social, as is this group, who all help and inspire each other in their studies.
This term we evolved our work into study sessions, aimed at improving our writing, study, note-taking, understanding and creation of texts. Each student brought their class work and we combined working separately, together and one on one with me to further their progress in class work, take home tasks and exams.
We concentrated on Cultural ways of seeing and interpreting, marginalised voices, researched current events by reading opinion articles and news pieces. We drilled down on exam preparation, using worksheets, class notes and teacher-made materials to study and practice sample writing. The term flew by and so off flew the tired senior students. Well done for your hard work! Enjoy the Summer holidays.
One on One Students
These students can be called “The Eagles” because they have a sharp focus on their goals and seek to soar to great heights. Monday’s student worked on Year 11 English ATAR and ended up scoring above the average mark for his year group in this subject. He is a bright and hard-working young man who shows initiative and drive. Tuesday’s student has grown in confidence and skill, showing great enthusiasm for her learning. She is always keen to discuss her school work, her travels and give her opinion on the texts we are studying. Keep up the good work! Wednesday’s student is an absolute champion. He applies the hard work, perseverance and grit to his studies that he has learned as an elite Surf Life Saver. Well done to this student for his drive and dedication and the results he has achieved in his studies this year. Thursday’s student has an agile and interesting mind. He thinks through problems from all angles and is keen to produce the highest quality work he can. Well done for a great attitude to learning. Friday’s student is an adult who has already achieved a great number of successes in her life. She shows great intelligence and determination and is always on the go. Congratulations on your successful studies in other areas too – your AUSLAN skills will be enjoyed by many, as you teach what you know.
Wishing you all a very happy holiday break.
Don’t forget to secure your place now for 2024!
Parents, thank you for being so good at providing feedback. Please continue to let me know which areas you would like to concentrate on, or any areas of concern. My door is always open.
See you in class, soon!