At St. Matthew’s, the English curriculum aims to ensure all students learn to read, write, listen to, create and reflect on spoken, written and multimodal texts. We aim for all students to enjoy and feel confidence with their use of the English language to convey information, entertain, persuade, learn and develop ideas, and facilitate interaction with others. Teaching is focused on all aspects of Language, Literature and Literacy, as outlined by the Victorian Curriculum.
In the early years, we specifically focus on oral language, phonological development (for example, syllables and rhyme) and the explicit teaching of phonics by following an evidence-based approach and sequence. Students throughout Prep to Year 6 develop their comprehension skills by listening to, reading and responding to a broad range of fiction and nonfiction texts.
Our approach is based on the belief that learning is developmental and informed by data and we target our teaching to best ensure that all students make progress and achieve success. Intervention is offered to students who require additional support using the evidence-based program “Sounds Write”.
St Matthew’s has a Home Reading scheme for the junior students (both decodable and predictable texts) and ‘take-home’ books for the middle and senior students. We have a well-equipped library. Borrowing is encouraged during dedicated Library lessons.
Each year, we celebrate our love of literature through Book Week, with activities such as author visits, a ‘Pyjama Night’ and a dress up parade. Our students also have the opportunity to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge and the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee.
“Literacy is inseparable from opportunity, and opportunity is inseparable from freedom. The freedom promised by literacy is both the freedom from- freedom from ignorance, oppression, poverty- and freedom to- to do new things, to make choices, to learn”
– UNESC