Students may experience difficulties with learning because of the ways in which they learn or the rates at which they learn. Students with learning difficulties will have differing levels of educational need which may require the provision of one or more educational support services over varying periods of time.
The learning support team at North Rocks Public School plays a key role in ensuring that the learning needs of every student can be met. Students may be referred to the learning support team to assist the classroom teacher develop strategies to make adjustments to learning activities to assist every student achieve success. The learning support team may also refer students to the school counsellor.
Support classes
The support unit at North Rocks Public School features three dedicated classes; two full time autism classes and an IO class for students with moderate intellectual disabilities.
At North Rocks Public School our staff are highly trained and experienced at delivering the mainstream curriculum with adjustments and differentiation to suit the learning styles, abilities and needs of all our students.
In addition to the great programs and activities our students have been involved in this year, the support unit has had the backing of the North Rocks community. We operate successfully in the school because of the support of all
Reading support
Additional reading support has been provided to the children at North Rocks Public School for many years. An additional reading teacher is placed in Year 1 and 2 classrooms for a 40 minutes period, four days a week. This allows time for each child in the class to read to one of the teachers each day as well as completing language-based games and activities.
The three additional reading teachers work closely with the class teachers in Years 1 and 2. The reading and class teachers plan and organise activities to extend all children, not only with oral reading, but general knowledge, sight words, word attack skills, comprehension and phonics.
Guided reading in small groups allows each child to become more confident when reading out loud, as well as using their voices expressively. Having two teachers for each lesson gives time to the teachers to hear all the children read, talk about the story and discuss the literal and inferential meaning or a text. In class during reading time we use the springboard readers, however the class teacher will also introduce other reading activities and stories during each week.
Working independently on a worksheet or literacy activity, gives each child the opportunity to explore their understanding of a topic and develop further skills while there is a second teacher in the room to help if needed. During this time children are usually able to develop their skills in written work.
At North Rocks Public School we try to make reading a fun experience because we want to foster a love of reading. This can also be helped along at home by parents reading with their children each day. New and exciting books can always be found in the school library or the local library where parents and children will enjoy choosing and sharing stories together.
At North Rocks Public School we are pleased that this new program is supporting all children in Years 1 and 2. We are encouraged to see all children in these years working to improve their reading skills with extra teacher help.