Primary Matters

Primary Matters June 2004

extracted from Board Bulletin, volume 13, number 3

Contents

New multi-stage units on K–6 website

The Board of Studies has recently added two new multi-stage integrated units of work to its K–6 website. The two separate units are titled Leaving and Perseverance.

Both units contain strong Aboriginal perspectives and are designed especially to assist teachers in schools with multistage classes, covering Early Stage 1 to Stage 3. The units can easily be adapted to single-stage classes.

Leaving is a literacy-based unit that contains four learning sequences. Each sequence is clearly mapped to outcomes in six key learning areas.

Leaving by Katrina Germein is a text central to the discussions on the concept of something of yourself remaining when you leave a place or community. The unit also explores the customs and traditions different cultures have when saying goodbye.

There is a wide range of book, video and internet resources available that include artwork by Sally Morgan, Margaret Olley, Isabel Davies and Susan Norrie. Other resources include Aboriginal paintings, rock carvings and Dreaming stories as well as a number of detailed websites on Aboriginal art.

The Perseverance unit contains four learning sequences mapped to syllabus outcomes across five key learning areas.

The unit provides opportunities for students to explore the concepts of believing in oneself, personal traits, setting realistic goals, discrimination and social justice, and provides opportunities for students to study significant persons and their achievements, including Charles Perkins, Ernie Dingo, Betty Cuthbert, Matthew Flinders and Douglas Mawson.

The unit comes with a detailed resource list of websites, books and videos including stories on Aboriginal experiences such as the video Rabbit-proof Fence, or John Moriarty’s book Saltwater Fella.

The new multi-stage integrated units can be accessed at http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ linkages/linkages_index.html

The Board of Studies is currently considering the recent report into Primary education by Professor Ken Eltis. Further details on the work being undertaken will be reported in future Board Bulletins.

New BOSLO for Hunter

Philippa Young has been appointed to the position of Board of Studies Liaison Officer (BOSLO) for the Hunter area, based in Newcastle. Philippa was previously Assistant Principal at Tenambit Public School, near Maitland.

Philippa brings valuable experience to the BOSLO position. At Tenambit Public School, Philippa was responsible for providing quality educational leadership in a number of key areas including school management, curriculum implementation, technology and student welfare. Philippa has served on curriculum teams, developing support materials for Mathematics. She has also led District-level School Improvement Project Teams, Gifted and Talented Workshops, Regional Sporting Teams and school-based Quality Teaching Practice initiatives. In addition to her experience and achievements in the NSW education system Philippa brings overseas teaching experience to the BOSLO role, having taught for two years in Canada through the Teachers’ Professional Exchange Program.

Philippa is based at Newcastle and may be contacted on (02) 4924 9976.