Primary Matters

Primary Matters – June 1998

From Board Bulletin, June 1998 – Vol 7 No 5

Work in Progress

Mathematics K-6

The development of a support document of student work samples for Mathematics K-6 is now well advanced. This document is being developed to assist teachers in making judgements about student progress when using Mathematics K-6 Outcomes and Indicators, released earlier this year. In addition to the student work samples, a parent brochure is being developed to inform parents and community members of the stage outcomes in Mathematics. A support document for students experiencing learning difficulties in numeracy is also being developed.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6

The PDHPE K-6 project team is working on the refinement of the 1992 Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 Draft Syllabus and Support Document. English K-6 The collection of English K-6 student work samples for a CD-ROM is in its final stages. This CD-ROM will provide schools with additional work samples to those released in print form in April.

Science and Technology K-6

`Science in Action' is now available on the Board's website. This project follows a class and their teacher through a unit of work over several weeks. It provides a window into the decisions made by the teacher regarding organisational and resource issues, the learning and teaching opportunities and the students' work samples. The collection of Science and Technology K-6 student work samples for a CD-ROM is now well underway. This CD-ROM will provide schools with work samples based on the Board's Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus and Support Document (1991).

Creative and Practical Arts K-6

Consultation with a sample of teachers on work-in-progress material for the draft Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus will take place in June and July. Feedback from the teachers involved in these meetings will inform the work of the project team.

Special Education

Copies of the two special education interim documents Literacy (for students experiencing learning difficulties) and Communication (for students with high support needs) sent to schools last year are still in high demand. Schools or institutions who require additional copies can obtain them for $12 each by ordering on the General Order Form attached to the Board of Studies Syllabus Catalogue or by faxing Client Services on (02) 9262 6270. If you would like further information regarding these items or K-6 curriculum matters in general, contact Margaret Malone, Inspector, Primary Education, ph (02) 9367 8199 or fax (02) 9367 8476.

Official Notices

Mathematics K-6 Outcomes and Indicators -- Errata K-6 Syllabuses in Languages

The Board advises that some inconsistencies have been identified in the document Mathematics K-6 Outcomes and Indicators which was released to schools in March this year. The wording of some outcomes in the sections `Outcomes by strand' on pages 69-83 and `Syllabus units' on pages 85-103 is not consistent with that in the section `Outcomes by stage' on pages 16-20. The intended wording of every outcome may be taken from the `Outcomes by stage' section.

The `Values and Attitudes Outcomes' (page 83) should be identified as a separate section and not as part of the section `Outcomes by strand'. Effective: Immediately Enquiries: (02) 9367 8028 Curriculum Officer K-6 syllabuses have now been developed in Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Italian. Copies of Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese and Italian are already available. Schools may order copies from the address or fax number indicated below. Korean is currently being finalised. Schools may place advance orders as indicated. The K-6 Languages Generic Syllabus Framework was distributed to all schools in 1997. Further copies are available on request. Schools may order copies from: Client Services Section Office of the Board of Studies GPO Box 5300 Sydney 2001 Sales Desk Fax: (02) 9262 6270 Enquiries: (02) 9367 8152 G Sims (02) 9367 8280 H Oppermann (02) 9367 8180 D Harland