Curriculum
Literacy
We have a strong focus on Literacy at Palmer Primary School. We have undertaken many hours of professional development to ensure all staff have a thorough grounding in understanding how the brain learns new information.
At Palmer Primary School we teach reading, writing and spelling using Ron Yoshimoto’s Orton Gillingham (OG) approach. This approach is highly recommended by the International Dyslexia Association, is uniquely flexible, and allows all learners to be highly successful right from the start.
Following OG lessons, we use ‘The Writing Revolution’ as a launchpad for specific writing instruction across all genres and text-types. This breaks down elements of writing into small parts, such as grammar, syntax and punctuation, sentence types and compositions.
Assessment across Literacy includes ongoing assessment of reading using DIBELS, phonics screening check, PAT Adaptive reading, spelling and vocabulary, moderating writings samples using Brightpath and NAPLAN testing in years 3 and 5. Our small class sizes and intensive SSO support enable students to receive extra support to reach their full potential and constantly challenge themselves.
Numeracy
Due to the success of the use of explicit instruction in OG in our Literacy Block, in 2024 we decided to attempt to replicate these results in the mathematics space. We spent 18 months engaging in deep professional learning around best practice teaching for mathematics. While we were able to transfer many of the skills learned from OG immediately into mathematics lessons, to build on this we have embarked on the implementation of a new, Australian built, high-quality program called EMP (Explicit Mathematics Program). This was implemented in the Junior class in 2025 and will also be used in the Upper class in 2026.
If you would like to see more about EMP please click here.
Our lesson format includes:
- Daily fluency of simple arithmetic
- A daily review of previously taught skills
- An explicit lesson introducing a new skill
- An opportunity to build fluency in the new skill
Assessment across Mathematics includes ongoing assessment, PVAT (Place Value Assessment Task), Big ideas in Number, PAT Adaptive mathematics and NAPLAN testing in years 3 and 5. Again, our small class sizes and SSO support enable students to receive a rich learning experience with opportunities to support and challenge themselves every day.
LOTE
At Palmer Primary School we teach Auslan.
