At our school, teachers plan together on a weekly basis and regular whole school Professional Learning is undertaken. Our focus is school wide development and implementation of informed, strategic and shared classroom practice.

Students are encouraged and supported to set learning goals and to regularly confer with both their peers and their teachers. Learning goals reflect student current achievement, interests and knowledge.

Literacy
Literacy is critical to a student’s education and supports development in all curriculum areas. At Coburg West we achieve a balanced approach to teaching literacy through the following research based practices:

• Extensive, school wide ongoing assessment and monitoring of the development of all students. Assessment informs our focus on continuous improvement and tailored program development and delivery.
• Explicit, daily teaching and modelling of reading, writing and word study strategies.
• Small group instruction in reading and writing allowing for differentiated learning, balanced with whole class and individual learning opportunities.
• Opportunities for independent reading and classroom discussions to promote critical analysis and discussions.
• A whole school approach to teaching both reading comprehension and writing, supported by team planning and regular professional learning.
• A whole school approach to teaching spelling and word study.
• An oral language development program.
• Extensive library, classroom and online resources to engage students and support them in their learning.

A positive home-school partnership is fostered through our home reading program, P-2 parent information sessions, parent assistance during the literacy block and regular parent teacher interviews and written reports.

Numeracy
Our Mathematics policy is based on the belief that Mathematics is integral to participation in modern society. The development of student knowledge, skills and personal confidence is a core focus at Coburg West Primary.

Our research based approach to the teaching of mathematics includes:

• Extensive, school wide ongoing assessment and monitoring of the development of all students. This allows us to focus on continuous improvement and tailored program development and delivery.
• Explicit, daily teaching of numeracy utilising a school wide lesson model based on the phases of launch, explore, explain.
• Whole class modelling and explanations of mathematical understandings.
• Small group instruction allowing for differentiated learning.
• The opportunity to work with others in cooperative partner and small group learning situations
• Extension and intervention programs for selected students
• An emphasis on problem solving, the use of concrete materials in all learning phases and the application of mathematical knowledge in authentic, real world situations.
• A whole school scope and sequence document based on best practice approaches in core areas of mathematics study including place value, number operations and problem solving.
• Extensive concrete manipulative and computer based resources to engage students and support them in their learning.

We recognise the important role parents play in the development of numeracy skills in their child/ren and provide regular team level newsletters, home practise ideas and regular parent teacher interviews and written reports.

Inquiry Studies
Inquiry studies brings together a range of learning areas including history, cultural studies, geography, economics and science. Incursions, excursions and research stimulate interest and curiosity in this area of study.

Students explore the world around them and develop their creative, research and thinking skills through exploring units of work together. Teams study cross curriculum units of work in depth for extended periods of time. Students are encouraged to pose questions, critically analyse information, debate points of interest, develop empathy and an understanding of others and utilise feedback in producing high quality work.

Developing skills in collaborative problem solving and working cooperatively are emphasised through partner and group work where the school values of respect, cooperation, friendliness, responsibility and endeavour are employed.

Independence of thought, initiative, self discipline and striving for continual improvement underpin all learning initiatives at Coburg West and are a particular focus in Inquiry Studies. Students are encouraged and supported to present their knowledge and understandings in a range of thoughtful and varied oral and written forms including drama, construction, performance and visual arts. As in all learning areas, the utilisation of technology is a highlight of the Inquiry program.