Oral Language
Oral language lays the foundation for the reading and writing skills children will develop at Newham PS. They use oral language in all aspects of their education – in the classroom as they connect with peers and teachers, to explore and explain their thinking, to discuss their feelings and emotions, and in finding new ways to communicate ideas.
We firmly subscribe to the evidence that having a solid foundation in oral language helps children to become successful readers and strong communicators as well as build their confidence and overall sense of well being.
​
Writing
​
First implemented at Newham Primary School in 2021 the writing revolution has provided the necessary clarity for our students in the art of writing.
Our writing program rests on explicit, carefully sequenced instruction, building from sentences to embedding content into more detailed passages and whole texts. Sentences are the building blocks of all writing, hence the focus targeting grammar at a sentence level. Linking writing with our Integrated Curriculum units builds a solid understanding of teaching concepts and develops a more in depth knowledge base for students.
​
​
​
Reading
Teachers will model good reading behaviours and skills, share reading with students, provide time for independent reading, and guide students as individuals or small groups through particular goals and skills.
Students learn from an early age how they can use and choose reading strategies for different genres (informational, instructional, persuasive, narrative, poetry, etc.) and how to respond to their reading through peer conversations, in guided groups and through written formats.
​
​
​
Phonics & Word Study
​
Newham PS offers a comprehensive synthetic Phonics Program in the early years (F-2) grounded in the Promoting Literacy Development (PLD) Program. Students are supported to make the links between the letters of the alphabet to the common sounds they make, individually and blended.
In support of this is a whole school approach to word study that directly teaches children Phonological Awareness, Regular Spelling Patterns, Morphology, Word Origins and the purposeful building of a wide Vocabulary to use when speaking, writing and reading.