Junior Curriculum

At West End Te Kura Ō Mōrere, our junior curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning in our young students. By integrating structured literacy, mathematics, guided writing, and reading within a connected curriculum, we aim to set students up for success in both their academic journey and their exploration of the world around them.

Structured Literacy
Our approach to literacy is structured and evidence-based, focusing on explicit instruction in reading and writing skills. This method ensures that all students, regardless of their starting point, develop a strong foundation in literacy. Key components include:

• Phonemic Awareness: Teaching children to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words.
• Phonics: Systematic instruction in the relationship between letters and sounds to develop decoding skills.
• Fluency: Practice to improve reading speed, accuracy, and expression.
• Vocabulary: Building a rich and varied vocabulary to enhance comprehension.
• Comprehension: Strategies to understand, interpret, and engage with texts
• Love of Literature: Building students' love of books and stories is fundamental to students being successful in reading.

Phonics Instruction
Phonics is a critical part of our literacy program. We use a sequential and systematic approach to teaching phonics, ensuring that students understand the relationships between letters and sounds. This includes:

• Phonics lessons using multi-sensory techniques.
• Activities and games that make learning phonics fun and engaging.
• Regular assessment to track progress and provide targeted support where needed.

Guided Writing and Reading
Guided writing and reading sessions are integral to our curriculum, providing personalized support to students as they develop their skills.

• Guided Reading: Small group sessions where teachers provide focused instruction tailored to the students' reading levels. These sessions include discussion of texts, teaching of reading strategies, and development of critical thinking skills.
• Guided Writing: Structured opportunities for students to write with teacher support. This includes modeling of writing processes, shared writing experiences, and individualized feedback to help students improve their writing skills.

Junior School Mathematics
Mathematics is a vital component of our junior curriculum, designed to develop students' numeracy skills and foster a positive attitude towards problem-solving.

Our mathematics program is built on the following key principles:

• Foundational Skills: Ensuring students develop a solid understanding of basic number concepts, including counting, addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication and division.
• Mathematical Thinking: Encouraging students to think critically and logically about numbers and mathematical problems. We emphasise reasoning, pattern recognition, and the ability to make connections between concepts.
• Hands-On Learning: Using manipulatives, visual aids, and practical activities to help students grasp abstract mathematical ideas in a concrete way.
• Problem-Solving: Promoting a problem-solving approach where students are encouraged to explore multiple strategies to find solutions, fostering creativity and resilience in mathematics.
• Real-World Applications: Integrating real-life examples and scenarios to show students the relevance of mathematics in everyday life, helping them understand the importance of numeracy skills beyond the classroom.
• Mathematical Language: Developing students' ability to articulate their mathematical thinking using appropriate vocabulary, which is crucial for understanding and communicating complex ideas.

Connected Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to be interconnected, allowing students to make connections between different subject areas and the world around them. This thematic approach helps students see the relevance of their learning and encourages them to explore topics in depth.

Key elements include:

• Inquiry-Based Learning: Encouraging students to ask questions, investigate, and seek answers through hands-on experiences.
• Integrated Subjects: Linking literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts through common themes.
• Real-World Connections: Providing opportunities for students to apply their learning to real-world situations and problems

Fostering Curiosity and Exploration
At West End Te Kura O Morere, we believe that curiosity is the engine of learning. Our curriculum is designed to nurture inquisitive minds and foster a sense of wonder about the world. We achieve this by:

• Creating a stimulating and supportive learning environment.
• Offering a range of extracurricular activities and field trips to broaden students' experiences.
• Encouraging curiosity within our classrooms and school environment.

Setting Students Up for Success
Our ultimate goal is to prepare students for a successful future. We do this by:

• Building strong foundational skills in literacy and numeracy.
• Developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• Cultivating a growth mindset and resilience in our students.
• Providing ongoing support and opportunities for every child to reach their full potential.

Social and Emotional Learning
By prioritising social and emotional learning for junior students, we help them develop essential skills for success in academics, relationships, and life beyond the classroom. Social and emotional learning for junior tamariki is crucial for their overall development and well-being. Some of the key teaching and learning components we focus on are:

• Self-Awareness: Helping students recognize their emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. Activities like self-reflection and mindfulness practices can promote self-awareness.
• Self-Management: Teaching students how to regulate their emotions and make responsible decisions. Strategies such as breathing exercises, time management skills, and conflict resolution techniques can aid in self-management.
• Social Awareness: Encouraging empathy and understanding of others' perspectives and feelings. Group discussions, role-playing activities, and problem-solving foster social awareness among students.
• Relationship Skills: Teaching students how to communicate effectively, build and maintain positive relationships, and work collaboratively with others. Cooperative learning activities enhance relationship skills.
• Responsible Decision-Making: Equipping students with critical thinking skills to make constructive choices. We encourage them to consider the consequences of their actions and explore various problem-solving strategies.
• Creating a Supportive Environment: Fostering a safe and inclusive school culture where students feel valued, respected, and supported through buddy classes, team activities, and cross-class learning. We actively discuss how being ourselves is important and valuing others for who they are. We promote diversity and inclusion to help build a positive learning environment.
• Professional Development for Staff: We provide training and ongoing support for teachers and our support staff to effectively incorporate social and emotional learning into their teaching practices. Our teaching staff are Incredible Years trained, and our support staff are also training in this approach to behavior management.

At West End Te Kura Ō Mōrere, we are dedicated to creating a rich and engaging learning environment that inspires our junior students to become confident, capable, and curious learners. Through our structured and connected curriculum, we are setting the stage for their future success.