[peebles16]

Hi all
Yet another query I hope you can help with. My eldest son has just turned 6 and about to start Primary 2 in Scotland. He has done well in school so far but took a fair while to settle in. I want to prepare him a bit for changes in education when we move - thought might try and get a hold of some books etc for him to at least familarise himself with. His current school using Oxford reading tree books for reading and writing together with Jolly Phonics and from what I can gather Heinnman Maths workbooks. This seems pretty standard stuff for Scottish system can any teachers or parents give me any idea of what is used in NZ system?

I've just read this a hope i don't sound like pushy Mum just want to be as prepared as poss:)

Thanks all

[Carol]

Hi there.
It's very unusual to see any Oxford Reading Tree books in schools here in NZ (more's the pity IMO but that's beside the point...) and you definitely wont get Heinemann maths here.You might be lucky and find a school that uses Letterland - but again few and far between.

The vast majority of schools use the Ready to Read colour coded Reading scheme - very much Kiwi based. http://www.learningmedia.co.nz/nz/online/authorsartists/seriesguidelines/readytoread With a lot of material written by quite well known NZ authors like Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley.
When the kids get a little older - School Journals become staple reading material as well as library books.
(I believe the journals are free to schools which is why they are used so extensively).
http://www.learningmedia.co.nz/aboutus/centenary

THe Numeracy Project is very much up and running here - really hands on and not at all about "Heinemann" type books. In fact I havent ever seen workbooks like that in any school I have worked in as a teacher. Again - later on - the kids use this type of thing as a text book - they are free to schools.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/maths/curriculum/figure/index_e.php
but it isnt anything like the "write in" books you will be used to in the UK.

It is all a bit different - but that's what you would expect.

Hope that helps a little....

Carol

[Tia Maria]

Hi Peebles16,

I'm not sure how typical my son's school is but at first, coming from the UK, it didn't seem as academic. However, I think as Carol mentioned, it is actually just different.

He seems to tackle things later than his peers in the UK but catches on quicker. Its certainly sold me on the idea that reading is pushed too early in the UK, but it does mean you might come over and watch him repeating some things he's already done.

Typical 'homework' for my 6 year old is:

1) Read a book every night - Sometimes the teacher chooses one that is at that child's level and sometimes the child chooses one from their 'browsing box' that they just enjoy. This gives a good balance of stretching the child and also building up their enjoyment and confidence with something familiar and interesting to them.

2) Word Detective - our school doesn't use phonics but looks at letter pairs. So for instance they will be asked to find words with the 'ig' group. At first they come up with words that start with the group, like 'igloo', then they will start to spot words like 'big'.

3) News Report - Take in a cutting of something they have read.

4) Maths Facts - Learn 10 facts for that week, starting at 2+2, progressing to 8x7

5) Show and Tell - take in anything of interest and talk about it within your group.

They also encorage reading 'chapter books' with Mum & Dad, Roald Dahl is very popular among the boys. They do Maths games on the computer. Jump Jam is very popular which is 'movement to music', it always seems to be YMCA when I walk past, parents and pre-schoolers are welcome to pop along and join in! Parents and siblings are also welcome to the weekly singing sessions.

They write stories a lot which can be anything from 1 sentence to 20 sentences and can have pictures. They are encouraged to attempt all spellings themselves and can undeline anything they are not sure about, which they can return to later with the dictionary.

Currently there is a big drive to improve manners, which I must add are already very good. Also they are very keen for the children to be independent. If one of the younger ones falls over in the playground the older ones will go over to help as they are all encouraged to look after each other.

My 6 year old has a buddy reader and a computer buddy, these are older children who come to help him with these activities - he loves this and he really works hard to impress them. The older boys also learn to 'look out' for the younger ones and learn the subject better themselves.

As mentioned before they are very happy for parents to be part of the school, so if someone needs to be there while their child settles in, its fine. I know of quite a few mums who have volunteered to help with reading for a term so they get to be there for their child and get a feel for how everything is going.

Its now nearing the end of the soccer season here, so we will get our Saturday mornings back. This is not a school run thing but I would say most of the boys, and some of the girls, in the class took part. It is now the start of touch rugby season, which quite a few boys are doing, once again this is not a school thing. They teach swimming at school when the weather improves.

They don't seem to have much in the way of music or languages and many parents comment that they don't think the handwriting or maths is as good as the UK.

As I said I don't know how typical this is, but hopefully it will give you a feel for what a 6 year old boy does at school. I should add I have been so impressed with my son's school, I would say it is one of the main reasons we have stayed in NZ so far!

Cheers

Tia

[peebles16]

Thanks Tia and Carol

I had expected the materials to be different and the links are helpful. The actual curriculum doesn't sound that different from stuff my wee boy is doing just now around respecting others, personal and social development etc so think he'll be fine. The homework etc is about what he is doing now so maybe don't have to worry too much just pick school very carefully.
Thanks:)