Sebastian is diligent and intelligent. He is extremely conscientious at completing assigned tasks, is advanced in mathematics and reads across a wide range of reading materials. Sebastian is a delight in many ways.
English
Reading
- Students identify, critically analyse and respond to techniques, literary devices and language features used by writers to influence readers
Sebastian reads fluently and confidently, we often find him reading late into the night.
During the upcoming year the focus will be on on nurturing a love of reading and immersing him in quality literature.
We have previously hosted a Book Club a couple of times within our homeschool group and the children absolutely loved it! They totally facilitated the group, the book selections, the questions, the structure, it was all so exciting to see. Sebastian will participate in this in the upcoming year.
Spelling
- Students spell most common words accurately and use a variety of strategies to spell less common words.
Sebastian worked diligently on his spelling last year, I’m proud of him. Spelling isn’t something he achieves naturally but he has shown great improvement. Our weekly Writing Club meetings convinced him of the need to spell well.
Last year Sebastian completed All About Spelling Level 4 and began All About Spelling Level 5. He learnt about words ending in ion, how to spell words with ss and sion, phonograms ough, and i before e.
During the upcoming year Sebastian will complete All About Spelling Level 5. Our goal is for him to become a confident, capable speller.
Resource: All About Spelling Level 5
Dictation
- Students make considered choices in written texts from an expanding vocabulary and from growing knowledge of grammatical patterns, complex sentence structures, cohesive links and literary devices.
In the upcoming year Sebastian will undertake weekly dictation lessons again, which will strengthen his spelling, punctuation, listening and recall skills.
Resource: Spelling Wisdom
Handwriting
- Students develop a fluent writing style and employ digital technology to present written texts effectively in a variety of ways for different purposes and audiences.
Sebastian’s handwriting has improved but there is still need for improvement.
Last year we continued to correct the poor habits he had developed, we will continue with that with occasional supervision to ensure he is writing correctly. He will continue to develop his skills in cursive writing.
Resource: Startwrite Creates customised handwriting practice sheets.
Grammar & Composition
- Students make considered choices in written texts from an expanding vocabulary and from growing knowledge of grammatical patterns, complex sentence structures, cohesive links and literary devices.
Sebastian has a good grasp of grammar; sentence structure, correct word usage and tenses. Grammatical infractions are quickly ‘pounced upon’ by siblings so all the children are strong in this area.
Last year we focused on introducing mechanics such as capitals, commas, full stops, question and exclamation marks, correct tenses, nouns, verbs and adjectives, homonyms, synonyms & antonyms.
In the upcoming year we will be cementing these concepts further and introducing other concepts such as abbreviations, contractions and developing strong vocabulary skills. We will also be covering literary analysis, conflict resolution, development of writing style, paraphrasing, writing sequence to name a few.
Resources include: Little Grammar People – Nuri Mass, World of Language – Ruth Heller , Intermediate Language Lessons – Emma Serl, Cottage Press: Language Lessons for Grammar Students, Voyages in English
Creative Writing
- Students evaluate the effectiveness of their writing by drafting, proofreading, editing, reviewing and publishing, focusing on grammatical features and the conventions of writing.
Sebastian’s interest in Creative Writing is intermittent. He become interested when we started Writing Club. We began hosting a weekly Writing Club with homeschool friends in 2019 and have continued since. Sebastian wasn’t initially keen on joining in, we let him determine his participation, and soon the synergy and enthusiasm of the others convinced him, whilst the majority of children are older than him he is doing well.
In the upcoming year our intent is to write daily, certainly encouraging Sebastian in creative writing, also encourage him in becoming a stronger writer in other writing styles. His comprehension skills are excellent and his spelling skills improving. Working on more complex sentence structure and story plot.
Resources include: Writing Prompt Cards, Marist Brothers English for 6th Grade, Writer’s Jungle, Institute for Excellence in English, Voyages in English
Narrations
- Students demonstrate active listening behaviours in order to gather specific information and ideas, recognising and exploring how spoken and written language differ and how spoken language varies according to context.
A retelling of what has been read/watched/learnt into one’s own words, requires a good understanding of the subject matter, it takes concentration and sequencing skills. Narrations can take various forms; oral, written, illustrations, acting, building or creating. As we consider narrations to be an extremely important skill, a foundation for logic and writing, we will be devoting time to narration regularly for the subjects of; Faith, Geography, History and Science.
Sebastian’s narration skills are quite good. He is solid at extracting the main points of information, recalling detail and delivering information in sequential form.
In the upcoming year we will continue to focus on producing higher quality narrations from Sebastian, encouraging him to maintain a high standard both orally and to be producing more in the written form.
Literature
- Students identify, critically analyse and respond to techniques, literary devices and language features used by writers to influence readers.
Nurturing a love of literature within our family is at the core of our family’s learning approach, we immerse our children in quality literature from birth. We read from many genres and delight in living books – a book that makes the subject matter ‘come alive’.
Sebastian enjoys listening to our daily Read Alouds, he easily listens for long periods of time and comprehends well. If it’s a book he particularly enjoys he begs and begs for more, he’s hard to resist.
Resources include: Our extensive home library and the town library.
Poetry
- Students respond to themes and issues within texts, recognise point of view and justify interpretations by referring to their own knowledge, values and experiences.
The listening to and memorisation of poetry is part of our family’s culture of nurturing a love of literature.
Sebastian will continue to be immersed in poetry daily and memorise at least one poem a term, to recite at our family weekly recitation nights.
Resources include: Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry, Classic Children’s Poetry, Children’s Book of Verse, Australian poetery and more from our extensive poetry collection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mathematics
- Students ask questions and undertake investigations, selecting appropriate technological applications and problem-solving strategies to demonstrate fluency in mathematical techniques.
Sebastian enjoys maths and excels at it. He is working above grade level, he applies himself diligently, understands new concepts quickly and easily masters them.
Last year Sebastian covered ; volume of cubes, patterns, problem solving, possibilities, long multiplication, addition, subtraction & long multiplication of decimals, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions, fractions and decimals to percentages, expanded notation.
This year Sebastian will cover; 7 digits addition & subtraction, long multiplication, division with fraction remainders, multiplying decimals by 1000, improper & mixed fractions, percentages, algebra, problem solving, 24 hour time, calculating distance, speed & time, hectares, tonnes and capacity, cones, cylinders & spheres, types of angles, plotting co-ordinates, chance and graphs.
Resources include: Maths Online, maths board games and our living maths books collection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Science and Technology
- Students pose questions for investigation, predict likely outcomes, and demonstrate accuracy and honesty when collecting, recording and analysing data and information.
We desire to encourage Sebastian’s knowledge and love of science and technology, to encourage him to foster his questing mind and to continue to support his confidence in tackling technological challenges. We have been owner building since Sebastian was a toddler and he has grown up observing, learning and building.
Sebastian and his brothers and Siena have a particular fascination with ‘all things science’. All four are constantly seeking out scientific knowledge on their own volition. It is quite common to find them watching a science youtube and then see them filming their own experiment, or the reverse order to ascertain why their experiment might have ‘failed’. To mention just one area of scientific interest and endeavour of theirs.
Last year Sebastian studied various topics including; Australian animals and nature, Australian weather, planets, erosion and Sebastian’s particular fascination weather and water; swamps & the ocean. He watched many youtubes, documentaries and science videos, enjoyed a variety of science experiments, made K’nex models and Kapla designs including the Eiffel Tower, to name a few endeavours.
This year our studies will include; Living Things, Earth & Space, Physics & Digital Technology, including Robotics and more Coding, as well as always being flexible to follow any further interests that arise. With the children being so scientifically and technically minded we expect these interests to be many and varied. To meet these studies we will use various mediums and resources, and we’re confident that other areas of scientific and technological interest and knowledge will be sought and pursued.
Resources include: Our home and town libraries, Young Scientist set, DVDs and youtubes, creating a garden, Experiment kits, Snap Circuit Kits, K’nex, Lego, Kapla Blocks, Scratch Coding, the Drone & Robotic kits; Edison, Boson and the Robobloq Qooper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HSIE
History
- Students develop texts, particularly narratives and descriptions. In developing these texts, and organising and presenting their information, they use historical terms and concepts and incorporate relevant sources.
We wish for Sebastian to have an interest about ‘all things history’ and want him have an awareness of world and Australian history and to understand the significance of certain events.
Last year we studied various topics including Australian history, on a National and local level. Our learning covered topics such as Australia in the 1920s & 30s, and the Overland Telegraph and visiting the local Museum at Lawrence. Our World History studies included the Vikings, the Local History, Technology Age and an indepth study of World War One and Two.
This year we will continue our Australian History studies, doing a more indepth study of Bushrangers and the Gold Rush. We will also continue to study what was happening to our First Peoples concurrently. We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and passion for our nation’s history.
Our World History studies will continue this year to follow a chronological plan, it will move forward to cover: the Korean & Vietnam Wars, the 1960s, refugees and modern Australia.
Resources Include: Wattle Gum Education- as I test run products before release, History of Australia – Meredith Hooper, Story of the World – Susan Wise Bauer and our extensive collection of historical living books, picture as well as chapter books, and the town library.
Geography
- Students develop geographical questions to frame an inquiry. They use a variety of strategies to locate, collect and record relevant data and information to answer inquiry questions.
We want Sebastian to have an awareness of and appreciation for different cultures, customs and environments. To be familiar and confident with maps, to be able to recognise the different continents and many countries.
We will continue to use Mega Maps for our mapwork which continues to be hugely popular with our children, Sebatian’s skill for tracing lends well to developing mapwork skills. We will also use Shepard Software which is enjoyable and effective.
We will also focus on the Australian environment, our impact upon the environment and ways in which we can best care for our environment.
Much of our geography approach is covered by using our collection of geography living books, we are always flexible to follow any interest areas that arise.
Resources include: Wattle Gum Education- as I test run products before release, our library and town library, DVDs and youtubes, light table, Sheppard Software and Mega Maps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creative Arts
Visual Arts
- Students make artworks for a variety of audiences using different forms and techniques to convey meaning and represent the likeness of things in the world.
We will continue our annual membership with Artventure , we have used this for a few years now and continue to be highly impressed with the work that Sebastian produces. Sebastian wasn’t naturally skilled at art when young, we do believe Artventure has really made a difference. Visual Arts happens daily in our household, there is always some form being undertaken. Siena generally initiates and Sebastian will often join in. He is currently interested in creating paddle pop designs.
Resources include: Artventure, How to Draw & craft books, youtubes, various internet sites and our craft & art supplies.
Music
- Students listen to a range of familiar and unfamiliar music with a sense of understanding, appreciation and discrimination.
Sebastian will continue to be exposed to a variety of music genres, with the opportunity for movement and free expression. Sebastian is always listening to his sisters singing and will occasionally join in.
Various musical instruments are available in our home: piano, drums, guitar and woodwind and percussion instruments which Sebastian can readily access.
Dance
- Students perform dances from a range of contexts demonstrating movement and expressive qualities appropriate to the dance.
Sebastian has an enjoyment of dance and is often the first to begin dancing, he has a natural rhythm that shines forth when dancing.
Resources include: Dance Star & Sing Star.
Drama
- Students interpret a range of drama experiences by making, performing and appreciating drama.
Sebastian is often roped into preforming in home grown plays, choreographed by Siena, complete with props and costumes. Their audience is given tickets designed by them and seated in chairs whilst they perform ‘on stage’.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Health, Wellbeing and Relationships
- Students examine the influence of people and places on identity and practise skills to establish and manage relationships.
Many Personal Development skills learnt are covered by the values we hold as a family which are underpinned by our Catholic Faith. To be confident in their own selves knowing their value and dignity, to understand they must treat their bodies with care, to remove themselves from situations in which may be harmful, to treat others with kindness, consideration and generosity, to extend Christian charity to all regardless of their belief system.
We have many opportunities in our homeschool group to discuss strategies and practice kindness and acceptance. We have a wide age range of children that provide Sebastian opportunities to build caring and respectful relationships. Our local group is set to increase by at least 60% for the coming year and Sebastian will have many further opportunities for growth.
Faith Studies
Sebastian is to deepen his personal relationship with God and increase his knowledge of God and His Church.
Resources include: Liturgical Year Resources, saints biographies and the ‘Green’ Catechism.
Movement Skill and Performance and Healthy, Safe and Active Lifestyles
- Students participate in a wide variety of moderate to vigorous physical activities to apply, refine and adapt movement skills with increased confidence and consistency.
Sebastian will be continuing with swimming squad this year. He has moved up to Mini Squad.
Sebastian will also have the opportunity to join us weekly in Park Run, some mornings he joins his father and me on our daily runs.
Sebastian will also be kayaking regularly, he has great aptitude, confidence and a love for this sport.
Sebastian will compete in our annual home education Sports Day.
Sebastian is to further develop an understanding of the importance of an active lifestyle and nutritional health. Sebastian will continue to deepen his knowledge and understanding of the human body, the need for personal hygiene and an awareness of nutritional health choices and their impact. To be aware of the positive and negative choices that we can make for our bodies and the consequence of our choices, not only as individuals but upon the community.