BOS 37/08 (Vol 17 No 3)

The Board wishes to advise that the Mathematics K–6 Support Document for Students with Special Education Needs has been published on the K–6 website.

The online document supports teachers in the planning, programming, assessment, implementation and evaluation of learning experiences that enable all students to demonstrate achievement in relation to the outcomes and content of the Mathematics K–6 Syllabus.

A printed introduction to the online document will be sent to all primary schools.

Effective: Immediately

Contact:
Susan Jones
Senior Curriculum Officer, Special Education
(02) 9367 8148
susan.jones@bos.nsw.edu.au

Teachers are invited to get involved in the Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus revision, with the Draft Writing Brief now available for consultation.

Teachers are encouraged to provide feedback by completing the Draft Writing Brief Survey. Completed surveys are due to the Board of Studies by 6 June 2008.

Teachers are encouraged to attend consultation meetings at locations across NSW. See the consultation schedule for the date and venue of your nearest consultation meeting.

Comments and suggestions from the meetings and survey will be considered and used to finalise the Writing Brief which will provide directions to writers of the draft syllabus.

For more information on the revision of the Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus contact Nicholas Perkins, Senior Curriculum Officer, Primary Education on (02)9367 8180 or nicholas.perkins@bos.nsw.edu.au.

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus Draft Writing Brief

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus Draft Writing Brief Survey

Teachers are invited to get involved in the K-6 Science and Technology syllabus revision, with consultation on the draft writing brief commencing in Term 2, 2008.

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Board Bulletin (Vol 17 No 1)

On 11 December 2007, the Board of Studies approved the Broad Directions for revision of the K–6 Science and Technology syllabus.

This follows wide consultation with the education community, including surveys and a symposium held in August 2007.

John O’Brien, Director Curriculum, said, ‘The Broad Directions will now become the underlying principles for the final syllabus. One key direction will be to capture the wonder, curiosity and interest young students have for science and technology and develop that into a base for lifelong learning.

‘The consultation has shown that teachers are generally looking formore clarity in the syllabus and a clear continuumof learning in science and technology.’

‘These goals, as well as a user-friendly structure, are now included in the Broad Directions.’

Writers have begun developing these Broad Directions into a draft writing brief for the revised syllabus in Term1, 2008. Teachers will be invited to read and comment on the draft writing brief in Term2, and are encouraged to check the Board Bulletin and the Board’s website for details. (See Important Dates on page 11 in this issue.)

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Board Bulletin (Vol 17 No 1)

Every primary, infants and central school principal recently received the Board’s new Parents’ Guide to the NSW Primary Syllabuses, launched by the Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, on 5 February.

There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the new booklet, which aims to give parents a straightforward explanation of the K–6 syllabuses, with examples of what their children might learn in each stage.

The Guide also explains important educational terms like ‘key learning area’ and ‘integrated units’, as well as giving suggested hours for each subject area, links to the Board’s Assessment Resource Centre and other useful information.

Mr Della Bosca said the Parents’ Guide built on the Board’s Foundation Statements to help parents better understand their child’s progress from Kindergarten to Year 6.

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NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has launched a new guide to make it easier for parents to follow their children’s education and progress through their primary school years.

“The Parents’ Guide to the NSW Primary Syllabuses will be sent to schools across the State to help parents better understand their child’s progress from Kindergarten to Year 6,” the Minister said.

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How you can contribute work samples

Have you thought about contributing work samples from your own students to publish on this website? Click on the above link to read about how you can contribute.

For Years K-6 (Stages 1, 2 & 3)

Since the last update of this site in September 2007, we have added new activities for Stage 2 English, Creative Arts and PDHPE and Stage 3 English, Creative Arts and PDHPE. We have also added additional aligned work samples across the following Key Learning Areas in K–6.

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Board Bulletin (Vol 16 No 4)

Aboriginal Perspectives

The Board is seeking teachers to be involved in developing a range of curriculum resources to assist in delivering the Aboriginal and Indigenous cross-curriculum content embedded in all the new Years 7–10 syllabuses.

The project will be carried out over an extended period of time and will include Aboriginal Curriculum Unit staff working with Aboriginal community groups, school systems and teachers.

Teachers with experience in programming and an interest in teaching relevant, authentic Aboriginal perspectives that provide significance within the curriculum for Aboriginal people, are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to be added to the register.

For more information and to download an Expression of Interest form, visit the Board's website

Closing date: Friday 30 November 2007.
Enquiries: Kevin Lowe on phone (02) 9367 8198 or email kevin.lowe@bos.nsw.edu.au

K–6 Science and Technology curriculum writers

A register of curriculum writers is being created to assist with the Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus review and revision. The register will be used to identify potential writers for the syllabus or other tasks at various stages of the syllabus development process, beginning in Term 1 2008.

Interested people are invited to submit an expression of interest for inclusion on the register. Expressions of interest are particularly sought from people with skills and interests in the writing of the K–6 Science and Technology curriculum material.

For more information on the positions and application process, and to download an Expression of Interest form, visit the Board's website.

Closing date: Friday 23 November 2007.
Enquiries: Nicholas Perkins, phone (02) 9367 8180 or email nicholas.perkins@bos.nsw.edu.au

BOS 10/07 (Vol 16 No 1)

The Board wishes to advise that a statement pertaining to the individual communication strategies used by some students has been inserted in the web versions of the English K-6 and English Stage 6 Syllabuses.

English K-6

The following statement is now located on page 5 of the English K-6 Syllabus:

'Some students with special education needs communicate
through a variety of verbal or nonverbal communication systems or techniques. It is important to take account of the individual communication strategies used by students within the context of the English K-6 Syllabus.'

English Stage 6

The following statement is now located on page 6 of the English Stage 6 Syllabus:

'Some students with special education needs communicate through a variety of verbal or nonverbal communication systems or techniques. It is important to take account of the individual communication strategies used by students within the context of the English Stage 6 Syllabus.'

Effective: Immediately

Contact:

Don Carter
Inspector, English
(02) 9367 8276
don.carter@bos.nsw.edu.au

Susan Jones
Senior Curriculum Officer, Special Education
(02) 9367 8148
susan.jones@bos.nsw.edu.au

Board Bulletin (Vol 16 No 4)

The evaluation of the Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus has sought widespread input from primary and secondary students, teachers, parent bodies, community groups, professional bodies, education and industry experts and members of the public.

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