English & Mathematics

Essential Assessment

Essential Assessment is used in both literacy and numeracy classes as a point of need teaching tool for pre-assessment and post-assessment within each strand or substrand of the Victorian Curriculum. Used for pre-assessment, student results are compiled, providing teachers with each student's current achievement level and analysis of the achievement standards that has been understood and misunderstood for each student, group and class. The curriculum is differentiated within each sub-strand based on each assessment result and creates a tailored paper-based and online curriculum for each student, group and class. Post-assessment then identifies each student's new Victorian Curriculum achievement level, demonstrating the growth achieved by each student. Continued analysis of class and cohort data within each strand and sub-strand is provided by Essential Assessment along with guidance on the developed and potential Numeracy and Literacy progressions within each sub-element.

Fountas & Pinnell

Fountas & Pinnell is a system of reading levels developed by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. We use this system as a tool to assess students reading throughout the school year. It assesses accuracy and comprehension and guides teachers' curriculum planning for reading.

Leading Literacy

Mathematics at Home

Mathematics booklets are sent home for regular revision of familiar concepts. Students are awarded achievement certificates when they reach set milestones.

Reading at Home

Students are strongly encouraged to read at home. Students in Years P-6 will be expected to read at home regularly and make note of this in their reading diaries. Students are awarded achievement certificates when they reach set reading milestones.

Seven Steps to Writing Success

The Seven Steps is a unique system that chunks writing into seven main techniques. 1. Plan for Success, 2. Sizzling Starts, 3. Tightening Tension, 4. Dynamic Dialogue, 5.Show, Don't Tell, 6. Ban the Boring, 7. Exciting Endings. Seven Steps provides students with proven and fun techniques to use in their writing. All teachers of literacy at Lake Bolac College have been trained in this program, which has created common writing vocabulary across our school.

Spelling Mastery

Spelling Mastery is a six-level direct instruction series that teaches students dependable spelling skills by blending three approaches: the phonemic approach, the whole word approach and the morphemic approach. Each approach has advantages and possible disadvantages. Spelling Mastery is designed to maximize the advantages of each approach and minimize the disadvantages. This program is run on a weekly
basis, consisting of three 15 minute sessions.

Sounds Write

Sounds-Write is a quality first phonics program. Its purpose is to provide classroom professionals with a comprehensive system with which to teach reading, spelling and writing.

Lake Bolac College acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, the Djab Wurrung people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.