ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NEWS
Anxiety involves feelings of worry or fear about potential negative outcomes, accompanied by physical reactions like 'butterflies in the stomach' and behaviors such as avoiding anxiety triggers or seeking excessive reassurance. These emotions are natural however helping your child manage anxiety can significantly improve their well-being. There are ways to support your child if you notice an increase in anxiety behaviours.
Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings. Listen attentively and validate their emotions without judgment, reassuring them that anxiety is a natural experience.
Routine and Predictability: Establishing a consistent daily routine can provide a sense of security and reduce anxiety. Include regular times for meals, homework, play, and bedtime.
Relaxation Techniques: Teach your child simple relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness exercises. Practicing these techniques regularly can help them manage anxiety in stressful situations.
Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and praise your child's efforts to cope with anxiety. Celebrate small successes and milestones to build their confidence and resilience.
Modeling Calm Behavior: Children often learn by observing their parents. Demonstrate calm and positive ways to handle stress and anxiety in your own life, setting a good example for your child.
Professional Support: If your child's anxiety seems overwhelming or persistent, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. Therapists can provide additional strategies and support tailored to your child's needs.
Find more useful information at the Raising Children - The Australian Parenting Website
Stages of learning in Primary Schools
In primary schools, following the NSW (New South Wales) curriculum, education is structured into stages that correspond with key developmental periods in a child's learning journey. These stages provide a framework for organising teaching and learning activities, assessment, and curriculum content. The following outline how the stages correspond to grades and learning.
Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten): Early Stage 1, corresponds to Kindergarten and marks the beginning of formal schooling. It focuses on foundational skills development, including literacy, numeracy, socialisation, and emotional development. Students engage in play-based learning experiences designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and independence.
Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2): Stage 1 encompasses Years 1 and 2 and builds upon the foundational skills established in Early Stage 1. Students continue to develop their literacy and numeracy skills while exploring a broader range of subjects, including religion, science, history, geography, and creative arts in more depth. Instruction builds on academic competencies and independence.
Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4): Stage 2 spans Years 3 and 4, where students now consolidate their foundational literacy and numeracy skills and begin to engage in more complex learning tasks. They delve deeper into subject areas such as English, mathematics, science, history, geography, and technology. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration become increasingly important as students prepare for more challenging academic endeavors.
Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6): Stage 3 encompasses the final years of primary school, Years 5 and 6. During this stage, students refine their literacy and numeracy skills to a higher level of proficiency. They develop a deeper understanding of key concepts across various subjects.
Throughout each stage, the NSW curriculum provides a comprehensive framework that guides teaching and learning activities across all subject areas. Teachers utilise a range of resources, instructional strategies, and assessment methods to support student learning and monitor progress. Additionally, the curriculum emphasises the development of key competencies, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, to prepare students for success in both academic and real-world contexts.