English
Reading and Writing
Reading and writing are language-based skills that build on oral language development. This strong link to oral language can make progress slower for students with Developmental Language Disorder. They require a more targeted, explicit, intense intervention program. At the West Coast Language Development Centre, we have an evidence based, school wide approach to the teaching of reading and writing. This begins with an explicit focus on Phonemic Awareness and Phonics. Phonemic Awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate the sounds in words. Phonics involves matching the sounds of spoken English to individual or groups of letters. From Pre-Primary teachers use the “Sounds Write” program alongside their explicit classroom instruction to develop phonics skills.
How do we support students with DLD to read and write?
- Providing systematic and explicit instruction, using evidence-based practice and programs
- Lots of demonstration of how to do the process.
- Lots of opportunities for practise
- Lots of encouragement for having a go
Mathematics
At the West Coast Language Development Centre, Maths is an important part of the program. Teachers follow the WA Curriculum, adapted to individual student needs, to plan student learning programs in Maths. Programs are evidence-based and a focus is on teaching the critical skills to enable children to become successful lifelong mathematical learners.
Areas in Maths include number, patterning, measurement and geometry. Students learn key language, understandings and skills through explicit teaching and the use of hands-on materials. Children with developmental language disorder are likely to find the language demands of many maths tasks challenging. Staff teach key mathematical vocabulary to support students to become competent users of the language of maths.
Maths resources are used to meet the needs of each child. Classrooms contain a number of resources, many of which are developed by Dr Paul Swan. These include manipulatives, board games, dice, cards, puzzles and barrier games.
Dr Paul SwanThere is the opportunity for parent involvement and learning through an annual Maths classroom learning journey. Parents are invited into their child’s classroom for a session to participate in a range of Maths tasks with their child. The learning journeys enable the parents to gain an understanding of important Maths concepts and skills that are targeted at the LDC, and types of activities that help children develop these.
Science and HaSS
At West Coast Language Development Centre Science and HASS are taught based on the Western Australian Curriculum and Kindergarten Guidelines. There is a focus on teaching students through Inquiry-based learning, to enhance their engagement and support their oral language development. Science and HASS have a large focus on vocabulary development as the curriculum uses content specific language in both areas.
Health
I Do It!
The ‘I Do It!’ program creates a fictional environment or virtual world called ‘I Do It!’ park where there are many places designed for learning the social and self-management skills we need for school and to enhance day to day interactions.
Through the interactive nature of the program children can develop and/or feel more positive and successful about themselves, which in turn helps them to improve or make gains academically, behaviourally, and socially, leading to them to being more well-adjusted adults.
I Do it Order FormPhysical Education
Our physical education program follows the Western Australian curriculum, with a key focus on fundamental movement skills. Students participate in weekly formal sports lessons, in addition to opportunities for movement and skill development being woven throughout the school day.