Structured Literacy:

In Panitahi we follow a Structured Literacy approach for the teaching of Reading, Writing, Handwriting and Spelling. Structured Literacy focuses on 'phonemic and phonological awareness, and alphabet knowledge' which provides our tamariki with the skills they need to read, spell and write with confidence. Phonological awareness relates to the tamariki's capability to make/break words, identify how many sounds in them and where they are. It also allows tamariki to identify how many words in a sentence, syllables in a word, how to hear and produce rhyme and delete/substitute sounds. The tamariki are also taught to recognise individual words, onset sounds, rime and both individual letter-sounds in a word and two or more letters that work together to make one sound. They learn to read using the Sunshine and Kākano decodable texts. Each day your child will bring home a book to read which practises the letters and sounds that have been taught at school. Thank you for supporting your child on their reading journey!

Cross-country (Term 3) 

This term we have our Cross-Country. This is a very important time where we can create goals for ourselves and understand how to work hard to achieve these. It is important that we have a growth mindset and know we are competing with ourselves, not each other and we only get what we put into it! Ka eke toku pai - doing our individual best. 

We are also noticing the benefits it has on Taha Tinana (physical health) and Taha Hinengaro (emotional health) which ties into our first half of term 3 inquiry focus; Hauora. Check out some of our amazing goals!