This course prepares students wishing to sit for Selective High and scholarship examinations who are looking for a challenging and stimulating approach to learning. This course builds on the skills and key concepts needed to prepare the student for optimum success. Weekly testing and mock exams are incorporated to enable the student to monitor their learning, improve examination techniques and become familiar with the style of questions asked. Includes comprehensive written report and feedback.

The curriculum is directly related to and in conjunction with the NSW Educational curriculum,

• Bloom’s Taxonomy Higher Level of Thinking
• Howard Gardner’s Intelligences
• Edward De Bono’s PMI which have been developed to enrich the Gifted and Talented child.

Through a variety of activities these concepts will be covered:

This course covers the following: -

Mathematical Thinking

The following concepts are explored in a multiple step problem solving context

• Number and Calculations
• Missing Numbers and Order of Operations
• Factors, Multiples and Reminders
• Patterns
• Temperature, Mass and Length
• Area and Volume
• Time, Distance and Speed
• Rates and Percentages
• Graphs
• Geometry and Shapes
• Problem Solving
• Application of Test Techniques

Thinking Skills

• Verbal reasoning
• Analogical Reasoning
• Literal/ Alphabetical Reasoning
• Numerical Reasoning
• Spatial Reasoning
• Application of Test Technique

Reading

• Understanding literary texts
  Questions relating to themes, characterisition, setting and atmosphere, plot feelings and attitudes and word meanings.
• Understanding factual texts
  Relating to the purpose the writer’s attitude word meanings, causes, reasons, consequences, arguments, similarities and differences
• Understanding poetic texts
  Concepts relating to the meaning of a word, a line, a stanza or the whole poem, imagery, metaphor and simile, symbolism, poetic devices, the persona of the poet and how the poet feel.
• Understanding visual texts
  Concepts relating to visual techniques ( angle or perspective, use of dark and light or shading, background and foreground, captions, exaggerated highlighted or emphasized elements, direction of eyes), connections between written or visual parts
• Application of test technique

Writing

• Narrative & Expository texts
• Text structure
• Text features
• Planning
• Editing
• Mechanics of writing – punctuation, sentence structure, language and word choice, literary devices, spelling unknown words and descriptive writing.
• Application of Test Technique – Time Management, Interpretation of Question, Planning and writing a full practice text.

Learning Outcomes:

The intended learning outcomes for this course is for the child to further develop:

• Vocabulary usage
• Written and non-written communication and expression
• Numerical vocabulary usage
• Verbal and Non Verbal reasoning
• Conceptual development
• Understanding abstract
• Problem solving strategies
• Independence in learning
• Test technique and confidence

Entry Requirements:

• Students currently in Year 5

If you wish to discuss your child’s individual needs or payment plan options please contact one of our educational specialists on 02 9580 7885 (Monday to Thursday 10am – 1 pm). For after-hours please leave a voice mail and you will be contacted the next working day.

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