Our Academic Curriculum
We recognise that everyone has individual strengths and learns in different ways.
Matahui follows a student-centred, conceptual and contextual teaching and learning approach to core academic subjects. Math, Science, Technology, Reading & Writing.
Our Academic Approach
Our method of teaching primary school Math, Science and Technology, Social Science, Literacy, Reading and Writing focuses on each child’s natural development of knowledge.
Student-Centred Academic Learning
Our teachers use a range of multisensory teaching methods to teach core subjects to cater to different learning styles, and make it feel less like instruction and more like hands-on fun.
Our educators focus on the students’ needs and interests and what motivates them to learn. This creates relevant, real-world meaning for our tamariki and encourages individual thought and problem-solving.
Years 0 – 2 (Kowhai Class)
Our junior programme focuses on the natural development of a human being, integrated with the beginnings of academic learning. Children are allowed to develop at their own pace and focus on their individual interests.
Years 3 – 4 (Nikau Class)
Years 5 – 8 (Pohutukawa & Kauri Class)
Our Year 5 – 8 programme focuses on deepening our students’ academic learning while expanding their opportunities for personal growth, responsibility, and leadership.
Science, Technology and Social Science
Matahui uses a concept-based inquiry approach to learning science, technology design, social sciences, and health. Conceptually based inquiry learning engages students by making real-world connections through exploration and questioning. It encourages students to engage in problem-solving and experiential learning.
Our students receive specialist science education every week, and we subscribe to the House of Science kits, which teachers use based on that week’s inquiry. It can be integrated into other curriculum areas such as Math and literacy.
Mathematics
We use the Singapore Mathematics curriculum, which is a programme that allows teachers to differentiate and individualise learning based on a student’s specific needs and strengths.
The curriculum focuses on understanding the math problem, not just the recall of facts or reproduction of procedures. Only with understanding can students apply mathematical reasoning to solve a range of problems.
We also teach Math, Science, Engineering, and technology in other ways, i.e., cooking, hands-on exploration and play, fun science experiments, and by attending local events such as the EPro8. Challenge.
Literacy
For our junior students, we slowly develop their exposure to beginning words and sounds, without overwhelming them with multiple concepts. The class uses 1 or 2 books per week to develop exposure and learn to decode and understand text through repetition. We read books in our fluency boxes, and the teacher may send books home to help develop confidence. We build dictation through phonics, poetry, rhyming, and singing; and break down words for spelling to help them understand the sounds, how they are formed in the mouth and blend together. For our junior students, we keep it slow, build concrete foundations, and speed up at the right time.
From Year 3 upwards, our teachers create an individual plan for each student based on their needs and abilities. We follow a guided reading programme where students read aloud, discuss the story, language, and vocabulary of the book, and incorporate phonics, oral language, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students complete structured writing activities and learn to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their work. Students have an individual spelling programme, and learn about tone, vocabulary tools, grammar and punctuation in class.
Academic Opportunities
- Drama
- Languages
- ICAS Exam
- WBeet Math Competion
- EPro8
- Young Innovators Award
- Science Fair Regionals
- Interschool Problem Solving
- Interschool Speeches
- Future Problem Solving
Request a copy of our Prospectus