St John XXIII Primary School
Thomastown East
LEARNING & TEACHING
Teacher’s plan for whole class, small group and individual instruction as appropriate. Each activity provides the basis for focused teaching and student learning is matched to their needs, enabling them to experience success and develop into lifelong learners. Assessment is an important part of the teaching and learning cycle at St John XXIII.
We formally test each student in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening and Mathematics throughout the year using a variety of assessments. The information gathered is analysed by staff and students and then used to plan for future learning. We formally report to parents twice a year, assessing students using the Victorian Curriculum.
At St John XXIII Primary School we use Seesaw to communicate student learning, based on the Victorian Curriculum, with parents and guardians. Teachers communicate with parents on a regular basis to inform them of what their child is learning by sharing learning intentions and success criteria at the beginning of a new unit of work. Teachers regularly share Literacy, Maths and Religious Education posts to inform parents on their child's progression in those areas, based on learning intentions and success criteria. Parents and guardians are also able to comment on their child's learning using Seesaw which is visible to their child's teacher.
Skoolbag is used to communicate information, events and news to our St John XXIII community.
“When teachers see learning through the eyes of the student and students see themselves as their own teachers”
- Professor John Hattie
VISIBLE LEARNING
Visible Learning is the result of the research undertaken by Professor John Hattie to understand what provides the most success in learning. It is based on over 68,000 studies and 25 million students. John Hattie defines Visible Learners as students who can:
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Articulate what they are learning
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Explain the next steps in their learning
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Set learning goals
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Sees errors as opportunities for further learning
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Know what to do when they are stuck
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Seek feedback
Best practice is adopted and implemented throughout the curriculum to ensure that our students understand what they are learning and to take ownership of their progress.
As a staff and school community we have spent time actively discussing what the dispositions are that students need to be successful learners. We decided on the following characters and dispositions: Responsible Rob, Reflective Raj, Collaborative Cate, Inquisitive Izzy, Risk-taking Rex and Resilient Rose.
Students also need to know what they are learning, and what is needed in the task to make them successful. These are known as : Learning Intentions We are learning to... and Success Criteria I can...
We believe that our students can embrace learning challenges by developing a Growth Mindset which sets them on the road to reach even higher levels of achievement.
PREP INVESTIGATIONS
At St. John XXIII Primary School we offer a comprehensive and engaging range of learning experiences from Prep to Year 6. Our Prep to Year 2 students participate in Investigations four mornings a week, which enable them to explore in a variety of areas which include Science & Nature, Dramatic Play, Art, Literacy, Mathematics, Sensory, Construction, Tinkering and Religious Education. Experiences in these areas are linked to skills and Learning Intentions being addressed in the classroom and are often used as a springboard for explicit teaching throughout the day. The aim of investigations is to develop oral language and vocabulary in our younger students.
YEAR 1 - 6 INQUIRY
Our Year 1-6 students take part in an Inquiry based approach which involves students engaging with their learning and ultimately taking action for a personal inquiry. Inquiry units allow us to explore the curriculum in meaningful ways and provide a real life context for learning. It also allows for Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical, Intercultural and Personal and Social Capabilities to be embedded.