Principal Reflections
Dear Parents and Carers,
Parent Learning Walk - Infants - Mathematics
Parent and carer Learning Walks in schools are a powerful tool for fostering strong home-school partnerships and ultimately improving student outcomes. Learning Walks provide a "snapshot" of actual classroom learning, offering parents a deeper understanding of their child's educational experience.
Here are some ways that Learning Walks can demonstrate an impact:
# Support understanding of curriculum: Parents can gain insight into specific curriculum areas and how their child learns within that framework.
# Increased trust and communication: When parents witness the learning environment firsthand, it can build confidence in the school and its teachers. This can lead to more meaningful conversations and a shared understanding of student needs and goals.
# Improved parental engagement: Research consistently shows that parental engagement is a significant factor in student achievement. Learning Walks are a form of engagement that focuses on understanding the learning process itself, which can lead to more effective home-based support.
# Consistency in expectations: When parents understand classroom expectations and learning strategies, they can reinforce these at home, creating a more consistent learning environment for the child.
# Breaking down barriers: Learning Walks can help break down the perceived "wall" between home and school, creating a more collaborative and open environment.
It was wonderful to witness our Year 2 Leaders host our Parent Learning Walk at the Infants on Monday. Our student leaders were able to articulate the intention behind the walks clearly. Here is what our parents and carers said about their experience:
I noticed:
The students liked working on whiteboards and with physical objects to assist with learning. All classrooms were very engaged, calm and listening.
Students engaged with their learning, each other and those doing a walk-through.
Wonderful to see all students engaged, respectful to their learning and the learning of others.
The children were listening attentively. The children were working quietly in their groups.
The kids are engaging and listening to instructions well.
The students were quiet but attentive, even though in some rooms they were collaborating in small groups, the noise level was low.
The children work together, helping each other and checking each other's answers. Everyone is working collaboratively.
The children all seemed to be engaged in the learning and some were very excited to share their work and knowledge. It seemed a great experience for everyone.
Positive talk between the kids.
Ideas, solutions and suggestions. Very insightful.
The walls for maths. Different exercises. All kids are participating.
How much wonderful information was on the walls. Kids are very engaged. Great responses, especially where students can go for assistance.
Lots of different methods of teaching the same concept.
It was educational for myself as a parent to see how the kids learn addition on hands-on and fun ways.
Lots of concrete materials, as well as interactive materials like whiteboards.
Activities were student-led, not as many worksheets as I remember. Children using blocks/objects to assist in maths.
Amazing, I loved seeing the kids all learning the same thing but in different ways.
The amazing walls, and I loved the kindness wall.
Positive, open and active learning and very proud of Quinn as an infants leader.
One child asked for help very politely placing her hand in the air.
Great direction from their teachers and assistants.
Students working in various configurations, with differing levels of help from adults in the room.
1:1 interaction with the teacher was very good, with a higher number of teachers. Smaller groups of children were not lost. Happy kids. Kids felt comfortable to keep trying. Positive help for kids.
Lots of learning of teachers and EAs interacting.
Overall Positive Experience:
A very well-planned maths learning block in which the children were observed to be sitting and communicating well with each other.
A fantastic look behind the curtain at what St Ed's offers our children in terms of environment, academics and support.
Children leaving concrete materials aside and associate numbers to work out answers.
It was great!
Pleased to be invited, lovely to see Freyja's learning environment.
Children discussing their logic/working with each other.
This feedback is invaluable as we continue to strengthen our home-school partnerships and ensure the best possible learning experience for every child. Thank you to all who participated!
Thanks again for your support,
Keep smiling,
Alison Hatton
(Principal)