Teaching & Learning  

The Department of Education (DET) Learning initiatives for 2025 have focussed on implementing the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0).  Our teachers have engaged in professional learning sessions to further enhance their understanding.  We are currently updating our teaching and learning programs to align with this new model, which is based on evidence of how students learn most effectively.    This year our Year P - 2 teams have ensured students build prior knowledge and learnt explicit vocabulary before reading a variety of picture books to develop comprehension.   

We also administered the new Victorian Year 1 Phonics Check this year.  This is a short screening assessment that informs teachers about how a student is progressing with phonics.  Our teachers have used this data for future planning.  

The Year  3 - 6 teams have done a deep dive into novels to challenge and extend their student's reading comprehension. Some favourites have been Matilda, Off we go around Australia, War horse and The Grandest Bookshop in the World.  

Another focus has been to build Daily Reviews into all lessons to move knowledge from short-term to long-term memory, build automaticity with foundational skills like literacy and numeracy, and check for understanding to inform future lessons. By quickly and repeatedly reviewing previously learned material, teachers can ensure students have a strong foundation before introducing new concepts, while also identifying knowledge gaps that need addressing.  both reading and numeracy lessons.

We have now implemented the new Victorian Curriculum 2.0 for all curriculum areas, including English, Maths, Science, The Arts, Physical Education and Health.  We are currently reviewing our English and Discovery Scope and Sequence for 2026.  

At PVN we are always on a continual journey of improvement and value feedback from our students, staff and parents.  I thank those who gave valuable feedback on our Learning Portfolios which were introduced mid year and we look forward to providing parents with further feedback and evidence of how their children are progressing next year.  These will continue to be sent home at the end of each term.

The year is not over yet with many weeks on learning planned.  We do ask that you continue to set expectations for homework with priority focus given to reading and practising the skills listed on the counting rubric. 

Ms McAlister