From Tim Campbell

Science of Learning at St Augustine’s College

What is the Science of Learning?

The Science of Learning is a comprehensive and broad range of research that includes linguistics, cognitive psychology, education and neuroscience. This empirically supported body of research provides us with the understanding of how people learn and the factors that contribute to success. 

St Augustine’s College Kyabram is proud to be a leading school in the area, embedding changes towards Structured Literacy in line with Science of Reading and High Impact Teaching Strategies. We have continued our journey in consultation with Emina McLean, a leading Australian Language and Literacy expert in this space, and Ryan Dunn (University of Melbourne) to continue to develop our Literacy teaching practice to support all students to learn to read at our College.

Our literacy approach identifies five essential components that make up the Simple View of Reading, which includes each of these components: 

• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension

Not only do our students love it and are engaged fully in their literacy practices, our results continue to improve in all areas of literacy.

If a child memorises ten words, the child can only read ten words, but if the child learns the sounds of ten letters, the child will be able to read 350 three sound words, 4,320 four sound words and 21,650 five sound words (Kozloff, 2002).

Open Day and Subject Selection Information evening

A reminder that in Week 6 we have our College Open Day and our Year 9-12 Subject Selection Information Evening. Both events are an opportunity to showcase the wonderful offerings we provide here at the College. We look forward to visitors coming to meet and greet our Executive Team and staff to learn about what we can offer here at St Augustine’s College. For more information, please refer to our advertisements, social media or feel free to contact the College.

The Term ahead

This Term we have a number of extra curricular activities for students in all year levels. I urge you to check our calendar of events to ensure your child is prepared and ready for action. If you need any support throughout the Term, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s TA.

Tim Campbell

Deputy Principal

Student Learning & Professional Practice