Student Wellbeing
A Great Start to the Year – The Art and Science of Teaching at Greenhills
We have had a fantastic start to the school year at Greenhills, with students settling quickly into learning and daily routines. A key focus during the first weeks of Term 1 has been explicitly teaching expectations and classroom routines to support a calm, orderly and positive learning environment for all students. We teach this every day with it being a major focus of our ‘Get Set and Connect’ start up program.
At Greenhills, we believe that high-quality teaching is both an art and a science. The science comes from research-based strategies that we know make a difference to student learning and behaviour. The art lies in how our teachers bring these strategies to life through strong relationships, professional judgement and responsiveness to individual student needs.
Building Routines and their importance
Across all classrooms, teachers have been focusing on establishing clear routines and procedures. These include entry and exit routines, lining up, transitions between learning tasks, attention signals and packing up at the end of the day. When routines are clear and consistent, students are able to move smoothly through their day, maximise learning time and feel safe and confident in their environment.
Explicitly teaching routines:
- Reduces cognitive load so students can focus on learning
- Minimises disruptions and supports calm transitions
- Builds independence, confidence and student agency
- Creates predictable and safe classroom environments
Teaching Expected Behaviours
Another strong focus has been teaching expected behaviours using our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework. Students have been learning what it means to be Kind, Responsible and Safe in different settings around the school, including classrooms, playgrounds and shared spaces.
Teachers have used explicit instruction, modelling, discussion and practice to support students to understand:
- What positive behaviour looks like
- Why it matters
- How it helps everyone learn and feel safe
By teaching expectations clearly and positively, we build shared understandings and create consistent experiences for students across the whole school.
Relationships at the Heart of Learning
Strong, respectful relationships are central to everything we do. Teachers invest time in getting to know students, building trust and creating classrooms where students feel valued, respected and supported. These relationships, combined with high expectations and clear routines, allows students to thrive both academically and socially.
How you can help at home
Families play a vital role in reinforcing these messages at home. You can support your child by talking about school expectations, encouraging positive behaviour, and discussing the importance of being kind, responsible and safe. Simple routines such as consistent morning and evening schedules, preparing school items the night before, and talking positively about learning can make a big difference. We also encourage families to celebrate effort, resilience and positive choices, and to communicate openly with teachers if any concerns arise. Working together helps create consistency between home and school and supports every child to have a successful and confident start to the year.
Janine Hough Brad Ryan
janine.hough@education.vic.gov.au Bradley.Ryan@education.vic.gov.au
