From the Principal

From the Principal

During the Primary Assembly this week, some of our Year 6 students challenged Mr Richardson, Mr Scott and I to some Maths questions, using what they had been learning about BODMAS. When we found out earlier in the day that we would be asked to complete these questions in front of an audience, I think all of us became a little nervous. All of us are reasonably confident in our mathematical knowledge and skills but it was the pressure to perform under time pressure and with others watching that made the context different.

 

A concept I was introduced to many years ago that I still draw upon is that of ‘learning mode’ and ‘performance mode’. Most classroom learning activities are conducted in ‘learning mode’. The emphasis is on the development of knowledge and skills. Our teachers work to keep the classroom as a safe environment where everyone is working to learn and develop, building on from where they are in their journey up to this point in time. One classroom I walked into recently had the acronym, FAIL (First Attempt in Learning) on the board. Mistakes are a normal part of the learning process. They are an indicator that we don’t have it sorted yet.

 

The aim of any learning is not recall. It is to be able to use knowledge and skills, to be able to apply learning to a wide range of contexts. Whenever possible, teachers aim to design assessments to provide an opportunity for students to use their learning in new ways. Sometimes this comes with a sense of added pressure, not just because they may be graded but because the context of the assessment pushes them out of their comfort zone. One that many students struggle with in particular is oral presentations. It is common for Secondary students to feel nervous if asked to present in front of their peers.

 

This is the shift from learning mode to performance mode. With it comes the feelings that Mr Richardson, Mr Scott and I experienced yesterday as we stood there completing multi-step computation questions in front of the primary school. Part of the challenge is for students to learn to manage the feelings associated with situations that involve increased pressure, to be able to recognise and name the emotions that come when we are in a new or challenging situation and how to apply strategies to calm and focus ourselves. At the same time, they are in an environment where they are safe and supported. If one of us got an answer wrong yesterday, it may have been a little embarrassing but I am sure there was no real threat. I hope our students can also feel that there will always be support in place as they navigate new experiences.

 

CSA State Conference 

On our Staff Day at the start of Term 3 (22 July), SCC is hosting the CSA State Conference. We will have representatives from a number of schools come to join us for a focus on supporting young people through the important process of identity formation. Our staff team is looking forward to a day with some inspiring presentations and practical workshops.

 

Any parents who are educators who would be interested in attending, please contact Anita Wilson (anita.wilson@scc.tas.edu.au) by the start of next week and we would be happy to arrange a ticket for you.

 

Jodie Bennett

Principal