Curriculum

                                                  

Explicit Teaching & Breaking Learning into Smaller Steps

Have you ever tried to learn a new skill all at once, such as driving a car, playing a musical instrument, or following a complicated recipe? Most people find it overwhelming. Learning works best when new information is presented in small, structured steps that build upon each other over time. Our brains have a limited capacity to process new information at any one moment. When too much information is introduced too quickly, students can become overloaded and important learning may be missed. By breaking learning into smaller chunks, teachers help students focus on the most important concepts, develop understanding, and build confidence before moving on to more complex tasks.

In our classrooms, teachers use explicit instruction to support and consolidate students learning. This typically involves:

• Clearly explaining what students will learn and why it is important.
• Modelling new skills and thinking processes.
• Working through examples together.
• Providing guided practice with support and feedback.
• Gradually releasing responsibility so students can apply their learning independently.

You may have heard this referred to as the "I Do, We Do, You Do" approach. Students first watch and learn from expert modelling, then practise with support, before demonstrating their understanding independently.

Why this works!

When students are taught in carefully sequenced steps, they are more likely to:

• Understand new concepts deeply.
• Retain important knowledge and skills.
• Experience success and build confidence.
• Apply their learning in new situations.
• Develop independence as learners.

Importantly, breaking learning into smaller steps does not mean lowering expectations. In fact, it is often how students successfully master complex and challenging concepts. Small steps help ensure that every student has the opportunity to experience success on the journey toward high achievement.

Support at Home:

You can reinforce this approach by:

• Encouraging your child to tackle one step at a time when faced with a challenging task.
• Asking them to explain their thinking as they work.
• Celebrating progress, not just completed outcomes.
• Reminding them that learning is a process and that understanding develops over time.

By explicitly teaching new concepts and carefully building learning step by step, we help students develop strong foundations, confidence, and the knowledge they need to succeed both now and into the future.

Semester 2 Reports

Reports will be published on Wednesday 16th December. If you are aware that your child/children are leaving the school in 2027, please be aware that you will have access to the report and previous reports up until Friday 18th December.