Active Engagement.

Active Engagement:                                                     Setting Students Up for Success at St. Joseph’s

At St. Joseph’s, we know that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their learning. That’s why our classrooms have well-established engagement norms and routines that ensure every child is ready to learn and remains involved throughout each lesson. These strategies are not just about participation; they are carefully designed to maximise student thinking, deepen understanding, and build confidence in learning.

Our engagement norms include the use of mini whiteboards, choral response, pair shares, thumbs up/thumbs down, and multiple-choice questioning. These strategies ensure that every student is responding every few minutes, whether verbally or in writing, keeping them focused and reinforcing key concepts. Research shows that active participation improves retention and understanding, as students are constantly retrieving and applying knowledge rather than passively absorbing information.

The importance of engagement in learning continues to be highlighted in educational research. MACS is currently in the process of launching Vision for Engagement, following the rollout of Vision for Instruction in February 2024. Both of these frameworks are based on best-practice research into how students learn effectively. At St. Joseph’s, we are proud to be ahead of the curve, having embedded engagement norms in our classrooms for several years. Our proactive approach to implementing research-backed teaching methods reflects our commitment to excellence in education and our dedication to student success.

Through our focus on engagement, we are ensuring that every lesson is purposeful, every student is actively involved, and every learning opportunity is maximised. 

Dean Butler

Deputy Principal