A Look at Learning

Welcome Back to Term 3!

Dear Parents and Families,

We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break and are ready for an exciting Term 3! As we begin this new term, we look forward to continuing to support your child’s learning journey with enthusiasm and care.

A non negotiable that will be a continuous focus this term is our uninterrupted 2-hour literacy block. This dedicated time allows students to engage deeply with essential literacy skills, reading, writing, and spelling, without distractions, providing a solid foundation for academic success.

During this literacy block, teachers implement a research-based teaching approach known as the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR). This method supports students as they move from depending on the teacher to becoming independent and confident learners.

The Gradual Release of Responsibility unfolds in four stages:

1. “I Do” – Teacher Modeling: The teacher demonstrates a specific literacy skill or strategy. For example, when focusing on reading, the teacher might model how to use context clues to figure out unfamiliar words. In writing, the teacher could show how to plan and organise ideas before drafting a paragraph. For spelling, the teacher might demonstrate how to identify common patterns or rules in words.
2. “We Do” – Guided Practice: Students practice the skill together with teacher support. For reading, this could involve reading a passage aloud with the teacher and discussing vocabulary or comprehension strategies. In writing, students might collaboratively compose sentences using the modeled planning strategy. For spelling, students could work through word sorts or games that highlight spelling patterns.
3. “You Do Together” – Collaborative Learning: Students work in pairs or small groups to deepen their understanding. They might read and discuss a short story together, co-write a paragraph, or quiz each other on spelling words. This peer interaction builds confidence and encourages active learning.
4. “You Do Alone” – Independent Practice: Finally, students apply the skill on their own, demonstrating mastery. This might be reading independently and answering comprehension questions, writing their own paragraphs, or completing spelling exercises.

Why is this approach so effective? The Gradual Release of Responsibility aligns with how children naturally learn new skills. By first observing, then practicing with support, and finally working independently, students build mastery step-by-step. This reduces frustration, boosts motivation, and helps every student progress at their own pace.

When paired with an uninterrupted literacy block, this method ensures students have the focused time they need to develop strong reading, writing, and spelling skills—skills that are critical not only for literacy but for success across all learning areas.

We appreciate your ongoing support in valuing this focused learning time and encouraging your child’s literacy growth at home. Together, we can help every student thrive this term and beyond.

Thank you for being an important part of our learning community. Here’s to a fantastic Term 3!