Topic Spotlight

Teaching & Learning at BPS

2025 presents an outstanding opportunity for Beaumaris Primary School to further develop the Teaching and Learning practices for our students. 

In 2024, we reviewed our practice against the Victorian Government’s Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0. Alongside this review, we spoke extensively to students and staff to find out how we can improve Teaching and Learning for our students. The reflection and feedback from our students and staff has lead to the creation of the Beaumaris Primary School Explicit Teaching Instructional Sequence. This sequence is underpinned by a rich research base, with a central focus on the Learning Environment.

You could ask your child about the learning they do at the beginning of each day. They may share what is it focused on, how each day builds upon the previous lesson and in particular, how skills are scaffolded for difficult tasks. This year, you will hear students talk about the different line up routines and bell times, with a changed learning block structure. 

Our school is focused on consistency for all students and classes, ensuring all students are challenged and engaged. Some of the elements of our Teaching and Learning Instructional Sequence include:

Direct Instruction

Direct Instruction is a teaching method where the teacher delivers lessons in a clear, structured way. The focus is on providing explicit instruction, breaking down the material step-by-step, and guiding students through each part of the learning process.

Here’s what makes Direct Instruction effective:

1. Clear Objectives: The teacher sets specific learning goals for the lesson, so students know exactly what they are expected to achieve.
2. Explicit Teaching: The teacher provides straightforward explanations and demonstrates examples, ensuring that students understand the material before moving on.
3. Active Teacher Role: The teacher manages the pace of the lesson and keeps things moving, ensuring that students stay focused and engaged.
4. Immediate Feedback: The teacher regularly checks students' understanding and provides feedback straight away to correct mistakes and reinforce learning.
5. Practice: Students are given opportunities to practise what they’ve learned, often through exercises or activities designed to reinforce key concepts.
6. Progress Monitoring: Teachers frequently assess students’ progress to make sure they’re mastering the content.

A key feature of Direct Instruction is the use of tools like mini whiteboards. These are often used in class to encourage active participation. Students can write their answers on the whiteboards and hold them up, allowing the teacher to quickly see who understands the material and who might need extra help.

Our staff have and are continuing to learn about Cognitive Load Theory.

Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory explains how our brains process information when we're learning. It suggests that we can only handle a certain amount of information at once, so if we try to learn too much or if the material is too complicated, it can overwhelm us and make it harder to understand. There are three types of cognitive load: intrinsic load (how difficult the material is), extraneous load (distractions or unnecessary details), and germane load (the mental effort we put into understanding the material). To improve learning and enhance understanding, it's important to focus on the most important information, avoid distractions, and break down tough concepts into smaller, easier chunks. This helps keep our brains from getting overloaded and makes learning more effective.

Finally, a core part of our practice is based on Rosenshine’s 10 Principles of Instruction

Rosenshine's 10 Principles of Instruction are evidence-based strategies designed to improve how teachers teach and how students learn. These principles emphasise the importance of clear explanations, active engagement, and consistent practice. Key ideas include reviewing prior knowledge at the start of lessons, breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps, and providing opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned. Teachers give timely feedback, ask questions to ensure understanding, and incorporate various tasks to keep students engaged. The goal of these principles is to make learning more effective and help students retain information.

We have already had significant feedback from students that they are enjoying the knowledge rich curriculum. I encourage all parents to ask their child about their learning experience at Beaumaris Primary School!

David Tapp

Principal