A message from Margie

Engaged

We have been continuing our work with students on learning how to be fully ENGAGED in their learning, as part of our term whole school Learn Stand Give Fly focus. This fortnight we have been looking more closely at goal-setting. Setting goals can help students to engage more in a task and keep them focused.

Do you know what goals your child has set for their learning? This week I interviewed students about their learning, asking questions such as Should learning be challenging?, Do you prefer work that is easier or more challenging and why? and What is your personal goal with this learning area? I always find students are eager to tell me about the goals they have set for themselves, and enjoy talking about their personal learning challenges and successes.

Do you have any goals you’ve set for yourself? It would be great to share these with your child this week so they can see that the adults in their lives also set goals. Could you share a success story from goals that you’ve set? What challenges did you have and how did you overcome these?

See our goal structure below, and consider setting a goal with your child.

Choose your big goal
Purpose: why do you want to achieve this goal?
Break your goal down into small steps: be specific, use the 3W (Who can help? What do I need to do? When do I need to do it?)
Obstacles: what are the obstacles? Plan for them, what can stand in your way? What negative thoughts might you have? Use perseverance and grit to achieve your goal.
Bonus step: write it down

Troy and I were talking about engagement this week and how well children to relate to a concept called the 'Learning Pit'. In my discussions with students about their learning, they almost always mention the Pit. Just today Dylan said about his learning, The deeper in the Pit the better! So what is the Learning Pit? Troy has explained it for you below:

Have you ever had that lightbulb moment where you have finally solved a problem? This is the experience we try and provide students every day. We use the analogy of the learning pit to help describe the learning journey for students. It allows students to understand how learning can provide multiple emotions from frustration and confusion to joy and elation. It illustrates how teachers and students work together to create goals and strategies which assist when working through challenges. This process assists students to discuss how they felt and to discuss the learning process. So, start having discussions at home with your children today. Where were you in the learning pit?

Learning Discussions

We will be holding Learning Discussions this term in week 9, March 28 - April 1 by Zoom. This will give you the opportunity to hear from your child's teacher about their work habits, learning challenges and strengths. It is also a great opportunity for teachers to learn more from you about your child. We organise Learning Discussions through an online platform, so keep your eye out for a SeeSaw message with details in the coming weeks.

Around the school today!

Assembly

Thank you for your patience with our Zoom assemblies! It is not perfect but we are pleased to be able to find creative ways to celebrate Specks of Gold certificates, SRC news and birthdays, amongst other things, while students are restricted to their own classrooms! Our assemblies take place every odd week Fridays 2:40-3:10pm. I will send the link on the day in case you are able to join us by Zoom.

Sustainability Fair

We are looking forward to the Uraidla Sustainability Fair taking place on March 20 (see Community Notices section). Suzie Tume has been working hard with the children to make art to display at the Fair from recycled items. Here are some of their items taking shape!

I often reflect on the wonderful learning opportunities provided to students. I congratulate our teachers on ensuring high quality learning activities and teaching methodologies - another example of engagement in the classroom.

Have a great fortnight until next time, everyone!

Margie