Learning and Teaching News

Parent Mathematics Night - Tuesday 6th June 2023

Join us, to learn how we teach and how students learn Mathematics. 

Mathematics is taught and learnt very differently from how you were most likely taught.

Number talks, problem solving, reasoning, open ended and challenging tasks, are all features of today's Maths lessons.

This information night will provide you with some ideas about how you can support your child in developing their mathematical skills at home. 

As you are learning in the hall with Mathematics expert Michael Minas, your child will be playing mathematical games in their classrooms. We would love to see as many parents/carers and students as possible. 

Please refer to the attached flyer for more information. 

Spotlight on Learning

This week in 1/2C the students have been writing persuasive texts. The purpose of persuasive texts is to convince, motivate, or move readers toward a certain point of view, or opinion. The 1/2 students are so proud of their writing and would like to share some of their texts with you. When reading the writing, ask yourself did this piece of writing convince me to change my point of view or opinion. 

Reporting on Student Progress and Achievement

Communicating student progress and growth, as well as challenges, is an important part of the education process.

Here at St Martins we provide a formal and consistent process through which to do this.

Written reports are provided twice a year; at the end of Semester One and again at the end of Semester Two.

To support the Semester One written reports,  compulsory learning conversations take place.

These are three way learning conversations and involve a 15 minute focussed discussion between the student, their teacher and their parent/carer.

Three-way conferences are designed to achieve the following goals:

• to help students demonstrate evidence of their learning
• articulate how to move their learning forward 
• to teach students the process of reflection and self-evaluation
• to facilitate the development of students' organisational and oral communication skills and to increase their self-confidence
• to encourage students, parents, and teachers to engage in open and honest dialogue
• to encourage students to accept personal responsibility for their learning
• to increase parent understanding of their child’s learning through improving attendance at and satisfaction with the reporting process.

Three way learning conversations place the most important person at the centre - the student. Teachers work with students before the conversations to support them in leading the conversation. 

Some examples of the questions prompts used during the conversation include:

• As a learner, what are you most proud of and why? 
• What do you still need help with next semester to move your learning forward? 
• How can we make that into a goal for next semester?
• (Prep) What has been the best thing at school? 
• What can you make, say, do or write now that you couldn't before starting Prep? 

Save the date for a three way learning conversation - Thursday 22nd June between 3:30pm and 7:30pm and Friday 23rd June between 8:30am and 1pm. 

Students taught by Caoimhe, Shaun and Simone will be offered different days and times as these teachers will be on leave on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd June.

The following outlines the days and times that will be offered on school interviews for a learning conversation with these teachers.

All other teachers will facilitate their learning conversations Thursday 22nd June between 3:30pm and 7:30pm and Friday 23rd June between 8:30am and 1pm. 

If you participate in a Program Support Group (PSG) meeting a meeting day and time will be booked by Chiara our Learning Diversity Leader. During the meeting, your child will be invited to lead the conversation for about 10 minutes of the meeting time. You are not required to make an additional meeting time as your child's class teacher will be part of the PSG.

Bookings will be made via School Interviews and will OPEN at 4pm on Monday June 5th using the link or QR code below.

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/9cuuk

Elise Coghlan

Co-Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader

Denise Kelly

Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader