Teaching and Learning News
SMDP is a visible learning school. This means we strive to prepare our students for a lifetime of learning by providing them with experiences that increase their ability to be effective and adaptable independent learners.
We believe that it is possible to teach in a way that all students have positive learning growth each year and develop positive, empowering attitudes toward learning itself.
Learning dispositions are frequent and voluntary habits of thinking and doing.
We have identified and defined six essential learning dispositions we believe are necessary for our St Martin’s learners to be high performing.
They are:
resilience, reflection, creativity, curiosity, motivation and collaboration.
We refer to them as learning powers and explore these dispositions with students and work to ensure a shared language around what each looks like and sounds like in learning.
These powers are key dispositions our learners need to develop and draw upon to be successful, lifelong learners. These are the skills, habits and attitudes that we nurture and use each day at school.
We acknowledge and celebrate students in our weekly whole school assembly who have demonstrated these dispositions.
An essential part of each and every one of our learning powers is a growth mindset.
Growth mindset
We approach each year with the belief that all of our students are capable of learning and growth and we want them and you to have the same attitude and approach.
What is a growth mindset? It is the belief that intelligence and ability are not fixed traits. Rather, with effort and perseverance, in connection with strong pedagogy and high expectations, all students are capable of academic achievement.
The table below outlines the difference between a fixed mindset and growth mindset.
Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
Maths is not my thing | What am I missing? Could I try another strategy? |
This is too hard | This may take some time and effort |
I cannot make this any better | I can always improve so I will keep trying |
I made a mistake I give up | Mistakes help me learn what did I learn from this mistake |
Scores mean more than growth | Getting better and making growth is more important that getting a high grade |
I will never be that smart | I will need to work a little bit harder to understand. |
Brock, A (2016) The Growth Mindset Coach
Here are some things you can do to extend and promote a growth mindset at home:
- Encourage your child to take risks and tackle new challenges with an open mind
- Celebrate and value mistakes as learning opportunities. Talk positively about when you have made mistakes and what you learnt from this
- Praise your child for amount of effort they put into their learning rather than the ease that it takes for them to achieve something
- Emphasize times when your child has shown perseverance and effort in extracurricular activities.
Inquiry Units
Here's a reminder of the Inquiry topics being explored in each year level this term.
Prep
Hop, Skip, Step.Now We’re in Prep!
What makes a successful and happy community?
An inquiry into what it takes to belong to communities around us. We begin to identify and practise basic skills for including and working with others in groups.
Curriculum focus: Health and Wellbeing, Personal & Social Capability
Year 1/2
The Earth Does Not Belong To Us, We Belong to Earth.
What resources does our earth provide and how do we use them?
An inquiry into our earth, its resources and the need to care for it.
Curriculum focus: Science- Our Natural Earth, Sustainability
Year 3/4
How does technology influence our choices & wellbeing?
An Inquiry into the media and the techniques and tactics used to influence our choices and wellbeing.
Curriculum focus: Health & Wellbeing, Digital Technologies
Year 5/6
The Leader in Me.
An inquiry into leadership and the skills, qualities, traits and actions needed to be an effective leader.
Curriculum focus: Enterprise & Innovation, Personal & Social Capability
Denise Kelly
Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader
Elise Coghlan
Co - Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader