Curriculum and Pedagogy

Welcome Back

There is no doubt that teachers are looking forward to welcoming students back to school next week. Among the things we have missed are the opportunities for incidental conversations around the College grounds, being able to respond with spontaneous delight when hard-work results in a breakthrough in understanding, or seeing students collaborate in real life, rather than a Zoom breakout room.

Teachers have carefully monitored student engagement and completion of tasks, during Learning@Home and the unprecedented level of responsibility that students of all ages have had to demonstrate, is worth both celebrating and harnessing.

A Time of Transition

While a return to classroom learning is welcome in many ways, we are very aware that this is another period of transition and our students will need time and space to readjust to a return to school-based learning. We all learn by thinking about, and reflecting on, things we have experienced and done in our lives and opportunities for students to reflect will be an important part of the initial transition back into the classroom.

Teachers as Learners

It is not only students who have had to learn to do things differently. This has been a period of intense learning for teachers whose energies have been focused on the technical skills required for online delivery, the design and clear communication of differentiated learning, providing encouragement and feedback, and supporting student wellbeing during remote learning. We too will be taking the time to reflect on what we have learnt and how this learning will inform future teaching practices. Student and parent feedback will play an important role in this reflection.

Thank you

The partnership between school and home has never been more important than during Learning@Home and we know it will continue to be so as we transition back to the classroom. We appreciate your feedback and your support during this time.

Valery Kullrich and Julia O'Rourke

Co-Directors of Teaching and Learning