Teaching and Learning

There are nine key principles:

Climate

• A purposeful learning environment is established through clear behavioural expectations and well-defined systems.
• Routines are understood by students and reinforced by the teacher.

Challenge

• A high level of challenge is set for all students regardless of background or prior attainment.
• Challenge is set above students' current level but not too far-reaching that they are disengaged.

Explanation

• Knowledgeable explanations are at the heart of the lesson.
• Well crafted explanations create an enthusiasm for the topic and provide students with a clear understanding of difficult ideas and concepts.

Modelling

• The modelling process is used to help students understand the steps experts take in producing outstanding outcomes.
• Exemplary work is deconstructed to help students learn about how smaller parts create a larger whole.

Support

• Different types of support are used to help all learners reach the same learning goals.
• Differentiation is used to provide support where necessary.

Questioning

• Higher and lower order questioning is used effectively.
• Closed, factual questions are used to build/test students' level of understanding and open-ended questioning extends understanding and promotes discussion

Assessment

• Diagnostic assessment is used to identify students’ current knowledge of a subject, skills and capabilities before teaching takes place.
• Formative assessment provides feedback and information during the learning process.
• Summative assessment takes place after the learning has been completed and provides information and feedback that is used to self-assess the teaching and learning process.

Feedback

• Feedback on students' work provides information on how to close the gap between current level of understanding/performance and the desired learning goal/outcome.

Learners

• Students are well-motivated and engaged.
• Outcomes are positive and demonstrate progress over time.

Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning -

Ms L Hall - lhall@hillsviewacademy.org