The Walker Learning Approach
“Regardless of the stage of age and development, all children (and adults) learn most effectively when there is hands-on, real life exposure to learning opportunities that are as personalised as possible and relate in meaningful and engaging ways to each particular child and their interests” Kathy Walker
St Liborius is proud to offer an exceptional student-centred education to our community using the Walker Learning Approach. The Walker Learning Approach is an evidence-based pedagogy based on theories of child development, behaviour and psychology. It has been developed according to those theories together with what is realistic and functional in the classroom, for children, teachers and parents. It is rigorous and successful at engaging children in real, relevant and meaningful learning.
Engaging and motivating
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Authentically personalised
‘Whole’ Child approach
Prep - Year 2 - Investigations
Year 3 - Year 6 - Personalised Learning
St Liborius' Beliefs about Learning
"Students require a mix of active investigation, research and some freedom to explore and construct learning based on their own interests alongside guidance, scaffolding, direction and instruction from their teachers." Kathy Walker 2011
The Benefits of the Walker Learning Approach for our Students
A smooth transition between Kinder and the Early Years of school
Deep and meaningful engagement with their learning and learning environment
Knowing the skills of literacy and numeracy are meaningful and useful parts of everyday life
More authentic opportunities to learn social skills, conflict resolution, problem-solving, decision making and independence
A genuine enjoyment of school and learning
Opportunities that reflect their own culture as well as to have exposure to new concepts and experiences
More authentic and frequent opportunities to have their learning personalised and to build skills of personal reflection, intention and evaluation early in school life
Learning needs met through a balanced mix of explicit instruction alongside active hands-on investigations
Rigorous implementation of the Walker Learning Approach
St Liborius is committed to the rigorous implementation of the Walker Learning Approach and philosophy towards learning. St Liborius annually hosts a Walker Learning Study Tour for educators from around Victoria to observe and learn about best practice in the approach. The school continues to host many local, national and international educators throughout the year to demonstrate how the philosophy to learning is embedded as a whole school approach offering our learners continuity and a common understanding about learning from Prep through to Year 6. Please see below some images demonstrating the rigour in which the approach is implemented at St Liborius Primary School.
The Communication Board
Every class across the school has a Communication Board which varies depending on the age and stage of development of the students in the year level.
In the Prep and Year 1/2 Classrooms, the Communication Board is primarily used to communicate to families about the learning intentions for the fortnight. One of the school's key documents to communicate the learning to parents and families is the Statement of Intent, which is emailed to families fortnightly and available to view in the learning environment on the Communication Board in addition to other key documents.
The Statement of Intent
The Statement of Intent is a document used to communicate the learning for the fortnight to parents and families. It is emailed to families every fortnight and available to see on the Communication Board.
Across the school, the teachers plan for this by discerning together over each key element including the Developmental Domains inclusive of Social, Emotional, Cognitive, Language and Physical development, Core Subject learning intentions inclusive of Reading, Writing, Maths, Religion as well as documenting additional aspects of learning across the fortnight.
This document allows for clear communication about learning between home and school and further reinforces a strong partnership between family and teacher.
Prep Statement of Intent - Term 1 2020 Week 3_4.pdf
Developmental Domains
The Developmental Domains are planned for fortnightly. Teachers reflect on their class of children, where they are at currently and where they need to progress to next and the supports needed to be put in place for this learning happen.
These developmental goals are displayed inside the classroom and explicitly taught and embedded in the learning for the fortnight.
Teachers make observations about student learning in regards to the domains and report on these twice yearly in the formal written report in addition to the students' core learning subject progression. Student development is also discussed during Parent Teacher Student Conferences twice yearly also.
The Learning Environment
The learning environment is set up intentionally to support current learning intentions. It creates open-ended learning experiences as well as promotes a sense of authentic choice. The learning space supports the consolidation of new skills in development, literacy and numeracy in real, relevant and authentic ways. Children can see the purpose of learning provocations and resources in their environment and how these can be linked back to the formal teaching of the day. In our Prep and Year 1/2 classes, the learning areas must include Dramatic Play, Sensory, Collage, Writing, Reading, Construction, Science/Nature, Tinkering, Numeracy Resource and Religion Resource. All of these areas foster and enhance the children's learning in a personalised and open-ended way during Investigations.
Construction
Dramatic Play
Numeracy Resource
“Childhood is filled with natural wonder and curiosity. The learning environment must reflect a classroom that inspires a sense of wanting to investigate to find out and to explore” Kathy Walker
Please find a copy of our Walker Learning information booklet, which is also included in our Enrolment Packs.
We'd love to show you the Walker Learning Approach in action from Prep through to Year 6 and how the pedagogy compliments learning at St Liborius Primary School.
WLA Booklet.pdf