Teaching and Learning at Kyabram P-12 College
At Kyabram P-12 College, we believe the relationship between teaching and learning is fundamental to providing a holistic and meaningful education to all students. We know that by truly understanding how our students learn, we are able to plan for and deliver rich learning sequences which empower students to demonstrate their learning in a way that showcases their understanding. At Kyabram P-12 College, all years of schooling focus on nurturing students as lifelong learners, equipping them with the skills to live and thrive independently in the post-school world. Teachers consider the whole learner, building supportive teaching and learning relationships with all students and ensuring our teaching and learning programs allow for all students to achieve and succeed at their point of need.
During lessons, students are encouraged to set goals for their own learning, using the Ladder of Success displayed in every classroom and in their student planners. This ladder allows students to take ownership of their learning and supports them to self-assess their own achievement with a clear indication of what success looks like at each level.
P-6 Teaching and Learning
In years prep to six, each morning students engage in a literacy workshop. They work collaboratively, with their teacher and peers, to explore rich literature and apply strategies which help them to interpret texts and convey their own ideas, meaningfully. They draw on their prior knowledge and apply their new thinking to authentic scenarios, ensuring their language skills developing proficiently. Students and teachers discuss their thinking in depth, considering and building upon all perspectives in the classroom. They work together to identify learning goals and strive for growth during each session. Students are given choice and agency over their learning, making valuable decisions about the literature they consume, authentic tasks they complete and ways in which they demonstrate their understanding.
Adapting our workshop model to mathematics allows teaching and learning to occur in a rich, interactive and explorative way. Students are given ‘first dibs’ on their learning, showing their teachers what they already know. Teachers then respond to students’ prior knowledge, preconceived ideas and misconceptions to deliver responsive teaching and learning opportunities. A hands-on, open-ended approach is taken which allows students to experience learning at their level, engaging with the task as their own entry point. We are committed to developing the numeracy skills of our students to ensure they thrive in all real-life contexts. Students and teachers explore authentic tasks and apply problem solving strategies in robust ways. They consider a range of possibilities and justify their thinking along the way.
When planning for and delivering learning sequences, teachers develop clear learning goals accompanied by differentiated success criteria which clearly define the parameters of the task. Students climb our ladder of success, striving for growth each lesson. We celebrate all levels of success on our ladder as a means of consistently building upon our understanding. Students are able to clearly see where they’ve come from and where they’re heading, developing a strong growth mindset and positive regard for their talents and abilities.
7 - 12 Teaching and Learning
The basis of all learning in Years 7-12 is the Kyabram P-12 Instructional Model, which ensures that all lessons are focussed, supportive and targeted at the learning needs of students and the stage of knowledge and skill acquisition required. Every lesson has a strong beginning, middle and end. Students know the learning goal of each lesson and can set individual goals for their achievement, with opportunities at the end of reflection.
Lessons follow the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model, where teachers slowly release responsibility to learners as they are ready, ensuring a supportive and effective learning environment for all learners, whatever their learning needs. Encouraging student agency and choice is a key component of this model.
For any further information about the Teaching and Learning Philosophy at Kyabram P-12 College, please contact;
Natalie Parkinson – P-6 Teaching and Learning Leader: Natalie.Parkinson@education.vic.gov.au
Rowena Morris – 7-12 Teaching and Learning Leader: Rowena.Morris@education.vic.gov.au