At St. Francis de Sales, we value high quality explicit teaching and learning practices that are consistent across the school. Our pedagogy is personalised in response to the learning needs of each student and is informed by current research.
The Victorian Curriculum informs the learning sequence at St Francis de Sales and our teaching approach is guided by MACS Vision for Instruction. The St Francis de Sales Instructional Framework seeks to maximise learning for all students. We embrace and cater for diversity, with the structures within our Instructional Framework enabling all students to access learning and support, and ensure success for all.
Our learning and teaching approach is consistent across the school and includes:
- Full Participation Tactics to ensure all students are actively engaged in a lesson, providing immediate feedback to the teacher.
- Checks for Understanding to verify if a student has grasped a concept
- Use of Key Retrieval Practices to improve long-term retention
Key teaching components used within our Framework:
Home Group Sessions:
The focus is on the teaching of strategies and content which is accessible to all students at different entry points in the learning continuum.
The groupings allow students to share different perspectives, and make connections with their learning and the real world.
Clinics:
Clinics are whole group explicit teaching sessions where knowledge and skills are sequentially taught to students. Skills are modelled by the teacher and explored together before being practiced individually.
I DO – WE DO – YOU DO
Students attend Clinics based on their next learning progression. Teachers use data and ongoing assessment along with Victorian Curriculum Version 2 to determine where to next in the student’s learning.
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Focus Groups:
In Focus Groups, teachers work with a small group of 2 to 6 students.
Data is used to target the teaching of a specific skill over a short period of time (2-3 weeks). These groupings are flexible and fluid providing learning support and extension for all students.
Learning Experiences:
Learning Experiences are provided so that students can consolidate and practice the explicit skills taught.
These learning experiences allow students to work independently, or with a partner/group to share and learn from each other.
Personal Goal Setting:
Students have personal goals in English and Mathematics. Each students has a regular goal conference session with their teacher.
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During these conferences the student reflects on their learning, shares evidence of their progress and their teacher provides them with personal feedback. Using the feedback the student continues to work on their goal, or if the goal has been achieved a new goal is set. Personal goals are a meaningful continuation of learning, as each student continues to work on their goals at home (homework) and at school. Personal goal setting develops vital study habits.
Teachers at St Francis de Sales, Lynbrook have a shared commitment to excellence and equity, delivering high-quality instructional practices that enable students to flourish and thrive.