The learning culture at Trinity is one that focuses on teaching to the individual needs of each child, where the children are encouraged to take the ‘next step’ in their learning.
At Trinity, we believe that:
- there is diversity in any learning community and we acknowledge multiple pathways for learning
- learners need to engage in meaningful, relevant tasks
- learners need scaffolding to support their learning
- learners need planned, regular opportunities to have processes explicitly modelled to them; engage in processes with an expert guide and to engage in the processes independently (practice): TO: WITH: BY.
- learners need quality feedback
- learners need to be involved in decision-making and making judgements about the quality of their learning
- there are significant milestones/evidences of growth in the learner, which informs teaching
- involvement of parents and communication with them is critical for successful teaching and learning.
At Trinity, we understand that the three areas which really make a difference to student learning outcomes (that is, which enhance effective teaching), are:
- Focused teaching based on the needs of the children
- High expectations
- Uninterrupted time for learning.
As a school we ensure that prime learning time, particularly the first two hours of the morning, is free from interruptions to learning where possible. Uninterrupted time for Learning is a school policy. Our school also has an emphasis on actively engaging students in learning by utilising 21st Century learning technology. We believe that, in educating for a post-industrial knowledge and digital society, the developments of generic outcomes are important goals if our children are to become discerning knowledge navigators. Our challenge always is to contextualise and ground these competencies in our Catholic faith and tradition.
Examples of these competencies include the ability to:
- collect, analyse and organise information
- communicate ideas and information effectively, using a range of spoken, written, graphic, and non-verbal forms of communication
- plan and organise
- work with others in teams
- use mathematical ideas and techniques
- solve problems by thinking critically and creatively
- use Web 2.0 technology.
These generic competencies cross curricular boundaries. We strive to find a balance between independence and interdependence in our teaching.