At Calvin Christian School we are continually looking to bring best practice to our teaching and learning environment. This includes teaching practices, learning programs and classroom environments.
In the Primary School, Karalyn Bylsma and Isaac Smith are our Curriculum Coordinators for Kinder to Year 2 and Year 3 to 6 respectively. Along with Learning Support Staff and classroom teachers they are looking to continually grow and develop our students’ learning outcomes and opportunities across all curriculum areas.
“Our students need time in the outdoors to grow a greater appreciation of God’s creation, develop resilience as they undertake meaningful risks.”
In the early years, we have recently been investigating and learning about the importance of inquiry and play-based learning both in an out of the classroom environment. Our Kinder and Prep teachers have undertaken ‘The Outdoor Classroom’ Professional Learning, exploring the importance of utilising the outdoor environment in student learning. This Professional Learning showed us how our students need time in the outdoors to grow a greater appreciation of God’s creation, develop resilience as they undertake meaningful ‘risks’ and connect their learning to the real world. We are currently enquiring about undertaking more Professional Learning to create a meaningful scaffolded ‘Bush School’ program for students from Kinder to
Year 6.
Our Kinder to Year 2 teachers will also be attending Professional Learning from Early Life Foundations on Walker Learning. This Professional Learning will be studying the theory behind play and inquiry-based learning and how to incorporate these concepts into the classroom learning environment. Some key questions this training will ask are:
How do we optimise young children’s learning through an investigative learning pedagogy?
How do we set up inviting and meaningful environments that promote, engage and sustain children's learning?
The Walker Learning Approach provides a unique balance between children being active participants in their learning and explicit teacher instruction.
“Continuing to grow our teachers’ knowledge and understanding in these important aspects of our students learning journey is essential.”
The book of Proverbs has many references about the importance of knowledge, wisdom and insight. This applies to our student’s spiritual walk, including knowledge and understanding of God, along with providing opportunities to develop wisdom and academic abilities.
Proverbs 2:6-7 states “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.”
As these verses outline, continuing to grow our teachers’ knowledge and understanding in these important aspects of our students’ learning journey is essential. Continuous learning and ongoing improvement are of paramount importance to us as a school in our ongoing care, guidance and development of our student community.
Andrew Nash — Head of Primary