Pedagogy

We’ve recently launched our Student Engagement Continuum, which helps students reflect on how they approach their learning. As part of the launch students were asked to reflect on their current levels of engagement; a lot of our students saw themselves as passive learners; often in the participating section of the continuum.  As a learning community we know that active engagement occurs when learning is driven by curiosity and feels meaningful. Our professional learning as a staff has developed staff skills in making connections with prior learning, asking effective questions and providing the ‘so that’ in learning intentions to help students see the relevance of their learning.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in nurturing this mindset. One of the most powerful things you can do is show interest in what your child is learning. Ask open ended questions like  “What surprised you today?” or “Why is that important?”. Sometimes, students don’t immediately see how a subject is relevant to them. This is a great opportunity to help them make connections, consider how you can make parallels to your life or ask questions like, “How could this be useful later on?”. Helping them link learning to the world around them can shift their perspective and boost motivation.

Encourage your child to explore beyond the curriculum. If something sparks their interest—a historical event, a science concept, a book—they might enjoy finding out more, watching a documentary, or discussing it over dinner. It’s not about having all the answers, but about modelling curiosity and the joy of discovery.

By fostering curiosity and relevance at home, we can help our students take the next step toward becoming active, engaged learners.