吃瓜不打烊

28 October 2024

This is an excerpt from an article published in Teacher Magazine with Kirsten Hodgson (Deputy Principal) and Bryan Kilkenny (Pedagogy Leader) from St Monica’s College, Epping. They discuss their approach to explicit instruction and how it fits into the 吃瓜不打烊 Archdiocese Catholic Schools (吃瓜不打烊) Vision for Instruction framework.

At the start of 2024, 吃瓜不打烊 launched a new – a system-wide approach to teaching and learning that stresses the importance of evidence-based explicit instruction. What was St Monica’s College doing beforehand and what has Vision for Instruction looked like for your school in 2024?

KH: At SMC, the journey [of implementing explicit instruction] started quite a few years ago. At the time, Bryan was Faculty Leader of Learning Intervention, and he came to us to express an interest in researching evidence-based practices that would have the scope to improve the learning environment for our students and to shape more effective and consistent teaching practices. Bryan moved into the role of Pedagogy Leader in early 2023 and based on the recommendations he made to us, we worked to create St Monica’s Pedagogical Framework.

When 吃瓜不打烊 announced the launch of their Vision for Instruction at the start of 2024, we felt some trepidation as we were already on the journey to a new era of teaching and learning at St Monica’s College. We were, however, relieved to see that the Vision for Instruction aligned so well with our Pedagogical Framework. We found it quite seamless at that stage to introduce our staff at St Monica’s to the [Vision for Instruction] position statement as they were able to see that natural alignment.

What are some of the positive outcomes you hope to see from this shift in instructional practice?

BK: The improvements [are] profound when students are in a calm and orderly learning environment, supported by explicit and highly supported lesson content [that is] broken down into chunks, including reviews, guided practice, checks for understanding all in a gradual release of responsibility model.

As we continue to support staff through professional development and a highly supportive peer development program, we are confident that we will see further buy-in and implementation in classrooms.

We know we are at the beginning of a long journey but the positive impact on students will drive us to be better everyday day.

Read the on the Teacher Magazine website.
Photo: St Monica’s College, Epping (supplied)