The Life Newsletter

Teaching and Learning – T3 W4 2024

Empowering Parents to Support Numeracy Learning at Home

Craftsmanship in the Classroom

This term, we are excited to focus on the value of Craftsmanship with our junior school students. Craftsmanship involves taking pride in one’s work and striving for excellence. Our students are learning about the importance of revising, activating prior knowledge, imagining and precision in their learning journey.

For our younger students, the focus this term is on developing strong writing skills. We are encouraging our students to become powerful learners by reviewing their work and making improvements, a process we call “bumping it up.” This helps students to take ownership of their learning and develop a growth mindset.

Our older students are delving deeper into the concept of craftsmanship by reflecting on their work through the lens of our Powerful Learner framework. This process helps them to identify areas for growth and develop strategies to improve their work.

By fostering a culture of craftsmanship, we are equipping our students with the skills and attitudes they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. We encourage you to support your child’s learning by praising their efforts, providing opportunities for creative expression and encouraging them to persevere in the face of challenges.

Junior School Numeracy Parent Workshops

We were thrilled to welcome over 70 parents and carers to our recent K-2 Numeracy Workshop! It was a fantastic evening filled with fun, learning and shared enthusiasm for helping our youngest students develop strong numeracy skills.

Parents were immersed in the world of early mathematics as they experienced a typical numeracy lesson firsthand. This hands-on approach provided valuable insights into the engaging and interactive ways our teachers bring numbers to life in the classroom.

We explored the exciting changes in mathematics education since many of us were at school. The new syllabus places a strong emphasis on problem-solving, reasoning and critical thinking, equipping our students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.

A key focus of the evening was on empowering parents to support their children’s numeracy learning at home. We shared practical tips and strategies that can easily be incorporated into daily routines, making math fun and accessible for everyone.

Thank you to all who attended for your active participation and enthusiasm. We are excited to be running our 3-6 Numeracy Parent Workshop on Wednesday the 21st of August from 4-5:30pm. We believe that by working together, we can create a strong foundation for our students’ mathematical journey.

God bless, 

Mrs Kathryn Watkins
Deputy Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning