Essential Learning
Each morning, we focus on essential learning in reading, writing and maths. These three subjects provide the building blocks for learning in all other areas. Teaching and learning is based on our Learning Mountains. These support teachers and learners to understand what they are learning, how they are going, what they need to work on next, what they need to learn in each level and the progress they are making (see below).
Our learning is focused in three areas:
Information learning: What do I need or want to know?
Process learning: What do I need or want to be able to do?
Transformational (or So What) learning: So how can I use what I know and what I can do in real and meaningful ways that matter to me?
Our other essential learning area is health and P.E. Physical activity is a really important part of learning at Whatawhata School and is taught in different ways. Children use regular energizers every day to refresh brains ready for learning, raise their heart rate and enjoy learning a range of physical activities. Afternoon P.E. programmes provide students with the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to achieve appropriate success and ever-refined techniques in common sports and activities. Swimming happens daily in term one. The school follows the Kiwi SwimSafe programme. Our own programmes are supported through regular coaching and professional development opportunities Team Energize. Learners also compete against other local schools in a wide range of sports.
Our learning is focused in three areas:
Information learning: What do I need or want to know?
Process learning: What do I need or want to be able to do?
Transformational (or So What) learning: So how can I use what I know and what I can do in real and meaningful ways that matter to me?
Our other essential learning area is health and P.E. Physical activity is a really important part of learning at Whatawhata School and is taught in different ways. Children use regular energizers every day to refresh brains ready for learning, raise their heart rate and enjoy learning a range of physical activities. Afternoon P.E. programmes provide students with the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to achieve appropriate success and ever-refined techniques in common sports and activities. Swimming happens daily in term one. The school follows the Kiwi SwimSafe programme. Our own programmes are supported through regular coaching and professional development opportunities Team Energize. Learners also compete against other local schools in a wide range of sports.
Learning mountains
Our learning mountains provide a common and consistent way of teaching, learning, assessing, sharing and understanding progress of our learners from the time they start school until they leave us. They take the best knowledge and research of what children need to learn in these essential areas and create a pathway for children’s learning. The children are actively involved in this process too, recognising what they are learning, how they can achieve it, deciding when they have achieved it, and understanding what they need to learn next. This has a very positive impact on developing ownership of their learning. These same mountains are used to share the progress children are making with parents. Click the links below to see examples of our learning mountains.