Throughout Term 1 teachers at Waikari School have been working hard to implement the Refresh English and Maths Curriculum. Teachers have participated in some PLD recently to support us with the development of the new Curriculum. We will be hosting an information evening in Term 2, once we have received further information from the Ministry of Education in regards to assessment and reporting.
The new reading, writing and maths content is:
- Knowledge rich
- Well sequenced
- Clear about the learning that matters (expectations are now pitched at a slightly higher level for year groups)
- Grounded in the science of learning
What is the science of learning?
The science of learning is the study of how the brain acquires, processes, and retains information. It combines research from psychology, neuroscience, and education to understand how people learn best and how teaching can be optimised.
The brain changes and strengthens connections between neurons (brain cells) when we learn something new. The more we practice, the stronger these connections become. Learning involves encoding information (taking it in), storing it (keeping it in memory), and retrieving it when needed. The brain has a limited working memory capacity. Too much information at once can overwhelm learners, so breaking content into small chunks helps.
What are some effective learning strategies?
- Spaced practice (not cramming): Revisiting topics over time (e.g., reviewing math facts a few times a week instead of all at once) improves retention.
- Retrieval practice: Encouraging children to recall information (e.g., “What did you learn in science today?”) strengthens memory better than just re-reading notes.
- Interleaving: Mixing different topics or types of problems, rather than focusing on one at a time, improves learning by encouraging deeper understanding.
- Elaboration: Connecting new information to what we already know makes learning more meaningful and memorable.
- Dual Coding: Combining words with visuals (e.g., diagrams, charts) helps reinforce concepts.
What has an impact on learning?
- Sleep Consolidates Learning: The brain strengthens and organizes new information during sleep.
- Physical Activity Boosts Learning: Exercise improves brain function and memory by increasing blood flow and reducing stress.
- Emotions Affect Learning: A positive, low-stress learning environment enhances retention, while high stress can hinder it.
- Growth Mindset: The belief that intelligence and abilities can improve with effort leads to better learning outcomes. Teaching children that mistakes help them learn (rather than seeing them as failures) builds resilience and motivation.
- Effort matters more than talent: Praising effort (“You worked hard on that problem!”) rather than just intelligence (“You’re so smart!”) encourages persistence.
- Metacognition: Being aware of how we learn and using strategies (e.g., planning, self-monitoring) improves learning efficiency.
- Intrinsic Motivation: When learning is connected to personal interests and goals, engagement and retention improve. Children learn best when they’re interested in a topic. Asking open-ended questions and exploring their interests boosts motivation.
- Breaks improve focus: Young children’s attention spans are short, so frequent breaks and movement help keep them engaged.
There are many ways you can support your child at home, and information about this can be found by following this link. Supporting Learning at Home
We thank you for your continued involvement in your child's learning journey. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
