Earlier this term, I introduced Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction as a new strategy our teachers are adopting to enhance classroom practice at Sacred Heart. This week, I am excited to provide an update on how these principles are being implemented to improve teaching and learning across our school.

Our dedicated teachers have been applying Rosenshine’s evidence-based methods to create more effective and structured lessons. These include reviewing previous learning to reinforce understanding, presenting new material in small, manageable steps, asking frequent questions to ensure comprehension, and offering clear models and scaffolding for our students. By focusing on these areas, we aim to  create and foster positive impacts on student engagement and achievement.

One key strategy they are using is the provision of success criteria, which aligns with several of these principles:

• Presenting new material in small steps: Success criteria break down the writing process, helping students focus on each component without becoming overwhelmed.
• Providing models: Teachers use clear exemplars to show students what successful writing looks like, giving them a concrete target.
• Guiding student practice: Success criteria act as a roadmap, helping students practise their writing with focused, structured support.
• Checking for understanding: With success criteria, teachers can assess how well students are progressing toward specific goals, allowing for timely feedback and support.

By aligning classroom practices with these principles, our teachers are fostering a structured and supportive learning environment that helps students improve their writing skills.

The accompanying photos show our teachers in action, utilising these techniques to deliver programs with precision and care. Whether it's through success criteria, providing models or scaffolds, we can already see improved student outcomes as a result of their efforts.