Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s educational philosophy is based on a belief that quality education takes place in a collaborative community of reflective and cooperative learners.
At Our Lady of Mount Carmel each learner is nurtured and challenged to explore, investigate and problem solve through explicit learning and teaching.
The key elements of our educational philosophy are:
- a foundation based on the teachings of Christ
- a partnership with home, parish and school
- a collaborative learning community of parents, staff and students
- teaching and learning that is based on intellectual quality, quality learning environments and significance (Quality Teaching Framework Model)
- the explicit teaching of skills in cooperative learning
- problem solving, investigative and critical thinking experiences that promote personal responsibility and an inner delight in life and learning
- the implementation of quality teaching based on the NSW Quality Teaching Model
The teaching and learning at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is based on a belief that learning takes place in a reflective and collaborative community where each person is nurtured and challenged to explore, investigate and problem solve through explicit teaching and rich learning and assessment tasks.
Our Lady of Mt Carmel School is organised into sixteen aged learning groups that reflect the Stages of Learning from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Key Learning Area curriculum documents.
The stages of learning are:
Early Stage One | Kindergarten |
Stage One | Years 1-2 |
Stage Two | Years 3-4 |
Stage Three | Years 5-6 |
Learning groups are organised into the following:
Kindergarten | 2 class groups |
Year 1 | 2 class groups |
Year 2 | 2 class groups |
Year 3 | 2 class groups |
Year 4 | 2 class groups |
Year 5 | 2 class groups |
Year 6 | 2 class groups |
A co-operative learning approach
Co-operative Learning Groups is a strategy used for learning at Our Lady of Mt Carmel whereby all students engage in group activities with each student undertaking a role.
Co-operative learning happens within the context of community. This reflects the population at large allowing the students to learn the attitudes, knowledge and skills that benefit all in the community.
Some of the strategies for teaching the skills of co-operative and reflective learning at Our Lady of Mount Carmel are:
- G.E.M. Groups
- The Quiet Sign
- Team Roles (Co-operative Learning Groups)
- KWL Charts and Y Charts
- K.I.S.S.E.S
- Think Pair Share
- Three Stars and a Wish
- Hands Up Pair Up
- Give One, Get One
- Sharing Circle
- Reflective Learning Journal
- Self Assessment
- Rubrics
Roles for Co-operative Learning Groups:
Manager | Organises group. Keeps group focused on task. |
Encourager | Positive feedback to the group enables all group members to join in. |
Reporter | Communicates group’s findings to the class. Clarifies responses. |
Recorder | Scribes the ideas offered. Defines and clarifies answers. |