Learning & Teaching

At St. Martin de Porres, we cultivate a vibrant, student-centered learning environment. We are dedicated to fostering confident, self-assured individuals who embrace ownership of their education. Through genuine collaboration, innovative teaching methods, and transparent communication between students, families, and staff, we empower each child to thrive. We are committed to a personalised approach, recognising and celebrating the unique strengths, challenges, interests, and backgrounds of every student. 

Our goal is to nurture independent, lifelong learners who think creatively, possess a deep love of learning, and contribute meaningfully as responsible citizens to our world.

The Learning and Teaching programs at St Martin de Porres are guided by the Victorian Curriculum.

Learning & Teaching Statement

At St Martin de Porres we believe in meeting the needs of all students and educators through a developmental and contemporary approach to learning and teaching.

We commit to working collaboratively to ensure learning is personalised and explicit by reflecting on our practice and using evidence to plan purposeful experiences.

We ensure learning and teaching evolves from learners' needs and interests and promotes critical and creative thinking.

We aspire to educate the whole child and develop lifelong learners who embrace diversity in an ever-changing world.

Vision for Instruction 

In February 2024, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) introduced a new plan to help every student succeed. This is called Vision for Instruction.

This Vision for Instruction provides clear guidance on best teaching practices, ensuring a consistent and high-quality approach to learning across our school. It builds upon established frameworks that support student engagement, wellbeing, school improvement, and inclusive education for all learners.

At its core, this vision emphasises cognitive engagement—a key factor in deep and effective learning. Grounded in Cognitive Load Theory and the Science of Learning, it prioritises evidence-based instructional practices, a well-structured and knowledge-rich curriculum, and effective assessment strategies.

Our commitment to evidence-based teaching fosters learning environments that prioritise student safety, wellbeing, and strong relationships while maintaining high expectations, academic excellence, and intellectual challenge. This balance ensures that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Visible learning

St Martin de Porres is a Visible Learning school.

Learning is front and centre for staff and students. In 2018 our school embarked on a supported and strategic three year journey in partnership with Corwin Visible learning Plus.  Called ‘Visible Learning’ this model is the result of the research undertaken by Professor John Hattie to understand what provides the most success in learning. It is evidence based relying on over 68,000 studies and 25 million students.

Visible Learners are students who can:

• Articulate what they are learning

• Explain the next steps in their learning

• Set learning goals

• See errors as opportunities for further learning

• Know what to do when they are stuck

• Seek feedback

We aim to implement evidence based, high impact learning and teaching strategies based on to the most important characteristics of learning success.

Maximising learning opportunities by focussing on the that which makes the most difference  and ensuring learners can articulate what they are learning and why they are learning what they are learning. 

We aim to ensure learners know what is needed in a task to make them successful. This is the reason we teach using learning intentions and success criteria.

Families can support their child/ren in this joint enterprise by asking them:

• What did you learn at school today? (rather than what did you do?)

• How did you learn?

• Were you successful - how do you know?

• What do need to do/know next?

SMDP Learning Powers

Building learning power is all about helping students learn how to learn. It involves building and developing skills and habits of mind so that they are better prepared as lifelong learners. 

At St Martin's our six learning powers are:

• Resilience - Resilient learners bounce back when challenges arise and learn from mistakes. They are flexible, look ahead, never give up, learn, keep going, are determined, have courage, think long term, are prepared for the ups and downs and focus on what is within their control.

• Motivation - Motivated learners take responsibility for learning.  They are positive, passionate, focus on their strengths, set goals, make plans, use supports, are organised, make good choices, have energy and manage distractions.

• Collaboration - Collaborative learners listen, converse and work together with others to achieve a goal. They Listen, encourage others, includes others, respect differences, show patience, take turns, try their hardest, share tasks, communicates, shows sportspersonship, is a team player, contribute fairly to the group and value others’ opinions.

• Creativity - Creative learners approach learning using a variety of strategies. They use your imagination, are spontaneous, innovative, explore the unknown, find multiple solutions to a question, problem or challenge, think differently, are curious, think outside the box, are interested in the world, ask useful questions and see things from other points of view.

• Reflection - Reflective learners think about what worked well and how learning can be improved. They stay calm, consider others, listen to different options, learn from mistakes, find ways to be better, see mistakes as opportunities, link new learning to what they already know, identify, explain, and address their strengths and weaknesses, plan to make sure learning is clear, ask why take on board feedback, set their own learning goals, do extra reading or finding out to learn more, describe their learning, and ask themselves: What? So What? Now What?

• Curiosity - Curious learners are eager to explore the unknown. They explore, ask questions, seek new learning experiences, love learning, apply out-of-the-box thinking, investigate, are patient, read, search for answers, have lots of interests, are passionate about their learning, ask why, what if and how, are positive, tinker with materials, ideas, concepts, are playful, have a sense of humour, are open minded, work hard and are successful, listen to others and what they have to say, see problems as puzzles waiting to be solved.