Motivating learners

A teacher in her second year of teaching reflects on her teaching practices, and how she uses these to support her students' language learning. Central to her approach is that her students are prepared for learning. As some of her students are over-stimulated, she needs to assist them settle through mastering sitting and controlling their movements. She also uses group work, based on ability levels where students can learn at an appropriate pace and can assist and/or be assisted by their peers. In planning lessons, she chooses topics that will engage students and that will allow for the use of craft and descriptive work.

Peel Language Development School opened in 2002 and is a purpose built specialist facility for early language intervention in Western Australia. The main campus is co located with Rockingham Lakes Primary School, with satellite classes co located at Mandurah, Glencoe, Pinjarra and Bungaree Primary Schools. The school places students K–3 who meet the entrance criteria, set by the Department of Education. Teachers participate in on-going professional development to keep abreast of current research and educational practice.