Composite Class Structure at Dharma School
Classes
Prep–Grade 2–Wisdom Garden
Grade 2–Grade 3–Friends on The Path
Grade 4–Grade 6–Noble Guides
Wisdom Garden
Wisdom Garden is the name given to our Foundation and Grade One class. Children in this class are given the space and a range of provocations to immerse and discover the world around them and get to know each other through a play based child centred program.
Well established as the vehicle in which children learn best, play allows children to learn holistically by engaging with peers and the environment in ways which are meaningful to them. At the Dharma School we use this child-centred, play-based approach for children in their early years, through which the Australian Curriculum and Australian Dharma Curriculum is embedded.
Friends on The Path
The Friends on the Path class comprises Grade 2 / 3 students. Students in this cohort are nestled in the centre of the school. They are friends guiding younger students on the path of social, emotional and academic progress whilst developing the leadership qualities necessary to progress into the senior years of primary school.
In the Friends on the Path class we use the Australian Curriculum which is interwoven with our Buddhist philosophy. This philosophy provides students with the opportunity to engage in social-emotional learning, with whatever may be arising for them, whether it is a desirable, undesirable or a neutral experience. We view our students as capable learners, who with the right tools are able to make wise choices in progressing their education in all facets of their life.
Teaching in the Friends on the Path classroom is approached from a socio-cultural perspective, and supported with a balance of both explicit teaching and inquiry based learning.
Evidence based teaching is informed by assessment and is a cornerstone of their effective learning. Students are also provided with opportunities to use self assessment as a tool for learning which compliments the formative and summative assessment conducted by their teacher. Students are supported to reflect on their learning and set challenging and achievable goals as they move forward. This is achieved at a whole class level and also through one on one conferencing and contributes to the positive learning environment experienced by students in this class.
Noble Guides
Our Noble Guides class is indicative of the role our Grade 5/6 students play in our school and the way in which they are supported to develop leadership skills and become invaluable mentors in our community. Students take on meaningful responsibilities within the school and the wider community, enabling them to develop specific skill sets that are aligned with the students’ leadership aspirations.
In our Noble Guide classroom, we engage in project-based learning where our students are challenged to ask questions in thoughtful and provocative ways around an important theme or issue. These questions open up unique directions of inquiry that are led and directed by the students themselves. Students are encouraged to follow their interests and passions as they delve into concepts, tease out real-world implications, and continuously share back and reflect on their learning through supported peer-based feedback processes.
Throughout our project-based learning, our students engage in dynamic forms of problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. These are all highly relevant skills for engaging with our world through purposeful action. Our curriculum areas are seamlessly integrated, rather than taught as separate components, and it is the teacher’s role to facilitate and assess these rich links across the curriculum.
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