Learning

Our Approach

At Tootgarook Primary School, we take a deliberate and research-aligned approach to teaching and learning. Our practice is shaped by a commitment to evidence-based instruction, strong alignment with the Department’s frameworks including FISO 2.0 and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0), and a belief that clarity, consistency and connection underpin student success.

Instructional Model

Our Pedagogical Model

We implement a whole-school Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) model to ensure every student receives structured, coherent teaching every day. This model supports clarity of instruction, carefully sequenced curriculum delivery, and the gradual release of responsibility from teacher to student.

Each lesson is framed around:

  • Clear learning objectives that are visible and explained
  • Daily review and retrieval practice to strengthen long-term memory
  • Step-by-step modelling and worked examples to reduce cognitive load
  • Guided and independent practice to build fluency and confidence
  • Formative checks for understanding to adapt instruction in real time

This consistent approach ensures that all students—regardless of background or starting point—are supported to achieve mastery.

TPS Instructional Model

Grounded in the Evidence, Guided by the System

Our teaching practices are informed by leading research in cognitive science and the Science of Learning. We use:

  • Spaced and interleaved practice to enhance retention
  • Vocabulary-rich instruction to build deep content knowledge
  • Data-informed teaching using tools such as DIBELS, PAT, and the Year 1 Phonics Check

Our work is also closely aligned with DET priorities, ensuring coherence between classroom practice and broader system improvement directions.

Engagement Norms

The Conditions for Learning

Effective teaching can’t happen without engaged learners—and engagement doesn’t happen by accident. Across our school, you’ll see shared engagement norms that create safe, predictable and purposeful classrooms. These include:

  • Explicitly taught routines for entry, transitions and participation
  • Whole-body listening and attention signals
  • Active participation strategies, including whiteboards, pair-share, and non-volunteer questioning
  • Positive reinforcement and feedback that acknowledge effort, focus, and contribution

Our engagement norms are not just about behaviour—they are about creating the conditions for every student to think, contribute, and connect with learning.

Consistency with Care

We know that students thrive when they know what to expect and what’s expected of them. Our instructional model and engagement norms are embedded across the school, ensuring that students feel confident, capable and supported every step of the way.

Teaching at Tootgarook is not left to chance. It is planned, practiced, and continually refined—because we believe that every student deserves great teaching, every day.

MTSS in Academic Support

At Tootgarook Primary School, our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework plays a vital role in ensuring all students receive targeted, evidence-based academic support tailored to their individual needs. This structured approach promotes growth and mastery in essential literacy, numeracy, and learning skills.

Our MTSS academic support is organised into three tiers:

  • Tier 1: Universal Academic Instruction
    High-quality, explicit teaching delivered across all classrooms, ensuring every student engages with the Victorian Curriculum through carefully sequenced and scaffolded learning experiences.
  • Tier 2: Targeted Academic Intervention
    Small group interventions designed to provide additional practice and support for students who require assistance beyond universal instruction. Programs such as Language Lift, MiniLit, MacqLit, and focused phonics instruction are examples of Tier 2 strategies.
  • Tier 3: Intensive Academic Support
    Individualised learning plans and one-on-one interventions such as the Reading Tutor Program developed collaboratively with families and specialists to support students with complex or persistent learning needs.

Our academic MTSS framework is informed by regular data collection and analysis, including tools such as DIBELS, PAT assessments, and the Year 1 Phonics Check. This data guides instructional adjustments and intervention placement to ensure timely and effective support.

We value strong partnerships with families and encourage ongoing communication to support each student’s academic growth and success. Our Assistant Principal serves as a key contact for families, assisting with guidance and coordinating referrals for additional assessments and specialised support as required.

Literacy

Our Evidence‑Informed Structured Literacy Program

Literacy at Tootgarook Primary School

At Tootgarook Primary School, we ignite a lifelong love for literacy by providing high-quality, evidence-based instruction grounded in the science of how students learn. With unwavering consistency and dedication, we empower every student to become a confident, capable reader and writer, ready to embrace future challenges.

Guiding Principles

  • Commitment to excellence in literacy education.
  • Highest expectations for all students.
  • Belief in every child’s ability to achieve their goals.
  • Building foundational literacy skills to thrive in an ever-evolving society.

Our Approach

We use a Structured Literacy model, where all key components of reading – phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension – are taught explicitly and systematically. This ensures all students receive consistent, high-impact instruction every day.

Foundation to Year 2: Building Strong Foundations

In the early years (Foundation–Year 2), we lay the groundwork for reading and spelling through systematic synthetic phonics. We utilise the Initialit program, a proven phonics program with a clear scope and sequence. This ensures all students receive daily, explicit instruction in the relationships between sounds and letters, building their phonemic awareness and decoding skills step by step. Our teachers introduce new sounds and letters in small increments and provide plenty of practice, following a routine that meets and exceeds current curriculum guidelines for early reading. The result is that children gain confidence in “sounding out” words and decoding texts from an early age. We monitor every child’s progress closely during these years, and because our methods are evidence-based, no learner is left guessing at words or relying on pictures – they are taught how to read with strategies known to work. By the end of Year 2, our students have a solid foundation in phonics, setting them up for success in the later years.

Years 3 to 6 : Deepening Literacy Skills

In Years 3–6, our structured literacy approach continues with a strong focus on Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Students develop advanced decoding, spelling, and comprehension skills through programs like Spelling Mastery and rich literature studies linked to our Humanities topics. This knowledge-building approach helps students understand texts deeply while expanding vocabulary and world knowledge.

Targeted Support for Every Learner

We believe all students can succeed with the right support. Our school offers MultiLit intervention programs for students who need extra help with reading:

  • MiniLit (F–2) and MacqLit (3–6) for small-group support
  • Reading Tutor Program for one-on-one intervention

These programs are evidence-based and closely aligned with our classroom curriculum, ensuring no child falls behind.

Our Commitment

Every day, our classrooms are filled with purposeful teaching, rich conversations, and students engaged in meaningful reading and writing. With consistent teaching practices, high expectations, and tailored support, our literacy program ensures all students can thrive.

We don’t leave reading to chance – we teach it with care, precision, and passion.

Numeracy

At Tootgarook Primary School, we teach mathematics through a structured, explicit instruction model grounded in research and best practice. Our program builds confident, capable problem-solvers who master core numeracy skills and develop deep mathematical understanding from Foundation to Year 6.

Foundation to Year 2: Building Strong Foundations

In the early years, we use the Explicit Mathematics Program (EMP) – a step-by-step program that ensures every student gains a solid foundation in number, operations, measurement, and problem-solving. Daily reviews, clear modelling, and plenty of guided practice help students build fluency and confidence with numbers from the start.

Years 3 to 6 : Mastery Through Routine and Clarity

From Year 3 onwards, we follow a consistent Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) model supported by Ochre Maths resources. Lessons follow a predictable structure:

  • Daily review
  • Clear learning objective
  • Explicit teaching
  • Guided and independent practice

This structured approach helps students retain key skills, understand new concepts, and confidently apply their learning to real-world problems.

Evidence-Informed Instruction

Our teaching reflects the latest insights from educational research, including:

  • Cognitive Load Theory: Teaching in small, manageable steps
  • Retrieval Practice: Daily reviews and quizzes to strengthen memory
  • Worked Examples: Step-by-step modelling to reduce student overwhelm
  • Spaced and Interleaved Practice: Revisiting and mixing topics for deeper learning
  • Formative Feedback: Teachers respond in real time to student needs
    This ensures that mathematics isn’t just memorised – it’s deeply understood.

Targeted Support and Extension

We’re committed to ensuring every student succeeds in maths. Students who need extra support are offered interventions, including the GRIN program (Getting Ready in Numeracy), which previews upcoming lessons in small groups to boost confidence and readiness. Extension opportunities are built into every lesson to challenge advanced learners through deeper problem-solving and reasoning tasks.

Our Commitment

From Prep to Year 6, we deliver maths teaching that is explicit, engaging, and inclusive. Students know what to expect, feel supported in their learning, and develop real confidence in their ability to solve problems. By the time they graduate, our students are equipped with strong numeracy foundations and the mindset to embrace mathematical challenges in secondary school and beyond.

Specialists

At Tootgarook Primary School, our Specialist Programs offer students rich, engaging, and hands-on learning experiences led by passionate subject experts. These programs nurture creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and personal growth—helping every child discover and develop their unique strengths and interests.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education program promotes active and healthy lifestyles. Through structured lessons in movement, fitness, and team sports, students develop coordination, confidence, and resilience. We encourage participation and personal improvement, with opportunities to represent the school in interschool sports and whole-school events like athletics and cross-country carnivals.

Visual Arts

Our Visual Arts program includes drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, with students also
introduced to pottery, textiles, and photography as they progress through the year levels. These
experiences provide opportunities to explore different materials, techniques, and artistic forms of
expression.

Music

The Music program covers rhythm, pitch, performance, and listening skills. It aligns with the Victorian Curriculum and builds sequentially across year levels, supporting students to develop creativity, confidence, and an appreciation for the arts.

Students also have the opportunity to engage in instrumental tuition, including piano, woodwind, drums, and guitar. In addition, they can participate in the school band and choir, as well as take part in the school production, which is held every second year.

STEM

Our dedicated STEM program integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through hands-on projects that foster innovation. STEM is delivered for 1 hour per week across all year levels through explicit instruction. Core scientific concepts from biological, chemical, physical, and Earth and space sciences are taught using clearly structured lessons that build knowledge systematically over time. Content is carefully sequenced to ensure cumulative understanding, and scientific vocabulary is explicitly taught and reinforced. Lessons are teacher-led with clear modelling, worked examples, and structured practice.

Kitchen Garden Program – Future Foodies

Our Future Foodies Kitchen Garden program teaches students to grow, harvest, prepare, and share food. Children learn about nutrition, sustainability, and where food comes from through practical gardening and cooking experiences. This program supports environmental awareness, life skills, and teamwork—all while making healthy living fun and meaningful.

AUSLAN

As part of our Languages program, students learn AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language). They develop basic signing skills to communicate ideas and emotions while building awareness of Deaf culture and inclusive communication. AUSLAN supports both language development and empathy by connecting students to diverse ways of expressing and understanding the world.

Water Safety

At Tootgarook Primary School, we are proud to offer a comprehensive water safety program that builds essential swimming and lifesaving skills for all students. In Years F–2, students participate in swimming lessons at the Yawa Aquatic Centre, where they are taught by qualified swimming professionals. These sessions focus on developing water confidence, stroke technique, and safe practices in and around the pool, setting the foundation for a lifetime of water safety.

From Years 3–6, students take part in our beach program, made possible by our school’s unique proximity to the coastline. This program includes activities such as paddleboarding, surf rescues, sand-based challenges, and other essential water safety skills. The program culminates in our much-loved whole school Iron Person event, where students showcase their abilities and celebrate their progress in a fun, supportive, and community-focused atmosphere.

Humanities

Building Knowledge. Understanding the World. Preparing for the Future.
At Tootgarook Primary School, we are proud to offer a Humanities program that is structured, knowledge-rich, and aligned to the Victorian Curriculum across all year levels.

We believe that understanding Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, and Economics and Business is essential for students to make sense of the world around them and become informed, engaged citizens.

Our Humanities program is built on the understanding that knowledge matters. Research shows that background knowledge is one of the most important factors in reading comprehension and academic success. The more students know about the world—its history, geography, systems and cultures—the more they can understand what they read and the better they can think critically, make connections and express themselves with confidence.

That’s why at Tootgarook, we explicitly teach a carefully sequenced body of core knowledge across F–6. Each year, students build on what they have already learned, revisiting and deepening their understanding through cumulative units that are connected across time, place and disciplines. Our curriculum is designed to build long-term memory, develop academic vocabulary, and support the development of higher-order thinking skills—skills that serve our students well across all learning areas.

A Curriculum Grounded in Culture, Context and Citizenship

Our Humanities units cover the full breadth of the Victorian Curriculum. In Geography, students explore the characteristics of places, the way spaces are organised, and how people interact with their environment. In History, they learn to investigate past events and examine change and continuity over time. Civics and Citizenship introduces students to democratic values, rights and responsibilities, while Economics and Business helps them understand decision-making and resource use in everyday life.

Throughout all subject areas, we place a strong emphasis on embedding First Nations histories and perspectives. Students learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the longest continuous cultures in the world, gaining insight into their deep spiritual, cultural and environmental connections to Country. They explore how First Nations Peoples have cared for and thrived on this land for tens of thousands of years, and how their contributions continue to shape contemporary Australian society. These perspectives are not taught in isolation—they are woven into our curriculum as a core element of understanding Australia’s past, present and future.

Humanities and Literacy—A Powerful Partnership

Our Humanities program is deliberately designed to support the development of language and literacy. Drawing from Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Science of Reading, we understand that knowledge and vocabulary are essential components of reading comprehension. That’s why we intentionally link our Humanities content with our Literacy
program—students read and write about meaningful, content-rich topics during their Literacy block, including novel studies that align with their Humanities units.
For example, when students study Australia’s gold rush, they may read a historical novel set in that period, write journal entries from a character’s point of view, and build vocabulary around government, migration, economy and society. These connections enrich student understanding, strengthen reading fluency and comprehension, and give purpose to writing tasks. This approach ensures that Humanities is not just a subject—it is a driver of knowledge, literacy and engagement.

High Expectations, Deep Thinking

In every classroom from Foundation to Year 6, students engage in explicit teaching, rich discussion and guided inquiry. Teachers use clear models, engaging texts, and well-designed tasks to ensure all learners succeed. Students are supported to:

  • Ask and answer deep questions about society, systems and change
  • Use maps, timelines and data to interpret information
  • Think critically about sources and evidence
  • Build and use topic-specific vocabulary
  • Make connections between the past and present
  • Understand their place in the world and the role they can play in shaping it

At Tootgarook, we believe that every student deserves access to the powerful knowledge that opens up opportunities in school and in life. Our Humanities program reflects this belief by combining rigorous content, inclusive practice and a love of learning that helps children grow into curious, thoughtful and capable young citizens.

Camps & Excursions

At Tootgarook Primary School, our camps and excursions are a highlight of the school year. These experiences spark curiosity, build independence, and create lasting memories. More than just a fun day out, each opportunity is designed to bring classroom learning to life and support students’ personal growth. Whether it’s exploring the city or hiking the coast, students develop confidence, resilience, and real-world understanding.

Camp Experiences

Our diverse camp program caters to a wide range of interests and year levels:

  • City Camp offers students a chance to explore Melbourne’s cultural landmarks, navigate public transport, and experience city life first-hand.
  • Adventure Camp at Waratah Bay places students in a stunning beachside setting, where they take on outdoor challenges, build teamwork skills, and enjoy plenty of seaside fun.
  • Music Camp provides band students with the opportunity to rehearse and perform in a large interschool concert, developing musical skill and confidence.
  • Leadership Hike is designed for our future school captains and leaders. It helps them build connections and develop leadership skills through shared outdoor experiences and reflective activities.

Each camp is carefully planned to support student learning and wellbeing. They challenge students in new environments, nurture friendships, and leave them with a deep sense of accomplishment.

Local Excursions and Community Connections

Our own school bus means we can regularly attend a wide variety of local excursions, making the most of the incredible opportunities right on our doorstep.

  • Tootgarook Beach is just minutes away and becomes an outdoor classroom for environmental science, geography, and wellbeing.
  • Visits to Indigenous gardens and cultural spaces allow students to connect with First Nations perspectives and deepen their understanding of history and country.
  • Excursions to places like the zoo and Immigration Museum bring science, culture, and history units to life in engaging and meaningful ways.
  • Foundation students visit the Rosebud Library by bus, where they enjoy storytime, borrow books, and develop early literacy skills in a rich community setting.

Our camps and excursions program is thoughtfully designed to give every child opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive beyond the school gates. Whether we’re heading into the city, exploring our coastline, or visiting the local library, these experiences enrich learning and bring a sense of adventure to every student’s education.

Supporting Learning at Home

At Tootgarook Primary School, we know that strong partnerships between school and home make a big difference in student success. We are committed to supporting families with practical tools and strategies to help learning continue beyond the classroom.
Below is a short video introducing how you can support learning at home:

Home Reading: A Practical Guide for Families

Reading at home—particularly reading aloud with your child—is one of the most effective ways to build their literacy. It supports their decoding skills (sounding out words), fluency (reading smoothly and accurately), and comprehension (understanding what they read).

For Beginning Readers (Decoding Focus):
  • Pause if your child is stuck—give them a few seconds to work it out.

  • Prompt with questions like “What sound does it start with?” or “Can you sound that out?”

  • Praise effort and strategy, e.g., “Great job sounding it out!”

For More Fluent Readers (Reading for Meaning):
  • Let them finish a sentence before correcting.

  • Ask: “Does that make sense?” or “Try that again—did it sound right?”

  • Return to tricky words later for extra support.

Vocabulary Tip:

When you find a new word:

  • Say it clearly.

  • Explain what it means.

  • Give examples and non-examples.
  • Reuse it later in conversation.


For more information and resources, visit:

Building Fluency in Maths

Fluency means being able to recall facts accurately and quickly, with confidence. Just like fluent reading, math fluency allows students to solve problems without getting stuck.

At home, encourage your child to:

  • Practise addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts regularly.
  • Use quick games, flashcards, or apps like Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots.

  • Talk through strategies they’ve learned at school—this helps build number sense.

Useful Learning Tools

We also encourage the use of Nessy, an engaging online platform for literacy development. It helps students build core reading, spelling, and phonics skills in a fun and structured way.

Your child may already have login details through the school—ask your classroom teacher if you’re unsure.

Whether it’s through reading together, playing number games, or simply asking questions about the world around them, your support makes a huge difference. If you’d like more ideas or resources tailored to your child’s learning needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher.