“Challenge leads to learning. Applied appropriately, it takes students to their next stage of development. Too much challenge creates cognitive overload. Too little lowers expectations.” (Nottingham 2023)
If you attended the recent Parent Information sessions, you would have seen this visual and heard how we are applying this in our Junior School classrooms. The Learning Pit is the work of James Nottingham and it presents a blueprint of the necessary steps for learning growth.
As educators, we like to see students challenged at the right level so that progress occurs. Our task is to help students learn strategies they can apply to help them climb out of the pit for learning success. Success for each child is different and can be seen across a myriad of environments – social, emotional as well as academic.
When you attend the Parent-Teacher interviews in week 5, come with stories of how this relates to your child at home. How do you encourage your child to enter the pit to support learning growth? Adults building a bridge across the top of the pit does not allow students to struggle, and the struggle is what builds the learning muscles.
We look forward to continuing positive and supporting communication as your children progress through the College.