At The Knox School, we understand that every student is unique, with their own learning style, strengths and areas for growth. This deep understanding of individual learning profiles is central to our approach to personalised education. One of the most impactful ways we gather insights into each child’s learning preferences is through our annual Learner Profile Days.
The Learner Profile Days, which mark the start of the academic year for Junior School and Early Learning Centre students, are much more than just a routine. These thoughtfully designed sessions lay the foundation for each child’s educational journey, ensuring they are supported, understood and engaged throughout the year. It’s a time when students and teachers come together in a collaborative, reflective environment to build a profile that will guide learning experiences for the months ahead.
Our Associate Principal: Head of Junior School, Simon Cowell, appreciates more than anyone that our Learner Profile Days are essential:
“Parents may remember from their own Junior School days that Term 1 was often spent on ‘getting to know you’ activities while teachers completed individual assessments with students over several weeks.
Happily, those days of waiting until Term 2 for meaningful learning to begin are behind us! At TKS, we take this process seriously and ensure that every moment of the year is focused on real, personalised learning from day one.”
So, Why Do We Have Learner Profile Days?
Our Learner Profile Days are not just an initial assessment; they are a key moment in the partnership between our students and teachers. By investing time at the beginning of the school year, The Knox School aims to foster an environment where every child’s academic, emotional and social needs are met. These sessions allow educators to gain a deeper understanding of how each child views themselves as a learner, allowing for a more personalised approach to teaching.
The benefits of this thoughtful approach are plentiful, including:
- Building strong relationships: Teachers engage in one-on-one conversations to truly get to know each student. We understand that strong relationships are key to helping students thrive in the classroom.
- Reducing anxiety: After the long summer break, students enter a calmer, less crowded classroom, easing any anxiety they might feel about the new school year.
- Creating a focused environment: Pre-assessments are conducted in a quiet space, providing an opportunity to assess students’ knowledge without distractions.
- Informing teaching strategies: The combination of assessment results and personal conversations helps guide teachers in planning the most effective next steps for each student’s learning journey.
- Establishing routine and organisation: Students have time to organise their belongings, which supports a smoother, more settled start to the first day of classes.
- Building parent-teacher connections: Parents meet with teachers to share valuable insights about their child, fostering an open line of communication from the very beginning of the year.
The process begins with a combination of surveys, questionnaires, and conversations, all designed to probe students’ perceptions about their strengths, challenges, and interests. These activities encourage children to think critically about their own learning styles and how they best engage with new information. Not only does this self-reflection help students feel heard and valued, but it also empowers them to take ownership of their learning journey.
Building the Learner Profile: A Comprehensive Approach
Creating a learner profile is an ongoing, collaborative process between teachers and students. Each child’s profile is developed based on their answers to the surveys, feedback from one-on-one conversations, and their performance in both literacy and math assessments. This holistic approach gives teachers a clear picture of how each student approaches learning and what kind of support they need to thrive.
These sessions last between 1 to 2 hours, offering ample time for both reflection and engagement. Despite their relatively short duration, the impact of the Learner Profile Days is far-reaching. The insights gleaned from these sessions inform teaching practices throughout the year, ensuring that every student’s experience is tailored to their unique needs.
The aim is not simply to assess; it’s to build a solid foundation for academic success. The more a teacher understands about a student’s individual learning style, the better they can adjust lesson plans, teaching strategies, and classroom activities to suit their needs. Whether a child is a visual learner, an auditory learner, or a kinaesthetic learner, the profile provides essential data that makes personalised teaching possible.
The Impact on Learning
The key to the success of Learner Profile Days is the way these insights guide the entire educational process. Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” approach, teachers at The Knox School are able to modify their teaching strategies to meet each child’s needs. This increases engagement and helps students learn in ways that are most effective for them. It also gives teachers an opportunity to pinpoint potential learning challenges early on and take proactive steps to support the child in overcoming them. Dare we say it, it’s one way in which our innovative approach to learning leads to excellence (click to open).
In addition, the Learner Profile Days foster a culture of self-awareness and a growth mindset. When students reflect on their strengths and areas for development, they are better able to understand their own learning process. This empowers them to approach challenges with confidence and resilience, knowing that their teachers are there to support them every step of the way.
Creating a Strong Foundation
For students, the Learner Profile Days are a great way to start the school year on a strong note. By taking the time to reflect on their learning habits and set goals for the year ahead, children feel more prepared and excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This proactive approach helps them build a sense of agency over their learning and fosters a positive attitude toward school.
For parents, the Learner Profile Days are an opportunity to partner with the School in understanding their child’s educational journey. The profiles provide valuable insights that can guide ongoing communication between home and school, ensuring that parents are informed and involved in their child’s progress.
If you have any questions about Learner Profile Days, please feel free to reach out to our Junior School. We are here to support both you and your child every step of the way.
