Growing Learners with Craftsmanship and Care
Craftsmanship in learning isn’t just about neat handwriting or tidy projects; it’s about nurturing habits that help children think deeply and work thoughtfully. Guy Claxton’s research highlights several powerful habits that support lifelong learning. One of these is revising which encourages children to return to their work, reflect and improve it. This helps them understand that learning is a process, and that effort and refinement lead to growth.
Another important habit is activating prior knowledge. When children connect new ideas to what they already know, they build stronger understanding and confidence. We also encourage imagination and the ability to think creatively, explore possibilities and solve problems in new ways. And finally, precision helps children learn to express their ideas clearly and accurately, whether in writing, speaking or problem-solving.
These habits don’t develop overnight, but with gentle encouragement at school and at home, children begin to see themselves as capable, thoughtful learners. You can support this by asking open-ended questions, celebrating effort and encouraging your child to explain their thinking. Together, we’re helping them build the tools they’ll use for a lifetime of learning.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students have been building their craftsmanship by creating recounts of their weekend adventures. They are working hard to use capital letters, finger spaces, and full stops, as well as stretching out words to sound them out. It’s wonderful to see them taking pride in making their writing the best it can be!
Students have also been learning to use time connectives like first, then, and finally to help order events as they happened. This helps their writing make sense and flow clearly. We’re excited to see how their growing craftsmanship will shine as they begin to explore opinion writing in the coming weeks.
Prep
This term, Prep students have been developing craftmanship by taking care and pride in their learning. They have been practising correct letter formation and exploring numbers to twenty through counting, recognising numerals and using hands-on materials to represent their thinking.
In our inquiry unit, students have been learning about ocean habitats and the important people who help in our communities. We’ve connected this to the idea of craftmanship by observing how sea creatures like turtles, crabs and fish carefully build and adapt their homes under the sea.
We’ve also discussed how community helpers, such as police, dentists, firefighters and lifeguards, carry out their work with care and responsibility.
Prep students have shown their own craftmanship by thoughtfully planning ocean habitats and proudly completing work that highlights the important roles people play in keeping our communities and oceans safe and thriving.
God bless,
Mrs Kathryn Watkins
Deputy Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning
