The Learning Plus Team brings expertise in Learning Intervention and Literacy across the curriculum. The team’s objectives are to ensure the best possible support is provided to both students and teachers with the express purpose of enhancing students’ access to the curriculum and achieving their learning potential.

As a best practice department, we bring the evidence-based ‘Response to Intervention Model’ to our students (Berliner, 2014; Dorn, Layton, & Bruce, 2016; Turse & Albrecht, 2015). The Model encompasses three tiers:

• Tier 1: Differentiating in the classroom.
• Tier 2: The small group targeted provisions.
• Tier 3: From time to time, consultancy with external providers such as speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

When combining Tiers 1 and 2, and if need be, Tier 3, our students are provided intervention on a day to day basis.

Below are the profiles of the Learning Plus Team. It is evident that our team brings not only expertise but also a passion for teaching and a dedication to ensuring our girls receive the best possible provisions for their individual needs.

Mrs Elka Gaensler, Head of Learning Plus 

Mrs Elka Gaensler, Head of Learning Plus at St Catherine’s School.

Qualifications:

• MEd Educational Leadership and Change Management (Monash University)
• MEd Learning Intervention (Melbourne Graduate School)
• MEd in Gifted Education (UNSW) (currently in final year)
• BA (Monash University)
• Dip Ed Primary (Melbourne University)
• Certificate Early Childhood (Bundoora).

What the Role Means to Elka:

Each day, the joy of teaching is profound. We have the privilege of working with girls who are eager to learn, willing to persist through challenge and as a result, reflect growth in their learning and their self-confidence.

In Years 7 and 8, the girls in Learning Plus work on consolidating their spelling, reading comprehension and writing skills. Over the summer holidays, I joined some 30 primary and secondary school teachers and speech therapists in the Sounds-Write Synthetic Phonics program. The program, now used widely in the United Kingdom, United States, Northern Ireland and Australia, is evidence-based (Bourke, 2018), (Bowers, 2018; Mishra & Mohan, 2016) (Tracey, Chambers, Slavin, Hanley, & Cheung, 2014) and found to be particularly useful for students with specific language difficulties such as dyslexia.

“Sounds-Write is an instructional method that is structured, cumulative, sequential and explicit; all of which are strongly recommended for spelling, reading and writing skill development.” – (SPELD Australia).

As students’ self-efficacy is always paramount, often making the difference between a confident learner and one who may struggle, we endeavour to encourage, nurture and support our girls in the key area of literacy. Part of the journey towards this entails the explicit teaching of organisation and study skills, encouraging girls to take ownership for their part in their learning journey. Assistive technologies such as ‘C-Pens’, ‘Speech to Text’ and ‘Natural Reader’ are also some of the technologies we explore in our classes.

In Years 9 to 10 Learning Plus classes, we work with the girls in their subject areas. It is so gratifying to see their skills transferred across the curriculum. I always enjoy observing their satisfaction in each success they experience and the associated confidence it brings to them.

Mrs Melissa Braddy, Years 11 and 12 Learning Plus Teacher

Mrs Melissa Braddy, Years 11 and 12 Learning Plus Teacher.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Deakin University)
• Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) (Deakin University)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Learning Disabilities) (University of Melbourne).

What the Role Means to Melissa:

My current roles at St Catherine’s School give me great satisfaction. It is a privilege to be teaching and supporting students while they are in their final years of schooling. To know that you make a difference in young people’s lives is very heartening and satisfying. Every day is different and every day presents new challenges. I adore the young women that I teach, and I am always looking for new strategies to help them access the VCE curriculum. This, we achieve in consultation with their parents, teachers and consult with external providers such as speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

Mrs Elizabeth Montanaro, Year 12 Learning Plus Teacher

Mrs Elizabeth Montanaro
Years 11 and 12 Learning Plus Teacher

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Graduate Diploma in Education
• Graduate Diploma in Information Management.

What the Role Means to Elizabeth:

Working in the Learning Plus Department brings me the opportunity to work with individual students assisting them in refining their particular skills in a reciprocal relationship. Watching the girls develop their collaborative skills and take ownership of their learning is powerful. As they build the confidence to seek help when needed.