The strength of the Hoa Nghiem Buddhist College’s literacy and numeracy program is that it is arranged flexibly and creatively to meet the students at their point of need.
Teachers regularly assess students across various domains including reading, spelling, writing, number and shape to monitor progress and to adjust their teaching methods accordingly. As such, students are placed in flexible smaller groupings to allow them to receive teaching that enables them to grow with their learning and go beyond their grade.
In the four years since starting at Hoa Nghiem Buddhist School, I have seen considerable growth in teachers and students alike, both socially and academically. I have worked closely with teachers to assist them in building their knowledge of the curriculum and different assessment strategies. New programs have been established and adjusted along the way to meet the continually changing needs of students at the school. In 2024 we adopted the Direct Instruction approach, which research demonstrates best meets the needs of a wider range of students, whilst continuing to utilise our own established model of students working in smaller flexible groupings for each topic.
The particularity of our teaching at Hoa Nghiem Buddhist College is to implement a systemic learning approach that incorporates the Buddhist philosophy and practice as well as Biomimicry Thinking in all areas of the curriculum. We encourage students to look for wise and ethical responses and we guide them to look at the expertise of Nature to find solutions to our human concerns, by asking the question: “How would Nature solve this problem?” This approach helps students develop an inquiry mind with wise intentions.
It has been such a delight to witness the growth taking place across the school each year, to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic team of teachers who are always eager to further their knowledge and skills to guide their students towards intellectual growth as well as emotional and physical wellbeing.
Lorraine Tonietto
Curriculum Director of Hoa Nghiem Buddhist College
