Foundation Phase Teaching Course

Lesson 1 • School Structure and Organisation

Maps roles of administrators, educators, support staff, and families. Clarifies how institutional hierarchy shapes daily classroom practice.

Lesson 2 • National Curriculum Frameworks

Introduces how curriculum standards are structured and mandated at a systemic level. Educators learn to read and interpret official curriculum documents.

Lesson 3 • Educator Identity and Mindset

Explores growth mindset, reflective practice, and professional identity formation. Prepares educators to approach challenges with resilience and self-awareness.

Lesson 4 • Professional Ethics and Conduct

Covers duty of care, confidentiality, and professional boundaries with learners and families. Establishes ethical baseline for all teaching practice.

Lesson 1 • Social and Emotional Development

Examines attachment, peer relationships, and emotional regulation in children. Informs how educators structure safe, supportive classroom environments.

Lesson 2 • Cognitive Development Stages

Covers Piaget's stages and related frameworks as applied to primary-age learners. Connects developmental milestones to realistic classroom expectations.

Lesson 3 • Individual Differences in Learning

Addresses learning styles, multiple intelligences, and neurodiversity in primary classrooms. Prepares educators to recognise and respond to diverse learner profiles.

Lesson 4 • Key Learning Theories

Introduces behaviourism, constructivism, and sociocultural theory as instructional frameworks. Educators select appropriate theory to justify pedagogical choices.

Lesson 1 • Unit Planning Across Subjects

Extends single-lesson planning to multi-week units with coherent skill progression. Educators map content, skills, and assessments across a full unit arc.

Lesson 2 • Lesson Structure and Sequencing

Introduces the three-part lesson model and gradual release of responsibility. Educators sequence activities to build understanding progressively within one lesson.

Lesson 3 • Differentiated Lesson Design

Applies differentiation strategies to content, process, and product within lesson plans. Ensures all learners access the same objectives through varied pathways.

Lesson 4 • Writing Clear Learning Objectives

Teaches use of Bloom's Taxonomy to write measurable, age-appropriate objectives. Objectives become the anchor for all subsequent planning decisions.

Lesson 1 • Pacing, Transitions, and Engagement

Addresses lesson momentum, smooth transitions, and strategies to sustain learner attention. Reduces off-task behaviour through proactive instructional design.

Lesson 2 • Collaborative and Cooperative Learning

Introduces group roles, structured tasks, and accountability in cooperative learning. Educators design group work that maximises individual and collective learning.

Lesson 3 • Hands-On and Inquiry-Based Learning

Applies inquiry cycles and manipulative-based tasks to deepen conceptual understanding. Connects abstract content to concrete, learner-driven exploration.

Lesson 4 • Questioning and Discussion Strategies

Develops higher-order questioning, wait time, and structured discussion techniques. Promotes learner thinking and active participation in every lesson.

Lesson 1 • Trauma-Informed Classroom Practices

Introduces trauma's impact on behaviour and learning, and responsive classroom strategies. Educators recognise stress responses and avoid inadvertently retraumatising learners.

Lesson 2 • Responding to Challenging Behaviour

Provides de-escalation techniques, logical consequences, and restorative approaches. Educators respond to disruption calmly and consistently without escalating conflict.

Lesson 3 • Establishing Rules and Routines

Guides creation of clear expectations, procedures, and physical classroom setup. Strong routines prevent most behavioural issues before they arise.

Lesson 4 • Building Positive Classroom Culture

Develops belonging, respect, and community through intentional relationship-building practices. Culture work reduces behavioural issues and increases academic engagement.

Lesson 1 • Using Data to Inform Instruction

Teaches analysis of class-wide and individual assessment data to identify learning gaps. Data-driven decisions improve lesson planning and targeted intervention.

Lesson 2 • Rubrics and Marking Criteria

Guides development of analytic and holistic rubrics for consistent, transparent marking. Clear criteria help learners understand expectations before submitting work.

Lesson 3 • Summative Assessment Design

Teaches construction of tests, projects, and performance tasks aligned to objectives. Summative tools measure cumulative learning at the end of a unit or term.

Lesson 4 • Formative Assessment Strategies

Covers exit tickets, observation, and quick checks used during instruction. Formative data drives real-time instructional adjustments within and across lessons.

Lesson 1 • English Language Learners in the Classroom

Addresses language acquisition stages and sheltered instruction strategies for ELL learners. Educators scaffold content without reducing cognitive demand.

Lesson 2 • Supporting Learners with Disabilities

Covers individualised education plans, reasonable adjustments, and co-teaching models. Educators collaborate with specialists to implement support plans effectively.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Inclusive Education

Establishes the philosophical and practical case for full inclusion in primary classrooms. Inclusion is framed as a design challenge, not a special accommodation.

Lesson 4 • Universal Design for Learning

Applies UDL principles of multiple means of representation, action, and engagement. Proactive design reduces the need for individual retrofitting of lessons.

Lesson 1 • Career Pathways in Primary Education

Maps leadership roles, specialist positions, and advanced credentials available to primary educators. Educators set informed, realistic goals for long-term career development.

Lesson 2 • Professional Portfolio Development

Guides compilation of evidence of teaching practice for performance review and career advancement. Portfolios document growth and demonstrate professional competency.

Lesson 3 • Reflective Teaching Practice

Establishes structured reflection routines using journals, video review, and peer observation. Reflection converts daily experience into deliberate professional learning.

Lesson 4 • Collaborative Professional Learning

Introduces professional learning communities, lesson study, and peer coaching models. Collaboration accelerates growth beyond what individual reflection alone achieves.