Catalyst • Junior Secondary Curriculum • Handbook 2021
Teaching and learning – a skills and content focus
Each course in our curriculum details what students
will be able to do, and what they are expected to
know as a result of their learning experience.
Through the Catalyst curriculum and our focus on the
BIG skills, students will receive explicit instruction in
personal, social, learning and thinking processes.
We view this toolkit of skills and abilities as being
integral to life, learning and problem solving.
The skills toolkit is as follows:
Personal skills
• Reflection
• Knowledge of self as an individual and learner
• Independent learning
• Presentation and performance
• Creativity
Social skills
• Self-management
• Emotional intelligence
• Active citizenship, including service beyond self
Learning skills
• Explanation
• Expression
• Comprehension
• Communication
• Wide general knowledge
Thinking skills
• Analysing
• Investigating
• Transferring
• Experimenting
• Manipulating
• Applying skills and concepts
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