Using the Concepts and Skills Charts
Teachers will be able to see clearly how students’ understanding of concepts or application of skills should develop across the levels. When reading across the levels, it is important to recognise that standards are introduced when developmentally appropriate so some concepts or skills will not appear at lower levels. They are also cumulative in nature, implying that the concepts and skills will be built on and reinforced even if not specifically identified in a subsequent level.
Teachers can use the charts individually or in professional learning teams to:
- support their understanding of the standards at a particular level
- see clearly how students’ understanding of each concept or application of each skill should develop across the levels
- support planning of explicit teaching, learning and assessment activities
- plan for individual students’ learning needs
- audit content of individual and whole school programs against the VELS
- stimulate thinking about the application of the domains across the curriculum.
