How Mini Whiteboards Help Us ‘CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING’ at St Mary’s
At St Mary’s, we are committed to using teaching strategies that make the biggest difference to student learning. One important part of this is making sure that students are truly understanding what they’re being taught – and that’s where our mini whiteboards come in!

What the Research Says
Modern research into how the brain learns – often called the Science of Learning – tells us something very important: students learn best when they are taught clearly, with lots of practice and timely feedback.

Because the human brain can only hold a small amount of new information at one time, it's easy for students to become overloaded or confused – especially if they don’t realise they’ve misunderstood something. That’s why teachers need to regularly check how well students are following along during a lesson.

Checking for Understanding – In Action
In every classroom at St Mary’s, our teachers use a strategy called ‘Check for Understanding.’ This means they don’t wait until the end of the lesson to find out if students “got it” – they pause often to ask questions, look at student responses, and make sure everyone is on the right track.

A simple but powerful tool that helps with this is the mini whiteboard.

Why Mini Whiteboards?
When students write their answers on mini whiteboards and hold them up, teachers can quickly scan the room and spot who understands the concept and who might need more help. It’s much faster and more effective than calling on one student at a time – and it gives every child a chance to think and respond.

This approach helps teachers adjust their teaching straight away if needed – reteaching a concept, giving more examples, or guiding students through another round of practice.

A Consistent Routine
To help things run smoothly, all classes at St Mary’s use the same simple routines and language for using mini whiteboards. You may hear your child talk about:

• Hover it – holding their board ready but not showing it yet
• Chin it – holding it under their chin so the teacher can see
• Bin it – wiping it clean when done
• Park it – keeping the board down and ready for the next task

These clear routines help make whiteboard use quick, consistent, and focused.Ask Your Child!
Mini whiteboards might seem like a small thing, but they’re part of a much bigger picture – helping your child learn more effectively, stay engaged, and receive timely feedback. Next time you chat with your child about their school day, ask them how they use their whiteboard in class. You might be surprised by how much learning it supports!

Get Ready to Move, Groove, and Explore with the Jollybops!
Jollybops Science Show will be visiting St Mary’s next week on Tuesday 9 September – bringing science to life with fun, laughter, and spectacular experiments!

The Jollybops are science educators and entertainers who deliver energetic shows packed with real scientific demonstrations, humour, and audience interaction. Their performances are tailored to each age group, linking directly to the science curriculum in a way that’s both educational and unforgettable.

Here’s what our students can look forward to:

Kindergarten to Year 2: "Move and Groove with Energy"
Students will explore how things move, what energy is, and where it comes from – all through dancing flames, bouncing balls, and surprising experiments! This show is designed to introduce young learners to scientific thinking in a fun and accessible way.

Years 3 to 6: "The Big Chemistry Show"
Older students will be wowed by this exciting exploration of chemical reactions! From colour changes and bubbling potions to foaming explosions and gas-producing experiments, this show highlights the magic of chemistry in a way that’s fun, educational, and unforgettable.

Each Jollybops Science Show promises to inspire curiosity and excitement, showing our students just how amazing science can be. We can’t wait for these action-packed shows of learning and discovery!

God bless and take care, 

Sue Heffernan
Assistant Principal