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Mastery Schools: Transforming Education for All Learners

Toni Hatten-Roberts

Mastery Schools Australia

Invited Speaker

Abstract

Mastery Schools, a not-for-profit organisation, empowers academically disengaged students in Years 4-10, particularly those facing diverse learning challenges. Emphasising belief in each student's potential, the school aims to transform long-term memory through targeted instruction. Utilising evidence-based teaching practices, Mastery Schools enhances learning by recognising the critical role of attention.

Classes are organised into developmental groups to cater to varying levels of complexity and growth. High expectations are integral to the educational approach, and strategies to help students adjust include explicit teaching and strategies for attentional control. The philosophy at Mastery Schools rests on the conviction that all students can learn with the proper support and structure.

This session will examine the why, how, and what of the Mastery Schools' Way, highlighting how the school cultivates a nurturing atmosphere where achievement and encouragement are vital for motivation and engagement. Ultimately, Mastery Schools is committed to altering the academic trajectories of its students, ensuring they recognise their capabilities and are equipped to succeed.

At Mastery Schools, we stand on the shoulders of giants – cognitive scientists like Sweller and Kirschner, and master practitioners like Engelmann guide our work.

"Success is the fun we offer".

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation delegates will be able to:

Identify what it means to address vs. accommodate students' learning with diverse learning needs.
Gain an insight into the processes and programs used at Mastery Schools.
Learn high-impact, 'Science of Learning' protocols for academic success.

Duration: 1 hr 15 min

Professional development: 1.5 ABAA PDUs

Biography

Toni Hatten-Roberts is a leader in the Science of Learning, dedicated to bridging the gap between educational theory and classroom practice. She specialises in explicit and direct instruction, focusing on curriculum development and instructional design. With an extensive career in education, Toni was recently honoured with the Schools Plus Teacher of the Year Award for the 2022 Teaching Fellows.

In 2016, she received the prestigious Educator of the Year award from the National Institute for Direct Instruction in the United States. Toni holds an Honours degree in Cognitive Psychology, with her research on the impact of verbal rehearsal presented internationally in London in 2018.

As an author, Toni penned the Centre for Independent Studies publication, The Need for Speed: Why Fluency Counts for Maths Learning (2023), and was a contributing author to Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement (2024), by Nathaniel Swain.

Toni is also a co-founder of Mastery Schools Australia, is the Director of COGlearn, and is part of the team behind the development of Explicit Mathematics Program, advancing innovative educational practices in mathematics for all students.