Term 1, Week 4, 2026
The Science of Learning
The Science of Learning underpins our new curriculum and is a study on how learners learn. It uses proven research to show that our brains have a specific way of taking in, storing, and remembering information.
Three main ideas from the Science of Learning inform how we teach:
- Working memory is small. That is, it holds a limited number of items at any time.
- Long-term memory is huge. Our goal is to move information from the temporary working memory into the permanent long-term memory where it mostly stays forever.
- The forgetting curve is real. Learners tend to immediately forget most of what they have learnt the previous day, with sharp declines over time unless content is reviewed.
What review looks like in the learning spaces at FBS
At FBS, all literacy and numeracy lessons begin with review where the teacher goes over the learning from the day before, the week before or even the month before. This is called Daily Review. It is planned for and involves fast-paced retrieval practice to support learners remember prior learning, including:
- Concept review for previously learnt concepts, vocabulary, and facts
- Skill review for procedures and applications of concepts
To put it simply, ‘use it or lose it’.