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Hi Reader,
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of teachers talk about the shift towards explicit teaching and what that means for student-led learning. As someone passionate about experiential approaches, I’ll admit I was nervous at first that hands-on learning might become collateral damage.

I believe the best learning happens when we bring the two together: explicit teaching provides the scaffolding, and student-led experiences give students the confidence to apply it.

How is your school approaching this balance?

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Check out our blog

There’s been a lot of talk about explicit teaching lately, but does that mean student-led learning is out? Not at all. In this blog, I share five practical ways to combine the clarity of explicit teaching with the engagement of student-led learning.

5 ways to combine student led learning with explicit teaching ​ Read blog

Book in for term 4!

Term 1 can get very hectic, so it is always an advantage being able to hit the ground running by training your student leaders in term 4!

A good way to structure the training is to focus on team building and rapport in term 4, then get the leaders together again in the new year to drill down into what actions they can take as leaders.

Our calendar is already starting to get busy, so reach out soon to secure your preferred date!

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Helpful Resource

Looking for more ideas on how to implement explicit teaching with your students? On the Cult of Pedagogy website, educator Jennifer Gonzalez shares tips on instructional strategies, classroom management, education books, educational technology, curriculum design and delivery.

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For the Bookshelf

A modern classic in education, this book offers clear, practical strategies for effective classroom teaching and management. Now in its 3.0 edition, it remains a go-to for teachers who want concrete techniques they can use straight away. While some approaches need adapting to context, it’s a valuable resource for bringing clarity and structure to learning.

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Here are some strategies from the book:

👩‍🏫 Show Call: students present their work to the class, encouraging ownership and peer learning.
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💬 Turn and Talk: discuss a question or problem with a partner before sharing with the group; builds confidence and voice.
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📝 Name the Steps / Explain Your Thinking: students articulate their reasoning or process to peers, strengthening leadership of ideas.
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🔄 Do It Again / Perfect Practice: students take responsibility for improving their work after feedback.
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✨ Everybody Writes: gives all students time to think and jot down ideas before sharing.

Student Action Cards

Do your student leaders struggle to come up with new ideas for how to take effective action? We developed the Student Action Cards to help scaffold this process and encourage innovation.

The deck includes three categories: issues, idea formats, and resources. Students draw one of each to spark new ideas. Each card has a quote on the back to prompt further discussion.

Click the link below to purchase a deck you can use with your students!
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Check out our Resource Library!

We have put together a growing directory of resources designed to support teachers working with student leaders. We currently have over 40 resources, on topics such as communication, teamwork, design thinking, leadership skills (and many more).
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We'd love to hear your recommendations for websites, books, tools, or frameworks that you've found valuable in leadership development.

Click the link below to check it out!

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If you have any questions about anything mentioned in this email, or would just like to bounce some ideas around, feel free to reach out!

Felicity Neeson​
Director - Yellow Arrow Leadership
0407854102

About Yellow Arrow

Named for the yellow arrows that mark the way in the Camino de Santiago, Yellow Arrow Leadership is an education company dedicated to empowering young people to develop leadership skills that last a lifetime. We partner with schools to create practical, values-driven programs that help students lead confidently, both inside and outside the classroom.