According to The Advertiser (30 September 2019), ‘In 2016, the Teachers Registration Board SA cited legal advice that the [LANTITE] tests could not be retrospectively imposed as an extra requirement, so made them mandatory only for students who began their ...
More »In The Classroom
Study finds it’s what children read that matters
While the act of reading anything has long been encouraged, a study of 43,000 Spanish students has concluded that it is the quality of the reading material that really matters. Conducted by the University of Malaga and University College London ...
More »Does GATE have a place in primary schools? Opinion
Finding the perfect school for a child is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. But when it comes to students who are academically gifted, finding a school that will challenge them and foster their abilities is ...
More »2019 NAPLAN Report: CEO hopeful of a turnaround in writing achievement
The latest NAPLAN National Report shows there have been gains made in several domains and year levels, most importantly in writing. “At the national level, compared to 2008, the performance of Australian students in Year 5 numeracy, Years 3 and ...
More »The power of play and importance of students reconnecting with the natural world
Are Australian schools doing enough to facilitate play-time at school, in particular outdoor play? The answer, according to Western Sydney University’s Professor Tonia Gray, is a resounding ‘no’. “Contrary to the belief we Aussies are a nature-loving outdoor nation, we’re ...
More »What Australia can learn from Finland’s education system – Michael Lawrence – Podcast
When English and Music teacher Michael Lawrence visited Finnish schools in 2017, many teachers asked him why Australia used a test like NAPLAN to assess students, particularly young ones. For them, education is all about learning, not testing. The ultimate ...
More »Premier welcomes findings from parliamentary inquiry into ailing NSW education system
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has applauded the parliamentary inquiry into NSW's school performance, headed by committee chair Mark Latham, after its release this week. Speaking to smh.com.au ahead of the SMH Schools Summit, she said: “I applaud the committee for ...
More »A love of maths rubs off on students: research
Maths teachers who love their work, are more likely to embrace struggle within the classroom, taking an inquiry-based approached to learning, without jumping in to solve problems for students. The link between teacher enjoyment and positive learning processes was discovered ...
More »Private school headmaster’s resignation represents ‘the beginning of critical change’
The headmaster of one of Australia's most prestigious private schools has bowed to public pressure and resigned following revelations aired on ABC's Four Corners program on Monday night. Following the announcement, Australia's centre for excellence in trauma treatment, The Blue Knot Foundation, ...
More »Getting down and dirty: research suggests nature provides the best type of play
Risk-averse, plastic play spaces might soon become a thing of the past as new research has found that ‘nature play’ delivers a host of benefits to young children. Researchers at The University of South Australia conducted world's systematic review of ...
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