Minnis Journals

ET News Digest

Your Weekly Education Newsletter

Qualified approval of MiniLit for struggling Year 1 readers
Evidence for Learning has published its evaluation report on MiniLit, a small group, phonics-based, program for struggling Year 1 readers. Early support for struggling readers is crucial to putting them on a path to reading achievement, which is a key predictor for future academic success. With an ongoing public debate about effective reading approaches, this report is an important contribution to the discussion. Read more

Teach in the US
Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore the US and time spent working in the country is the kind of experience that colours a life. The cultural exchange organisation Participate Learning is making the process easier, carrying out its first recruitment in many years in Australia and New Zealand.
The organisation has 30 years of experience recruiting teachers from several countries around the world and teachers are encouraged to share experiences from their home nation with US students in order to promote global thinkers for the future. Nearly 10,000 educators have participated in the programme from 84 different countries.
Read more

Live streaming video platform for teen mental health
Teenagers can be uncommunicative and yourtown’s Kids Helpline is changing the way they speak with teens who may be experiencing mental health concerns by tapping into an innovative campaign.
Designed to challenge ways that young teens seek help about mental health, the ‘Truth ’n Loot’ campaign will come to life on Twitch in late August and early September. Australian gaming influencers Naysy, Chanzes, Panda and the duo Skill Up and Laymen Gaming, will share the message that ‘talking really helps’ during live-streamed play of Fortnite. Read more

Third of young people experience drug and alcohol problems
A new Mission Australia report reveals that three in 10 young people say that alcohol and/or drugs are a problem for their family and peers, they are more negative about their future, have greater personal concerns including around mental health and have poorer family relationships than young people who aren’t worried about this issue.
Read more

AI for Good Challenge winners announced
The inaugural winners of the AI for Good Challenge have been announced, the challenge is a new national competition for high school students to tackle real world social and environmental challenges using Artificial Intelligence.
Out of thousands of applicants, the winning entry for division 1 (Years 7-9) came from Hale School in Western Australia. The team’s entry, SugAIr, is a diabetes management app that helps motivate children to monitor their Type 1 Diabetes through gamifying the injection process for individuals. Read more

Oz be warned – Independent public schooling is failing in England
They were supposed to be a paradigm of excellence but state-funded independent schools in the UK, known as academies, widen inequality and ‘degrade’ the teaching workforce.
The independent schools are autonomous, outwardly, and operate under the premise that greater localised governance and decision-making will generate more effective public education.
The idea is taking root in Australia but Professor Amanda Keddie of Deakin University says that perhaps this should be rethought. Read more

Underprivileged student study packages
Study packages will be provided to underprivileged primary and secondary students, giving them a functional space to complete their homework and school assignments at home.
One in six Australian children are living below the poverty line, with many not having access to some of life’s most basic necessities. State Schools’ Relief, a Victorian not for profit, established a partnership with Victorian furniture retailer Schoolfurn to provide 150 packages.
When families are in financial distress, often the child’s education suffers with many denied educational resources at home. Read more