Every now and then a really good book on educational leadership appears, and I was fortunate to be able to preview this outstanding book that is aimed at all school leaders – experienced, newly appointed and aspirant.
   Change and leadership are the two key growth topics in educational leadership, and it is interesting that change and change strategies are rarely taught to aspirant leaders. Read more

Whether it be integrating traditional school subjects with employment readiness, guiding student underwater robotics teams, or working with local Elders to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning, this year’s Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards winners have continued to evolve how they support their students. 
   Over the last 12 months, the award winners have also helped lead their schools through the challenges of a global pandemic. During a live national webcast ceremony, each recipient will receive a $45,000 fellowship. Read more

One in four First Nations households has no internet access, limiting learning opportunities for Indigenous students.
   COVID-19 widened this digital divide over the last year, many First Nations students could not access the learning materials, teaching and support that their class peers could access online as learning went remote.
   First Nations homes relied more heavily on costly, inefficient mobile data for internet access (37 per cent). Read more

Can entrepreneurship be taught? St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School thinks so and is introducing a new entrepreneurship class at the Clayfield school.
   The class teaches kids as young as Grade 4 about the mindset and skills required to be the next Melanie Perkins or Elon Musk.
   Children from grade four, five and six are participating and more than 70 per cent of St Agatha’s students taking part are girls. Read more

Same old, same old. Does student writing all seem the same?
   It can be frustrating – not to mention boring! – to read 20 student stories that are pretty much identical. It can trigger real disappointment when you know there’s the potential for unique writing from each student.
   If your students have been struggling to develop ideas and write with creativity, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Read more

With a total of 28 standards relating to common fractions, requiring 880 words of elaboration, compared to ACARA’s 12 standards (360 words), there is no doubt that Singapore gives their teachers better guidance on what and how to teach at each year level.
   The current Australian mathematics curriculum is scant at best which allows it to be far too open to interpretation. Read more