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We know that data can be a powerful force for student learning and achievement, but what data should we be collecting, how should it be analysed and what does it really mean? Without answers to these big questions, making use of data in the classroom can end up being an afterthought - even a source of stress and confusion.In this expanded second edition of Using and analysing data in Australian schools, Dr Selena Fisk offers a practical guide for bringing data to life. Learn how data from a range of sources - formative and summative assessment, standardised testing, informal reflections and more - can empower everyone, from teachers to school leaders to students. Featuring over thirty relevant in-school examples, this essential resource is filled with customisable templates, strategies and tips you can start using today to build a culture of learning and trigger real data-informed change in your classroom.Using and analysing data in Australian schools will deepen your understanding of your students' achievements and abilities and, in inviting students to take ownership of their data, transform how they see themselves as learners.

In Talking Sex, Vanessa Hamilton fearlessly explores the complex topic of human sexuality.Drawing from extensive experience and contemporary research, this groundbreaking book challenges readers to reconsider outdated beliefs about sex and sexuality education. It's packed with conversation starters, tips and strategies to empower adults to provide the accurate, comprehensive, age-appropriate information children need for a fulfilling and safe journey through life.Talking Sex covers a variety of topics including sexual safety, diversity, reproduction, pleasure, consent and sexual health - because, after all, most conversations about human sexuality have hardly anything to do with what we commonly think of as 'sex'.Your children are getting a sexuality education every day from the world around them. But is it the one you want them to receive?¿¿¿Who do you want to tell your child about each topic related to sex, human sexuality, consent and respect? Hopefully the answer is you.¿¿Children don't need 'sex ed', they need sexuality education, information and conversations. Become the askable and tellable adult that children need you to be.

'Life is too good for bad study.'Whether academically ambitious or focused on passing, all students want to get the most out of their study time. Yet while many assume the amount of time we spend studying has the biggest impact on results, it is actually the intensity of our effort that reaps the greatest rewards.Aimed at high school students in years 10 to 12, Study Skills for Ambitious Senior Students reveals how to flex the 8 superhabits of study to develop your mind like a muscle and take your performance to the next level.In this book, experienced teacher and author Scott Francis explores a range of high-performance learning strategies - from the power of purposeful planning and practice questions to the secrets of single-tasking and spaced practice - to supercharge your study and help you achieve your full potential.By putting these superhabits into practice, you will become more efficient as a student and have more time to enjoy the other great things in life. After all, life is too good for bad study!

The transition from primary to secondary school is a big step, and it's natural to feel a mix of excitement and nerves during this time. As you get ready for this new chapter in your life, it's important to remember that you have the power to shape your own experience for the better.In Starting High School Leon Furze provides a comprehensive approach to help students confidently navigate the academic, social and emotional aspects of the transition. Learn how to set goals and manage expectations, build your confidence and resilience, and navigate the ups and downs of this exciting new adventure.Full of tips and tricks, this book covers important topics such as time management, communication skills and stress management. Whether you're in Year 5, Year 6 or about to start secondary school, Starting High School can help you prepare for the changes ahead and give you the confidence you need to succeed.

'Life is too good for bad study.'Whether academically aspiring or focused on passing, all students want to get the most out of their study time. Yet while many assume the amount of time we spend studying has the biggest impact on results, it is actually the intensity of our effort that reaps the greatest rewards.Aimed at high school students in years 7 to 10, Foundational Study Skills for High School Students reveals the 8 superhabits of study that will maximise the impact of your learning and take your performance to the next level.In this book, experienced teacher and author Scott Francis explores a range of high-performance learning strategies - from the power of purposeful planning and practice questions to the secrets of single-tasking and spaced practice - to supercharge your study and help you achieve your full potential.By putting these superhabits into practice, you will become more efficient as a student and have more time to enjoy the other great things in life. After all, life is too good for bad study!

High Impact Reading Instruction and Intervention in the Primary Years is a call to action for passionate teachers, education assistants, principals, and deputy principals who believe in the transformative power of literacy. With a focus on evidence-based practices and the science of reading, Julie Scali equips educators with accessible and practical knowledge to elevate their teaching to the next level.In the first part of the book, Julie lays the foundation for high-impact literacy instruction and intervention, emphasising the importance of data-informed practice, high expectations, explicit instruction, daily review, and response to intervention. With an unwavering dedication to student success, she guides educators through the fundamentals that will empower them to create classrooms where every student can thrive.The second part of the book dives into the science of reading, unravelling the complexities of how children best learn to read. Julie connects research to practical examples, providing educators with insights on implementing structured literacy in the classroom. Unlock the potential of young minds and nurture a love for reading that will last a lifetime.

"Scripts allow hesitant students to be able to assume the protection of a character and play a role or explore issues which may concern them in real life."Issues contains a collection of scripts, discussion prompts and activities for use in the classroom, as a way of opening up students to understand and process topical and sensitive issues in their world, from a range of perspectives. The art of performing harnesses the students' engagement in the subject and offers a chance to immerse themselves within the protection of a character or role.This book gives middle school and secondary school students a chance to discuss contemporary topics or problems during the classroom rehearsal and performance of these scripts. There are enough parts for the whole class to participate, and conversation prompts and activities are provided to extend and deepen classroom discussion.Extensively workshopped and already used in classrooms nationally, this large collection of student performance scripts allows students and teachers to improve their ability to understand, navigate and discuss sensitive issues in the classroom.

Leading with the Social Brain in Mind puts relationships front and centre of the important work that educators do. The number and different types of relationships that educators maintain on daily basis can be undervalued and underestimated. Specifically, it challenges system and school leaders to investigate how social brain theory affects the unintended results of collaborative interactions in their own complex organisational environments.Designing environments for collaboration in schools is a complex task and requires a lot of skill, especially in those where many institutional practices and structures are so widely accepted that they are rarely questioned. This book discusses the importance of collaboration in schools, explores silo mentality and asks educators to reflect on how their decisions are impacted by implementation barriers.It is an invaluable read for educators who want to understand associations among cognition, complexity and collaboration in leading change initiatives in schools.

Being a teenager can be tough. There are changes and challenges to deal with, and seemingly endless priorities competing for your attention. It can be hard to find the time and energy to take care of yourself, but it's vital for your health and happiness to make self-care part of your daily routine.In the Student Wellbeing Handbook, Leon Furze unpacks the key issues impacting high school students' mental and physical wellbeing, including mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, water, sleep, resilience, technology, bullying and emotional regulation.In these pages you'll uncover effective strategies and proven techniques for increasing mindfulness, reducing stress and building resilience, ensuring you're in the best position to meet the challenges of life and learning with confidence, clarity and a positive mindset.

Rachel Stewart is a parent engagement specialist with a passion for supporting the vital role of parents and carers in their children's education. With touching anecdotes from her own life experiences, Rachel describes how the adults who surround children can learn alongside them - with children, families and teachers forming a powerful learning team.With a focus on compassion - for self and for others - Rachel encourages parents to reflect on their life and grow their awareness of how their experiences might influence their parenting style. She encourages a close relationship between parents and teachers for the benefit of the child and invites parents to build a relationship with their children that encourages a love for learning and growth as unique individuals. Importantly, Rachelexplains how to stay connected while letting go.Creating Connections provides the support and affirmation craved by any parent who has wondered if they are doing a good job.

Do you want to engage students, prevent disruption, and maybe even teach a decent lesson? The Teaching Game offers a very practical approach that can be applied immediately.You'll discover how to manage a classroom, deliver curriculum, provide effective feedback, use data, plan for the next unit, write an assessment piece, teach students on the spectrum, and care for your own wellbeing.This book is for those who are:About to embark on their teaching careerThinking of joining the teaching ranksWanting to further develop their teaching skillsMentoring early-career teachers

Talkin' Chalk will inspire confidence, knowledge and understanding in every new teacher who reads it. Author Rebecca West, a Top 10 Finalist of the 2021 Global Teacher Prize and creator of YouTube channel Talkin' Chalk, shares her invaluable top tips and experiences from two decades of teaching.This book offers real advice about how to set up your classroom, plan and monitor your workload, build relationships, reflect on practice and much more. The useful tips and editable templates make it a practical and indispensable resource. Talkin' Chalk is a prerequisite to teaching your first class, and will remove any fear or angst from beginning teachers.

Ask the Animals aims to encourage the natural curiosity of young children. Unfortunately curiosity in a child's early years weakens with time, and during school they become accustomed to mainly seeking correct answers to questions asked by their teachers.Curiosity involves asking questions about something which you know little about. These questions usually start with WHY or HOW and help children to gain knowledge of their own accord.In this book 16 animals are introduced with an illustration and a fun rhyming poem, and are followed by a range of WHY and HOW questions to strengthen curious thinking.Ask the Animals shows young children the importance of asking questions and develops their critical and creative thinking.

People Interacting is an extensive resource of interactive games that can be used to help students develop a breadth of social skills. The 150 activities have been designed for a range of abilities, ages and levels of maturity. Each activity is clearly set out with a focus, time, materials, the procedure and points for discussion.The selection of activities cover warm ups, self development and responsibility, communication and relationships, and problem solving and decision making. Each procedure, variation and discussion topic has been tried and tested and chosen specifically because of the value it provides to students.Combining the activities with conversational prompts to encourage reflection and discussion, People Interacting aims to encourage and aid the development of the student as a total person by exploring mind, body, emotions, values, and attitudes. The activities enable students to make sense of what they experience in terms of their own needs - their ability to solve problems, to develop a positive self-concept and to develop their social and interpersonal skills more broadly.

As educators we all recognise the power of using data to inform our work. A key piece that is often missing is how we engage students in their data story.When we use data with students they become data-informed learners. They have a better understanding of their ability as a learner and can articulate their goals and challenges more clearly. We can support our students through targeted conversations, working in partnership to help them improve.There are three main purposes for using data with students: goal setting, learning dispositions or behaviour, and the quality of student learning or understanding. There are five main modes by which we do this: data walls, success criteria, student-generated assessment, deliberate conversations and data on walls in classrooms.In this book, Dr Selena Fisk unpacks these purposes and modes, giving practical ideas for implementation in schools and classrooms. She offers guidance in having constructive data-informed conversations with students, while building a culture of psychological safety where data use is productive and transformational.

Practical Writing Strategies is the perfect guide for educators looking to take their students' writing to the next level. This book balances the process and product of writing with a clear Writing Cycle in six stages: Purpose, Exploration, Ideas, Skills, Collaboration, and Publication.Each stage includes engaging activities to help students understand and value the writing process. Practical Writing Strategies teaches genuine writing not just as an assessment task, but as a means of self-expression, exploration, creativity, and knowledge building.With Practical Writing Strategies, you will learn how to guide your students to become confident and successful writers.

Child protection training, undertaken by educators, maintains a general knowledge of what to do if concerns arise. The purpose of this book is to help the early childhood sector to be working from a position of earlier identification and prevention. This book is a step-by-step guide to champion children's safety and wellbeing. As a practical tool, it will give clarification and confidence about what to do to create a culture of child safety at your education and care organisation.

"Philanthropy responds to a vision more than a need. Its best advocate is the voice."A strong philanthropic culture enhances a school's capacity to provide an exceptional education and improve outcomes for all students. The School Philanthropy Handbook explores the role of modern philanthropy in independent schools and provides a framework to establish an enduring culture of giving that will outlast short-term fundraising tactics.Gavan Woinarski's future-focused model of school philanthropy empowers educational leaders to create a compelling vision and bring people together to connect and inspire prospective donors. He offers practical guidance on how to sharpen funding strategies, unify working groups, develop major gift plans, improve database management and practise good stewardship to secure real philanthropic support.Featuring a wealth of wisdom, tips and templates-with some fascinating stories shared along the way-the School Philanthropy Handbook offers a refreshed look at how schools can embrace a culture of philanthropy that delivers benefits for years to come.

Grief and Loss in Schools aims to support teachers and schools by providing discussion topics, play scripts and engaging activities to allow students to work through thoughts and feelings they may be having.With this book, Hazel Edwards hopes to dispel the taboo and uncomfortable feelings associated with this subject, and encourage schools and teachers to open up conversations. Hazel provides guidance to initiate a comfortable setting for students to express their thoughts, concerns and questions, and for teachers to address any misconceptions.Featuring stories from Hazel's experience and research, as well as practical and thought-provoking questions, and role play scripts based on various scenarios, Grief and Loss in Schools is a welcome resource. It will help teachers encourage conversations that will benefit the mental health of their students and school communities.

In Seriously Fun Maths, Dr Laura Tuohilampi changes the narrative of mathematics education into something fascinating, intriguing and something that touches every human. Based on her cutting-edge research she challenges the outdated ways of motivating students around maths. This engaging book provides teachers with research, resources and activities to teach a lesson a month. The rich activities are accessible to young students and deep enough for secondary students. Even adults! This book will help mathematics educators reflect on their skills of orchestrating mathematical discussions and problem-solving. They will learn how to increase students'' engagement in ways that reduce stress-inducing expectations around what a ''good'' student in maths can and cannot do. Teachers will improve their grasp of what''s important - making mathematics a meaningful experience.Everyone will have serious fun while learning maths!

Timothy M. O''Leary is a firm believer that decisions about improvements, whether they be for a teacher or school, need to be based on fact, not fancy. In Classroom Vibe he uses data to demystify why some classrooms are primed for learning while others aren''t and explains why strategies for change in schools often fail. In breaking down the atmosphere of the classroom as experienced by the students - the ''classroom vibe'' - he gives teachers practical steps for improving theirs.The author argues that when teachers focus their improvement efforts on the ''vibe'' in each of their classrooms and school leaders focus on supporting their teachers in this endeavour, everyone benefits. He provides a clear framework that highlights how the culture of a classroom can determine whether important teaching strategies will succeed or fail.