Why are so many school students falling behind?
NAPLAN results show that 16.2% of Year 3 students are at or below the national minimum standards in numeracy, and 12.9% are at or below the minimum standards in reading....
12 October, 2023
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Why are 70% of Australian students with a disability excluded at school
The next round of education reforms can fix this, researchers Catherine Smith and Helen Dickinson report The National School Reform Agreement is made about once every five years in Australia. This is the main way the federal government can steer changes in how Australian schools are...
09 October, 2023
Hot tips for school Bento Box lunches
What if you could entice your children to eat balanced lunches every day? Originating in Japan, Bento is a home-packed meal in a box-shaped container that holds rice and meats with pickled or cooked vegetables in sectioned compartments. They always look amazing, and if you can get...
05 October, 2023
Book Review: Picture books with themes of self-acceptance, reasoning and diversity
These recently released books are perfect for reading to children under 4 when you need them to understand new concepts. Two Sides to Every Story introduces the concept of 'choices', which is more unusual. I Am Lupe: A Celebration of the Differences that Make Us Who...
28 September, 2023
LiteracyPlanet Introduces Free Resources for Australian Teachers on Pinterest
As the 2023 school year's final term beckons, LiteracyPlanet has a special gift just for educators! These invaluable resources are now available for a free download via the LiteracyPlanet Pinterest page. In a climate of constrained educational budgets and limited classroom hours, LiteracyPlanet recognised the critical need...
24 September, 2023
Lost in space: Open-plan classrooms can leave children adrift
by Professor Gary RanceWe all know that talking and listening in large, noisy spaces (like restaurants, shopping centres or concert venues) is tough. Trying to piece together snippets of conversation with background noise is frustrating, exhausting and a definite barrier to communication. Hearing and understanding speech...
21 September, 2023
Why do fewer than 1 in 5 students who are behind in Year 3 catch up and stay caught up?
Fewer than 1 in 5 students who are behind in Year 3 catch up and stay caught up, report researchers Olivia Groves and Lucy Lu We want all students to finish school with the literacy and numeracy skills they need to take advantage of post-school opportunities...
10 September, 2023
Should we be worried that the latest NAPLAN results don’t look great?
Jessica Holloway looks at why we need to go beyond the headline figures This year’s national NAPLAN results are out, with the news only two-thirds of Australian students met minimum achievement levels in literacy and numeracy. The headlines are everything we would expect them to be –...
09 September, 2023
Why competition isn’t enough to deliver cheaper childcare
Fees keep climbing, and the Australian consumer watchdog is only halfway through an inquiry into childcare prices, reports Danielle Wood The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s interim report was released on Wednesday. It comes just days after the federal government’s increased childcare subsidies kicked in on...
07 September, 2023
How can I tell if my child is ready to start school next year?
At this time of year, many parents and carers are asking a familiar set of questions, write Kate Highfield and Victoria Minson Should I send my child to school next year? Are they ready? Would it be better to hold them back? These are complex questions. Here...
07 September, 2023