Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life by Anna Claybourne & Wesley Robins, Illustrator (Ivy Press, Murdoch Children’s Books, HB, RRP$29.99) Age Group 9-12 years This book is fascinating—clearly organised and illustrated in a very informative way. From Chapter 1: What is Evolution to Chapter 4: Evolution in...
Dr Melissa Kang contemplates how sex education is treated in Australian classrooms, homes, media and peer groups. Research & curriculum implementation Since 1992, national surveys about the sexual health of students in Australian secondary schools have been conducted. We now have a body of evidence about young...
School education needs radical reform if students are to thrive in an increasingly complex world, writes Greg Whitby. For the past 150 years, schooling has remained largely unchanged. For many, the launch of the Federal Government’s Digital Education Revolution initiative in 2008 was the first sign...
Amanda Walsh questions why parents are more hesitant to raise problems they have with a childcare centre than they would be with any other service provider. You’re a parent, a partner, a worker, a student – there are an awful lot of titles and roles that...
Supratik Mukherji believes adding some history and mystery to maths would make it more meaningful and engaging. As a child, I shunned maths as much as I could. My introduction to its concepts and topics in the classroom was formal, dry and devoid of hands-on verification....
Anna Spunde finds that compromise is key in her search for the ideal childcare centre. In my child-free youth, I had strong ideas about what kind of mother I would be. I’d never raise my voice nor plonk my child in front of the TV, and I’d instil...
Stephanie Brown has some homework for parents of children starting school. I wish someone had given me an honest and realistic list of things to be prepared for as I navigated the start of ‘big school’ alongside my five-year-old. So here’s my contribution to the greater...
Janine Armocida writes about bladder and bowel health and habits in young children. Sally* is worried. Her five-year-old son Zac* is starting school at the end of January and is still asking for a nappy when he wants to poo, even though he will happily urinate...
transition to school remains an emotionally charged event for children, for parents and for educators....
We take a look at commonly misunderstood behaviours affecting classroom learning and debunk the stigma they carry. It took Kylie and Phil a long time to find the courage to tell people about their boys’ diagnoses. Ben, now 10, was diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder...
