Is non-fiction dead? Insights from a Book Week Judge
Not That I’ve finished my stint as a CBCA Book Week Judge for the Eve Pownall Information Book Category, it’s finally safe to reveal a dirty secret I’ve held for …
books
6 reasons every teacher should read aloud every day
When my year 3 teacher, Mrs Margaret Browne, told us she had to pull on a pair of gloves before she could start reading our new class novel, I don’t …
10 books to teach friendship, kindness and Gratitude
Does this sound like you?: “We’ve had so many social issues this week- Our students have forgotten how to get along with each other!” While everyone was worried about the …
Why is literacy important? (A lesson from 2020)
As far as books go, 2020 has turned into Margaret Wild’s ‘The Sloth Who Came to Stay.’ You know the picture story book about the busy family forced to adjust …
A Community transmission worth spreading
Olfactory memory. Have you ever smelled a smell and immediately been reminded of a place, person or thing from your past? That’s olfactory memory: the recollections of odours. For me, …
6 life changing leadership Lessons
One Thursday back in 2012, I received an email from the judging panel for the Lindsay Thompson Fellowship (a Victorian Education Excellence Award). They wanted to interview me the following …
Writers and their notebooks: Claire Saxby
Claire Saxby is a Victorian writer who has written almost 40 children’s books. She writes beautiful fiction and non-fiction texts as well as poetry and has won many awards for …
Writers and their notebooks: Lian Tanner
Earlier this year I launched the Writer’s Notebook Series. This series of posts is focused on learning how published authors use their writer’s notebooks so that teachers can implement these …
Writers and their notebooks: Trace Balla
One question I get asked a lot is “how should we use writer’s notebooks with students?” I am all about authenticity so I thought it would make sense to ask …
Classroom Libraries: All Your Questions Answered (Part 2)
In last week’s post we looked at the research behind classroom libraries, the number and types of books they should contain and the need for diversity on our shelves. This …