Long reads

‘De-implementation is the art and science of removing an approach, practice, initiative, or program that is no longer meeting student and school needs’. In this article, Evidence for Learning’s Susannah Schoeffel and Michael Rosenbrock share what there is to gain from de-implementation, and considerations for schools.

Teachers do their best to support student wellbeing, and often this can mean supporting a student who may be showing signs of posttraumatic stress at school. In this article, Dr Emily Berger shares trauma-informed strategies that teachers can use in the classroom to support both student and teacher wellbeing.

‘PD needs to be well-designed, selected, and implemented so that the investment is used well.’ In our latest reader submission, Hannah Matthews and Susannah Schoeffel from Evidence for Learning share the mechanisms of professional development, and how schools can consider the overall quality of PD programs for their school setting.

In this Q&A, Margaret Horton, Senior Vice Principal at Methodist Ladies College, shares how the school has developed a culture of wellbeing which has raised EAP utilisation rates well above the industry standard.

Public speaking is a daunting prospect for many students. Loreto Normanhurst in New South Wales has developed a Year 9 unit which supports students to research and confidently deliver a speech on a topic they are passionate about.

Research analysing data on 1.3 million students and 50,000 teachers in the United States has demonstrated a positive impact on student academic achievement and behavioural outcomes when they are taught by the same teacher twice. Dr Leigh Wedenoja shares more details with Teacher in this article.

‘One class was a notable illustration of everything we know about quality in play-based learning.’ In this article, ACER Senior Research Fellow Rachel Parker shares the details of a playful STEM class she witnessed in the United States, where students were engaged in a crime scene investigation activity.

Participation in physical activity is important for all students. However, traditional team sports at school aren’t for everyone. In this article, we speak to teacher Travis McKenzie, who has offered students the opportunity find their passion in physical activity through his program, Swords Club.

When students experience prolonged absences from school due to serious illness, it can bring up unique emotional, social and educational challenges for the student, their teacher and classmates. In this article, Year 5 teacher at Waverly College, Jennifer Hoare, shares some strategies the school uses to support students experiencing illness.

‘Changing video consumption patterns in education have inspired a growing body of research focused on measuring video’s effectiveness as a learning aid’. In our latest reader submission, Tara Walsh shares some findings from her recent literature review into the use of instructional video in K-12 education.