Reader Submission

‘While it will take us some time before we understand the full effect of temporary school closures on student learning long term, we’ve (in the meantime) learnt some important things to inform our teaching practices going forward.’

The Collaborative and Reflective Practices Program at Brisbane’s Villanova College aims to improve teaching practice by bringing teachers together, to allow them to collaborate and discuss the impact they have on their students, and implement new strategies with the support of their peers.

‘The 16 Habits of Mind are versatile dispositions that help us solve life's challenges and master subject area content.’ Dr Keith Mason and Dr Jason DeHart trace the ways Costa and Kallick’s Habits of Mind might take shape in a literacy-focused classroom.

Nick Brooking, Head of Mathematics at Peace Lutheran College, has been investigating strategies to reduce exam anxiety among his students – the first cohort to face Queensland’s new external examinations. In today’s reader submission he shares what’s happened so far and some of the feedback from students.

‘Students’ questions made it apparent that they were still confused about the next steps in their learning. … Why didn’t they value the feedback?’ In today’s article, Head Teacher at Al-Faisal College Omar Jamal shares how developmental rubrics have improved student learning.

Nathanael Reinertsen conducted a survey to gauge what Australian teachers think about marking large-scale assessments. In today's article, he shares some of the key findings from that survey, including why participants valued marking exams as good professional development.

‘In the new normal, specialist teachers have adapted to different ways of delivery and interaction …’ Music teacher David Pullen shares how he used existing resources to create a virtual excursion to Queensland Symphony Orchestra for his Prep to Year 6 students.

How do students feel about the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on their education? During the school lockdowns experienced across the country, Butler College in Western Australia captured student voice via an online survey, gathering a snapshot of how students were feeling about the pandemic.

The introduction of the Learning Specialist role, as part of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2017, has allowed experienced teachers to support colleagues to improve their practice, while still being able to remain in the classroom. In today’s reader submission, Nicole Kelly, a Learning Specialist at Ararat Primary School in Victoria, shares her experience.

In today’s reader submission Lanella Sweet, Extension and Enrichment Teacher at Wesley College in Melbourne, shares examples of classroom investigations designed to help students understand and develop their use of mathematical language, and its links with other areas of the curriculum.