Bernie Hawker, Head of Department Teaching and Learning at Goondiwindi State High School in Queensland, joins us to talk about the school’s award-winning STEAM Program, which has been successful in improving student writing outcomes. You’ll also hear about the strong culture of sharing and collaboration among staff, including through Professional Learning Communities, that’s been key to the program’s continued growth and success.

More than half of Australia’s population is under COVID-19 lockdowns, which means many of you are right in the thick of a long period of remote learning, maybe while trying to homeschool your own children at the same time. In today’s episode I run through some of the recent wellbeing pieces we’ve published, as well as some other highlights from a busy month here at Teacher.

‘The sense of achievement I feel when a messy, weedy garden bed is turned back into a neat and tidy patch makes me happy.’ Victorian educator Donna White shares her passion for gardening with readers, explaining why her garden is both a form of escapism and a sense of pride.

We’re delighted to let you know our annual reader survey is opening today. It’s the seventh year in a row we have invited you to share your feedback, and this year, if you complete our survey you’ll go into the draw to win a $500 VISA prepaid gift card.

The Learning Specialist role in Victorian schools is aimed at building excellence in learning and teaching. At this high school, the Learning Specialist Team looks through a leader and teacher lens to utilise the strengths of staff, and meet individual professional learning needs.

‘What can we learn from one school that is showing the way in supporting sustainable education using a whole-school approach throughout its entire systems and operations?’ Julie Bosevska and Dr Jeana Kriewaldt, from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, share four ‘lighthouse practices’ to help schools strengthen their approach to sustainability.

Principal David Smith shares three activities he’s embedded into his life to maintain his health, fitness and wellbeing, whilst also helping to relieve some of the pressures that come with being a school leader.

The FlexiSpace initiative in Queensland is aimed at reconnecting disengaged students and supporting them to stay at school. Evaluations of the pilot and first phase of expansion provide early evidence of their effectiveness. Peter Kelly, Deputy Director-General at Queensland Department of Education, shares details of the approach, and the impact it’s having in participating schools.

Christ Church Grammar School in Perth established The Wynne Centre for Boys’ Health and Wellbeing to ensure staff were consistently striving to offer a holistic, well-rounded educational experience. In today’s article, the centre’s Director Liam Casson explains the school’s health and wellbeing strategy, and why collaboration is a key enabler.

In today’s episode of Teacher Staffroom, we shine a spotlight on reading. From encouraging students to find a love of reading, to ensuring they have access to a wide variety of texts, to the books children borrowed most frequently from libraries in 2020 – there was so much to squeeze into today’s podcast.