One of the biggest challenges educators face is to find better ways to meet the learning needs of the many students who fall behind in our schools, fail to meet year-level expectations (often year after year) and, as a consequence, become increasingly disengaged, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

‘For some, this transition will be filled with as much anxiety as the first day of school or the school year.’ In this reader submission, Dr Carl Leonard and Dr Gail Brown provide tips and suggestions for teachers and leaders to help manage the transition for all students, and particularly those with additional needs.

The Netherlands is one of PISA’s consistent top performers and is often recognised internationally as an example of educational success and a front-runner in supporting struggling learners. Here, we take a look at a project that’s focused on extending gifted learners in the Netherlands.

The Association of Independent Schools New South Wales (AISNSW) has been working with 38 of its schools on a targeted early years program that aims to help students in Kindergarten to Year 2 master key literacy and numeracy skills.

Dr John Munro joins Teacher to discuss gifted learners – in particular, how to identify these learners, how to understand their learning needs and how to encourage them to reach their potential in the classroom and beyond.

How might teachers best support struggling learners in the classroom? In our latest reader submission, teacher educators Dr Bryan Matera and Dr Joel Traver suggest five principles that can increase results when supporting struggling learners in the primary years.

A major change in the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) has prompted one senior maths teacher to draw his students into deep thinking about mud crab fishing – and at the same time develop problem-solving and mathematical modelling skills needed for the new curriculum.

What are some practical strategies teachers could use in the classroom to assist students with ADHD? Dr Emma Sciberras from Deakin University joins Teacher to discuss her research on children with ADHD and their behaviour, learning and day-to-day living.

Chapter three of the Gonski report discusses the value of excellent teachers, the importance of upgrading their professional practice, and the need for expert educators ‘who foster the learning growth of their students through collaboration, mentoring and continuous learning’.

In this fortnightly series, Teacher takes a closer look at some of the Gonski recommendations and highlights existing work by educators to illustrate what they might look like in practice. Here, we explore the use of internal self-reviews and external quality assurance processes for school improvement.