In this expert Q&A Amy Ayres – President of the Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales – discusses integrating technology into science instruction and improving students’ critical thinking or inquiry skills. These were 2 areas of future PD need highlighted in the latest Australian TIMSS teacher questionnaire findings.

Teacher editor Jo Earp sits down with Mali Jorm, Madison Dearnaley and Tracy Kelly to talk about managing school library and reading spaces, including building a student-driven collection, creating fresh and welcoming spaces, and strategies to encourage reading for pleasure. They also share their personal and student book recommendations. 

‘I wanted to make a meaningful change in how our kids see themselves as mathematicians.’ Mathematics teacher Holly Wedd has been making a significant difference to the way students at her school succeed in maths by boosting their confidence and reducing mathematics anxiety. 

The Australian Council for Educational Research’s (ACER’s) Pru Mitchell was named winner of the inaugural Victorian Library and Information Award (VLIA). Teacher editor Jo Earp sat down with her to talk about teaching and teacher librarianship, sharing knowledge and expertise, and the role of AI, technology and digital literacy in the classroom.

In a 3-part series for Teacher, the leadership team at Warriapendi Primary School in Perth are sharing how they have built staff instructional capacity to improve student outcomes in literacy. In this second article, they discuss what they’ve implemented so far to support instructional capacity, and how they keep momentum.

Redlands School’s new 9-week, device-free residential learning program for all year 9s is providing opportunities for integrated learning, relationship building and community mindedness. Head of Secondary School Gemma Van de Peer tells Teacher readers about why and how the program was developed, and the impact it has had on student learning and wellbeing.

‘The challenge facing many primary educators is not whether music education matters, but how to deliver quality music programs when they lack the specialised training, resources, or confidence to teach music effectively.’ Find out more about the Fun Music Company’s teacher-friendly, curriculum-aligned programs making quality music education accessible to every primary classroom.

‘We all feel the pressure of keeping up with the latest technology innovations. This is especially true in schools where we are preparing young people for the future.’ In part 2 of his 3-part series on technology in education, Dr Ralph Saubern questions how schools and teachers can choose the right EdTech in the first place.

The rapid adoption of digital technologies in schools has dramatically changed the way schools and classrooms look, teachers work and students learn. In part 1 of this 3-part series on technology in education, Dr Ralph Saubern discusses whether these digital innovations have led to improvements in student learning, and explores how a professional learning community aligned teaching practice with available technology to improve students’ text analysis skills.

‘I’m proud that Future Thinking has become a fantastic case study in how curriculum can evolve to meet the needs of the present and the possibilities of the future.’ Liam Bassett – Director of Digital Learning (P–12) at Westbourne Grammar School – shares details of a new year 9 subject designed to challenge, provoke and inspire.