Long reads

Last year, staff at Skillset Senior College investigated the impact of school-based interventions on student mental health. The research findings have recently been published. In this article, we speak to Dr Martin Hughes about the interventions and the positive impact of the action research project on students and staff.

‘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.

'The importance of establishing strong positive attitudes towards learning – particularly towards reading, which underlies so much of students’ learning – is critical, particularly in view of the past two years.' Ahead of the December release of PIRLS 2021 results, Dr Sue Thomson recaps what 2016 data show about students in Australia.

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.