Parent participation

Researchers from Edith Cowan University have recently highlighted the ongoing importance of explicitly teaching both handwriting and keyboarding skills to students, starting in the primary years. Dr Anabela Malpique joins Teacher editor Jo Earp to discuss findings of the meta-analysis and follow-up study, and tips for helping students become hybrid writers.

In this podcast episode, Glenn Kayes, Deputy Principal at Kellyville High School in New South Wales, shares how the school’s average student attendance rate has increased, thanks to an evaluation and review of existing policies and procedures, and a raft of new measures.

How can schools work with parents effectively to support student attendance? New research suggests families can be unaware of the extent of their child’s absences and aren’t concerned about them missing school. We speak with Dr Anna Saavedra about the study findings and practical strategies for highlighting the importance of attendance with parents.

Parents and families are integral members of a school community, and working with them to improve student outcomes is a key part of an educator’s role. In our latest expert Q&A we speak to ACER Research Officer Simone Griggs and colleagues Greta Rollo, who leads the Primary, Early Childhood and Inclusive Research team, and Research Fellow Dr Kellie Picker, about a resource they’re developing to help practitioners build strong partnerships with families, including how to navigate difficult conversations.

Research shows parents want more frequent communication about their child’s learning, and that communicating both a student’s individual achievement, and learning growth is important. In this article, we speak to one school about their new approach to student reporting.

We know that e-cigarette use among adolescents in Australia has quickly become a pressing issue. So, how can educators empower them to say no to vaping, and work towards the prevention of e-cigarette use among young people? In this episode, we speak to the team behind the Unpacking Vaping in Schools Project about their findings so far.

Any kind of change can be exciting and sometimes daunting, and moving from primary to secondary school is no different. So, what are the worries and challenges for students, and what would help to make the process easier? In this episode we’re discussing the research behind Life Ed’s Guide to Thrive transition program and how student voice has informed the resources.

In today’s article Janie Thompson – Manager and Nurse Continence Specialist at the Continence Foundation of Australia's National Continence Helpline – shares some of the real-life situations faced by K-12 educators who ring the helpline, along with strategies and advice.

‘It's one of those things that people don't feel comfortable talking about. Why is it so difficult to have that conversation when it is absolutely critical for our social wellbeing as well as our health?’ Bronwyn Robinson, Education Manager at the Continence Foundation of Australia, explains not all students start school toilet trained, others need ongoing support, and some who have previously had no problems can start to have difficulties.

In your school, what initiatives do you have in place to engage students in learning about sustainability? At one school in Victoria, sustainability is embedded across the school, and in this episode, their sustainability coordinator joins us to discuss their journey to prioritising sustainability as a school community.