The arts

A pioneering educator and acclaimed artist from India who has transformed neglected walls into hundreds of vibrant, open-air learning centres has won the $1 million 2026 Global Teacher Prize. Rouble Nagi creates large-scale, interactive educational murals teaching literacy, numeracy, science, hygiene, history, environmental awareness, and social responsibility.

‘Comedy scriptwriting doesn’t just teach literacy, it gives young people the confidence and creativity to see themselves as writers, performers and storytellers.’ Bridget Hanna – Education Manager at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation – shares how comedy scriptwriting brings energy, laughter and collaboration into the classroom and helps develop literacy and language skills.

Findings from an Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) survey commissioned by Alberts and The Tony Foundation of over 700 primary school teachers across 95 schools in New South Wales highlight the different ways music education is being offered. Teachers were asked: ‘In what form(s) is music education provided at your school?’. Find out more in today’s infographic.

‘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.

Arts Therapists integrate their knowledge of arts and psychotherapy to facilitate healing and growth, using art materials and techniques alongside psychological principles. ANZACATA is the regulatory body for all qualified Art Therapists, and in this article, they share more about art therapy and how it can help people.

The Song Room’s Social and Emotional Learning through the Arts program is a place-based, trauma-informed, and strengths-based program that uses the arts to explicitly teach social and emotional skills. At Wantirna Primary School in Melbourne’s east, this arts-based social and emotional learning has become a key part of the school’s wellbeing strategy.

In Episode 101 of The Research Files Teacher editor Jo Earp is joined by ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Rebecca Taylor to explore survey data from 2 reports into music teaching and music education in primary schools, all about the ‘what’, ‘when’, and ‘how’ music learning is delivered.

New research from academics at the University of the Sunshine Coast shows that maths and science educators can use visual cues in nature like animal trails and patterns to explore both simple and complex mathematical concepts with students. 

‘By fostering empathy, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, drama plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of global citizens ...’ Lauren Backhouse – Phase Leader, Upper Primary at the Budapest British International School in Hungary – shares how she has incorporated drama into her own classroom practice to teach Global Citizenship Education.

Recent research reveals a decline in high-quality music education availability, and that music teachers are particularly vulnerable to burnout. In response to these challenges, Gradus Software has developed MusicApprentice through extensive consultation with music educators over several years.