Schemes are patterns of thinking and behaviour that help children (and adults!) make sense of the world as they try to find out how things work.
Schemes are ‘short cuts’ for thinking about a collection of concepts and powerful motivators for repetitive action.
Are you observing children, for example, repeatedly:
• Dropping toys from their highchair or pram?
• Moving things from one place to another?
• Constructing fences and barricades to enclose themselves or animals?
• Twirling and spinn...
Browse AISWA Professional Learning
- 5 August, 2024Early Childhood
- 7 August, 2024This workshop, presented by Kath Murdoch for AISWA Early Childhood, is designed to suit K-6 educators. One of the core elements of an inquiry based approach is the use of a ‘cycle of inquiry’ to support and scaffold both planning and teaching. This collaborative process is creative and dynamic and can be a powerful professional learning experience in itself. In this workshop we will explore practical approaches to designing inquiry journeys with and for our learners with an emphasis on ...Early Childhood, Humanities and Social Sciences, Literacy, Science
- 14 August, 2024"One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.” Jacinda Ardern (Former Prime Minister of New Zealand) The afternoon network meetings are for anyone interested in gender equality and the role of women in leadership roles across varying industries. Each event will...Leadership
- 15 August, 2024This program invites early career teachers to develop leadership skills both inside and outside the classroom. Focusing on Leading in Action, the second year of AISWA's Early Career Teacher program provides new educators the opportunity to take on new leadership roles in their schools. This type of program recognises that leadership in education goes beyond just classroom teaching and includes roles like mentoring, curriculum development, and school improvement initiative. ...Leadership
- 16 August, 2024Network days provide opportunities for teachers to meet and engage in Professional Learning throughout the academic year. The Network Days are designed to meet the specific needs of teachers engaged in the various English courses. A range of presenters and activities are sourced for these events to address the demands of each of the courses. A new Network Day forum. The day will address the needs of those working to support students’ literacy in the Secondary school context....Literacy
- 19 August, 2024The first year of the AISWA Early Career Teacher program is designed to support and develop educators who are in the early stages of their teaching careers. This scoped and sequenced program provides early career teachers with the necessary training, mentorship, and support to assist them in being effective and successful practitioners in the classroom, as well as active contributors to their school context.Some of the module content includes, but is not limited to: 1. Professional identity...Leadership
- 19 August, 2024AISWA is proud to present the online AICD Governance Foundations course for Not-For-Profit Directors of Independent Schools. This 1.5-day online course is open exclusively to Governing Board Members and Principals of AISWA schools and is being run in partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), a leading provider of governance education and development programs. The course has been tailored to the unique governance needs of Independent schools, providing participants wi...Governance, Leadership
- 20 August, 2024Are you an Education Assistant working in Early Learning or Middle years of Primary School? Do you want to enhance your skills and knowledge to better support the students you work with? This day of professional learning offers a range of sessions focused on effective communication, working with children with additional needs, oral language development and hands-on literacy and numeracy experiences. You will be provided with practical strategies and techniques that can be applied in the classroo...Early Childhood, Inclusive Education, Literacy, Numeracy
- 20 August, 2024AISWA is proud to present the online AICD Governance Foundations course for Not-For-Profit Directors of Independent Schools. This 1.5-day online course is open exclusively to Governing Board Members and Principals of AISWA schools and is being run in partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), a leading provider of governance education and development programs. The course has been tailored to the unique governance needs of Independent schools, providing participants wi...Governance, Leadership
- 21 August, 2024Are you a highly effective and skilled classroom practitioner who regularly guides, supports or leads others?Why not be recognised for your excellent work through National Certification? Come and join a group of like-minded colleagues as you support one another to evidence your practice and achieve National Certification as a Highly Accomplished or Lead teacher. These sessions are a compulsory component of applying for Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher (HALT) status. We will meet fou...Early Childhood, Inclusive Education, Leadership, Primary
- 22 August, 2024This 14 hour course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem. The course is suitable for adults working with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, it can also be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older. Course Content Participants will learn about adolescent development and the signs and symptoms of these mental health problems, where and how to get help and...Psychology and Wellbeing
- 23 August, 2024Professional learning relating to the issues faced by learners for whom English is an additional language or dialect (EALD). This session provides advice to primary and secondary classroom teachers to support such students, and to make use of the linguistic and cultural knowledge and understandings that EALD learners bring to the classroom. Learning academic content in a second language raises issues that are considerably different from learning academic content in a familiar language. ...EALD, Inclusive Education, Literacy
- 23 August, 2024This Network is for AISWA Principals and Executive Team staff who are in the early stages of their role and/or those who come with experience, but are new to Western Australia. It is intended that you will be able to serve as a resource for one another and share questions and discoveries. We will meet each term to share solutions to current issues and questions, whilst enjoying the collegial interaction over a light lunch.The general format for each sessio...Leadership
- 23 August, 2024Guidance on what questions to ask and information to gather when enrolling a student for whom English is an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD). In order to maximise and expedite support for EALD students, schools need to gather important information at the point of enrolment. This session is designed for school staff who are involved as the first point of contact with the student and their family. The aim of the session is to: - provide examples of questions to ask to gain insight in...Administration, EALD, Inclusive Education, Languages, Literacy
- 26 August, 2024The 2024 Emerging Leaders Program consists of four scoped and sequenced modules that develop the knowledge, skills, and understandings of identified educators who wish to pursue promotional positions in AISWA schools. The four modules are:1. Leadership today for tomorrow2. Communication and relationships3. Strategy, negotiation and influence4. Gauging impact for improvementNOTE: Participants in this program are requireed to complete a DISC profile.Embark on a transformative journey where your po...Leadership
- 27 August, 2024Literacy Bites are a series of workshops focused on Literacy and hosted by experts in the field. Workshops are stand alone, you can attend all or one of the workshop series. Viewing: The Power of Image - Ron GormanExamining the interplay between words and images.This session will consider the viewing as a powerful and complex process. It will examine the literacy demands required by children in a complex and dynamic landscape. The session will consider effective use of picture books as well...Early Childhood, Literacy
- 27 August, 2024Designed as a comprehensive professional learning opportunity that spans 6 months (Feb-August 2024), participants will unpack core elements and effective practices to intentionally cultivate early literacy in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. This PL includes completion of the Playful Literacy online course, designed by Lisa Burman, South Australian education consultant. This course encompasses many vital aspects of early literacy practice such as symbolic play, oral language, early writing and...Early Childhood
- 29 August, 2024This 14 hour course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem. The course is suitable for adults working with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, it can also be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older. Course Content Participants will learn about adolescent development and the signs and symptoms of these mental health problems, where and how to get help and...Psychology and Wellbeing
- 4 September, 2024A professional learning course for teachers wishing to develop knowledge and skills in second language acquisition/learning.This professional learning program is held over 7 days throughout 2024. It is designed to provide teachers with a collaborative and supportive environment through which they can engage with contemporary approaches, and future challenges associated with the implementation of the Australian and Western Australian Curriculum for Languages.The program provides a rich blend of t...EALD, Languages
- 6 September, 2024A two-month mixed delivery course designed for school leaders and EALD specialist teachers to plan for effective practices to strengthen the support for English as an Additional Language/Dialect students.This course aims to bring EALD specialists and school leaders together to explore effective strategies and practices to support multilingual students. The course comprises of a full day workshop (in person), ongoing on-line discussion and a final 90-minute webinar to share evaluations and future...EALD, Inclusive Education, Leadership, Literacy
- 9 September, 2024The course provides an in-depth analysis of the chair’s accountabilities and relationships with other board members and the principal.You will explore the chair’s role both inside and outside the boardroom and take part in a forum for participants to discreetly discuss leadership, relationship management, and governance issues—including board selection, board processes, and principal succession planning.The course will also provide a rare opportunity to discuss common school governance issues –s...Governance, Leadership
- 9 September, 2024Schemes are patterns of thinking and behaviour that help children (and adults!) make sense of the world as they try to find out how things work. Schemes are ‘short cuts’ for thinking about a collection of concepts and powerful motivators for repetitive action. Are you observing children, for example, repeatedly: • Dropping toys from their highchair or pram? • Moving things from one place to another? • Constructing fences and barricades to enclose themselves or animals? • Twirling and spinn...Early Childhood
- 11 September, 2024A full day workshop for language teachers who are teaching in an early childhood context. This workshop will present the principles and practices of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the new WA Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines and offer ideas to integrate the framework's outcomes into a Pre-K to Year 2 languages classroom in practical and engaging ways. There will also be time to plan and prepare a unit of work using these principles. Aimed at language teachers unfamili...Early Childhood, Languages
- 13 September, 2024Network days provide opportunities for teachers to meet and engage in Professional Learning throughout the academic year. The Network Days are designed to meet the specific needs of teachers engaged in the various English courses. A range of presenters and activities are sourced for these events to address the demands of each of the courses. A networking and PL opportunity for English Faculty/Department leaders. This PL is run in conjunction with CEWA. Agenda t...Literacy
- 16 September, 2024The 2024 Middle Leaders Program is a practical, highly interactive, and evidence-based program that stretches emerging leaders to the next stage of their personal and professional growth in school leadership. Dynamic by nature, the program is also supported by guest speakers who invite participants on a journey of collaboration, exploration and reflection. The 2024 Middle Leaders Program consists of four modules. These are: 1. Middle leader identity 2. Middle leaders - navigating rel...Leadership