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The PDFs below are a printable archive of Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletters. The originals were designed to be read in webmail format.
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - October 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - September 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - August 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - July 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - June 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - May 2024
AISWA Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter - April 2024
- Early Childhood
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Meet the AISWA Early Childhood Team...
ECA National Conference
We are excited to share some highlights from the Early Childhood Australia National Conference in Brisbane on one of the conference themes, "Leading a Sustainable Future." The reflections on the following presentations serve as a source of inspiration, motivating us to push the boundaries of our practice and make meaningful contributions to a sustainable future.
Vicki Christopher's presentation was a practical guide on integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into early childhood practice. She provided a wealth of resources and examples that educators can readily apply. You can download the text 'Sustainability Matters in Early Childhood' for free by clicking here.
Amy Duncan's session highlighted the significance of including First Nations voices in pursuing a sustainable future. She stressed the need for truth-telling and culturally responsive practices to promote reconciliation and sustainability in education.
Ellen Casey's research highlighted a thought-provoking connection between gender equality and sustainable practices in early childhood settings. Her work prompts us to consider, 'Is sustainability a feminine agenda?' This question challenges us to reflect on our roles and responsibilities in creating a sustainable world.
ECA WA Conference
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the recent ECA WA Conference: “Ready or Not, Here I Come,” held at ECU, including ten of our AISWA-sponsored early childhood staff. With numerous inspirational speakers, the conference theme was certainly upheld. Reflecting on the breadth and depth of knowledge shared, it was apparent that in WA, we are extremely fortunate to have a shared vision and value for all young children in the state and to recognise early childhood care and education as pivotal to the transformational benefit to children and families’ lives as well as the entire community.
With so many highlights from the conference to choose from, one keynote presentation resonated deeply with Hon Dr. Anne Aly, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth Affairs, delivering a very emotive and poignant talk on her personal experiences of the benefits of high-quality early childhood care and education and the critical role of educators in establishing and maintaining strong relationships. She also highlighted the need for educators to continue to advocate for children and families to have access to the highest possible quality of care and education.
Study Tour - Adelaide
Our recent Early Childhood Study tour to Adelaide was an outstanding professional learning success. Across three days, our delegates visited six school based Early Learning Centres. These ELC’s highlighted inquiry learning, nature pedagogy, play based learning, children’s agency and the importance of engaging environments.
The centres were diverse in school type however the importance of developing strong relationships with children and their families shone through.
Highlights of the tour included:
• Visible documentation of learning displayed across a number of schools. This included the children’s theories, their questions and their final thoughts.
• Witnessing Hills Christian School’s nature Kindy in action. Sitting and listening to four years old children share their safety rules for fire lighting as they used their flints.
• The transition to school process across the schools. In SA children undertake their preschool /kindergarten year within an Early Learning Centre (0-5) and make the transition to ‘big school’ in the new school year. Our reflection was that the transition from Kindy to PP was smoother in WA however the sense of identity and community in the ELC was stronger as many children had been in that service since they were two.
• The multiple storage ideas across the schools. So many oohs and ahhs from the study tour when a host opened their storage shed. Clearly labelled and organised storage, with one person with additional responsibility for organisation seemed to be the key to success.
• Play based pedagogy at the core of every school we visited. Each school had a clear vision of their pedagogy, and their environment reflected this belief.
• The collegiality of our Study Tour group as we learnt with and from each other and built lasting relationships.
Photo credit - St Peter's Girls' School
Photo credit - Hills Christian Community School
Cross-Sector Conversations and Connections
Last week educators and consultants from ECAWA, AISWA, CEWA, SCSA and the Department met for the first of a series of cross-sectoral play-dates. This first session, hosted by AISWA, was a lovely afternoon full of conversation, networking, sharing of knowledge and of course, playing! After sharing in afternoon tea and connecting, participants engaged with a product called makedo: tools designed for children to support cardboard construction.
“Inspired by the creativity and playfulness of his own kids, in 2008, PJ set off on a design adventure. Seeing the big fun his own kids would have with a simple cardboard box sparked memories of his own childhood box play, and highlighted the potential and value of this humble, everyday material. The ‘aha’ moment that PJ had been looking for, had arrived.”
Smiling faces filled the room as everyone planned, designed and built a broad range of creations. As a group, we reflected on the importance of play, for adults as well as children: the element of fun, team building, problem-solving and building connection.
Following on from time to play, Amie Fabry, secretary of ECAWA facilitated a panel discussion with Anne Barone (Department of Education), Wendy Manners (CEWA), Kristy Howson (SCSA) and Rebecca Duncan (AISWA). These representatives responded to a range of questions posed by the room regarding early years education. Topics covered include the application of the EYLF from birth to Year 2, working with leadership teams and ensuring children are at the heart of our work.
Thank you to everyone who attended and took part! Keep your eyes out for future sessions which are open to all AISWA schools.
Previous Newsletters
Early Childhood April Newsletter
Early Childhood May Newsletter
Early Childhood June Newsletter
Early Childhood July Newsletter
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- Languages
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Social media Languages news updates
The AISWA Languages X feed provides constantly updated news for Languages teachers. It can be found here, along with Languages information links and a link to the AISWA Languages blog.
Other news
Over 40 language educators from all sectors gathered at AISWA in May to hear from seasoned Auslan educator Dr Karen Bontempo and Patti Levitzke-Gray presenting on principles of differentiation and inclusive education. Marisa Schiavi (CEWA) and Clare Slyth (AISWA) followed up with sessions on using AI to create IEPs and differentiated language resources. With experienced interpreters available the content was accessible to both hearing and deaf educators and it was a wonderful day of networking and shared learning.
- Leadership and Learning
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Your Leadership Consultant is...
Meika Pfeiffer-Gough (Manager)
Featured Professional Learning
National Certification Project 2024
Join like-minded colleagues and 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.Click here for more information.
Women in Educational Leadership
Our network fosters a supportive environment for women educators to exchange insights, cultivate leadership skills, and break barriers in the leadership landscape. Through collaborative efforts and shared experiences, we aim to inspire, amplify diverse voices, and advance gender equity. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator or researcher, join us as we make meaningful connections and celebrate the achievements of women to pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Click here for more information. Contact spatel@ais.wa.edu.au for registration.
New Principals Network 2024
This 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.Click here for more information. Contact spatel@ais.wa.edu.au for registration.
- Literacy
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Your Consultants are...
Look out for the following Literacy PL events in Terms 3 and 4 and register through the AISWA website.
23 October - Sharp Reading: Guided Reading for Comprehension- provides participants with: an explicit, transferable routine for comprehension instruction, that empowers students.
24 October - Sharp Reading: Developing Decoding Fluency - provides a routine that allows the reader to practise the transference of the knowledge of letters, letter sounds, and spelling patterns when reading authentic text.
1 November - Secondary English Planning Day - held in conjunction with CEWA. A chance for HoLA’s and teachers to collaborate in the construction of Course and Assessment Outlines for 2025.
11 December - Implementation of the Western Australian Curriculum: English - The School Curriculum and Standards Authority will present a workshop designed to provide teachers and curriculum leaders with important information and guidance regarding the 2025 implementation of the Western Australian Curriculum: English.
- Numeracy
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Your Consultant is...
- David Dunstan (Numeracy Coordinator)
Planning for 2025? Free In-School Workshop for 2024
A Whole School Approach for Teaching Place Value
This suite of materials was co-developed by AISWA Numeracy Coordinator, David Dunstan, and Dr Paul Swan, and published in February 2023.
The ‘Teaching Place Value’ materials includes a Facilitator’s Guide, ‘Teaching Place Value’ year books, video instruction for activities, year by year ‘Menu Planners’, resources, and assessments.
75 Minute In – School Workshop Introduction
David has conducted this workshop, which targets Years 1 to 6, across metropolitan and regional WA. Each school receives a Teaching Place Value Materials Kit, that includes counters, dice, transparent spinners, and a USB that houses the 14 videos.
Contact David Dunstan at ddunstan@ais.wa.edu.au or on 0457 767 881 to make a booking.
New Online Resources - ‘reSolve’ for Mathematics and ‘Primary Connections’ for Science
AISWA was visited by staff from the Australian Academy of Science Education Early this term to showcase the new maths ‘reSolve’ and ‘Primary Connections’ science websites that were launched in June 2024. These are free resources. Go to https://resolve.edu.au/ to explore brand new all-online teaching sequences for the Australian Curriculum, plus embedded support for understanding key ideas and pedagogical practices.Timeline of the Review of the Western Australian Curriculum: Mathematics
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) is in the process of adopting and adapting the Australian Curriculum v9 within the P – 10 Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline (the Outline). The Authority plans to have the revised Western Australian Mathematics curriculum for Pre-primary to Year 10 available for familiarisation in 2025, and implementation in 2026.
The Authority has published the following timeline:-
2024 Review and Consultation
2025 Familiarisation and Professional Development
2026 Implementation - Targeted Programs
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Your Consultants are...
- Peter Farmer (NAPLAN). For the latest NAPLAN information and updates please click here.
- Wade McLeod (VET)
AISWA provides ongoing support to VET Coordinators, Careers Educators & Workplace Learning Supervisors. Our consultant - Wade McLeod - is keen to get out to your school to meet any new staff that have commenced a new role in 2024, or anyone that needs further support and mentoring in this space. As well as ongoing support to your staff, AISWA continues to provide some funding grants for:
- VET Student costs – applications open term 2, and
- Year 9 Career Taster Program – Expressions of Interest welcome any time
Please contact Wade for more information on how to apply for funding, as well as to arrange a time for a school visit.
AISWA holds VET & Careers Network meetings each term, where we invite presenters from Industry, Training Providers, SCSA, Department of Training and Workforce Development and many more. We aim to provide schools with as many industry and training links as possible, in order to provide your students with a multitude of pathways.
Upcoming meeting dates for 2024
- Term 4 - Friday, 29 November (Registation opens soon)