The Curriculum and Pedagogy Newsletter is sent every month. To subscribe/unsubscribe to the newsletter, please login and update your subscription preferences under the "Update my Details" tab in the member dashboard.
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 - November 2024
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...
Australian Children's Laureate - Sally Rippin
AISWA EC, in partnership with ACLF, has been thrilled to host Sally Rippin as the Australian Children's Laureate. Sally has published over 100 books and is well known for her book series Billie B Brown, Hey Jack, School of Monsters and Polly and Buster. Sally has engaged and inspired budding authors and illustrators across WA the past two weeks, sharing her message 'All kids can be readers!'
A huge thank you to the schools that made us feel so welcome throughout our travels:
Australian Christian College Darling Downs
Living Waters Lutheran College
Rockingham Montessori School
Austin Cove Baptist College
Helena River Steiner School
Australian Islamic College Henley Brook
Atlantis Beach Baptist College
Immaculate Heart College
Emmanuel Christian School
We also spent a morning at Paper Bird: Children’s Books and Art in Fremantle, where we were joined by Sally Rippin fans and the PP students from Lance Holt School.
Tinker Lab - Iona Presentation College
AISWA Early Childhood recently visited Iona Presentation College’s incredible Tinker Lab. The space is beautifully curated to spark curiosity and creativity and we loved sharing images and videos of students engaging with learning in the space. The visit has provoked ideas and inspiration for 2025 planning.
Vocabulary Development in Early Childhood Research
Are you passionate about young children's vocabulary development?
If so, The University of Notre Dame invites you to participate in an exciting research project on Vocabulary Development in Early Childhood. As an early childhood educator, your valuable insights from the classroom are essential to this study. By participating, you will complete a brief online questionnaire (10-20 minutes) and a semi-structured interview (20-30 minutes), during which you can share your experiences and strategies for teaching vocabulary.
This is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on your teaching practices, connect with fellow educators, and contribute to important research that will benefit early childhood education.
If you would like further information, please contact Kelly Taylor.
The Benefits of Belonging to a Playgroup at School
The EYLF V.2 reminds us that in early childhood, and throughout life, trusting relationships and affirming experiences are crucial to a sense of belonging. Belonging is central to being and becoming in that it shapes who children are and who they can become (p.5). Playgroups offered on school sites are a fantastic way to support a child’s educational journey and enhance the opportunity for schools to build strong relationships and partnerships with families in their own community.
According to the Telethon Kids Institute, children who do not attend playgroups are 1.78 times more likely to be developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains of the AEDC at school entry, even after adjusting for socio-economic and demographic differences. Research by the Telethon Kids Institute (2016) also highlights the extensive advantages of playgroups for young children’s holistic development including language and communication skills, social and emotional skills, physical and cognitive development.
Who and where do we run a playgroup?
Playgroups do not need to be run solely by educators; parents and carers can act as playgroup leaders, helping to bridge partnerships with families and build the child's transition to school. Also, we no longer need to offer a single room for playgroup, perhaps it could be offered in a school library, outdoor nature space or art area? Perhaps it could be a mobile playgroup?
Targeting the needs of children in our school community
The national census information obtained from the Australian Early Development Census (released in March 2025) also provide playgroups with an opportunity to be even more targeted in meeting the needs of children in their own community.
If you have a questions regarding playgroup at your AISWA school, contact Lynne McCarney.
Previous Newsletters
Early Childhood April Newsletter
Early Childhood May Newsletter
Early Childhood June Newsletter
Early Childhood July Newsletter
Early Childhood August 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
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A strong focus on schools sharing illustrations of practice in areas of careers advice & Workplace Learning. We will be allocating time to network and plan for 2025.
Presentations on the day include:
- New Individual Pathway Planning resources from the Department of Education
- Financial Administrative & Professional Services Training Council
- Aviation Careers
- Schools sharing Illustrations of Practice
- Important update from SM TAFE on 2026 changes to delivery arrangements
- New Training.Gov Training Register
- Planning for 2025