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Practical books by and for Australian educators

The A to Z of Feelings $44.95

The A to Z of Feelings will help you: differentiate genuine people from those who are fake separate honest people from liars know who truly likes you know who to trust and who not to understand what upsets you and what to do about it learn how to shelve, settle and calm your worries learn how to replicate times of happiness, inspiration and creativity learn how to react more positively to moments of anger or conflict. In perhaps his most ambitious and comprehensive work yet, leading psychologist Andrew Fuller examines the most common emotions and explains what they are, how they work, and how you can use them for your own personal good, rather than letting them rule your life. He explains the origins of emotions and outlines the pathways of the brain that surround and allow emotional development. Divided into easy-to-read, bite-size chunks, The A to Z of Feelings can be dipped into for quick reference or read at leisure for a more detailed understanding. It is essentially a recipe book for all your feelings!

The Pruning Principle $34.95

The Pruning Principle offers a groundbreaking approach to educational leadership, drawing inspiration from horticulture to address the chronic issues of overwork and inefficiency in schools. The authors, Dr Simon Breakspear and Michael Rosenbrock, propose a radical shift from the culture of “doing more” to one of strategic subtraction, arguing that by carefully pruning away non-essential tasks and initiatives, schools can achieve better outcomes with less strain on resources and staff. This practical guide provides a comprehensive framework for implementing The Pruning Principle in educational settings. It outlines the causes of current challenges, introduces the concept and mechanics of pruning, and offers detailed, actionable steps for creating sustainable work rhythms and decision-making processes. With its focus on achievable improvement and educator wellbeing, this book promises to be an invaluable resource for school leaders seeking to cultivate more-effective and balanced educational environments.

The Bully Blocker $34.95

The Bully Blocker: A Play and Other Resources offers teachers a powerful toolkit to address bullying in schools. Based on Evelyn Field's books Bully Blocking: Empowering students to manage bullying and Harry the Bully Blocker, this engaging resource combines a relatable playscript featuring canine characters with evidence-based strategies to combat bullying. The play's unique structure, including a Wise Chorus and opportunities for all students to participate, creates a safe space for exploring this sensitive topic. Through this approach, students are empowered to effectively manage their responses to bullying while raising awareness about its harmful consequences. Designed for easy implementation in the classroom, this book provides educators with discussion prompts, activities, and practical lessons tied to each scene of the play. By exploring bullying through the safety of assuming character roles, students can develop crucial life skills in a fun, inclusive, and reflective learning environment. All strategies presented are grounded in Evelyn Field's expert work, ensuring a solid foundation for addressing bullying in schools.

The Power of Play $39.95

Unlocking the potential of play in early education, this book offers a groundbreaking approach to enriching children's learning experiences. Drawing on her extensive expertise, educator Lili-Ann Kriegler presents a practical roadmap for educators to embed conceptual understanding from the earliest years. Through 7 dynamic learning zones, from free play to auto-generative creativity, Kriegler illuminates how to seamlessly integrate concept formation into daily activities, empowering educators to elevate their teaching practices and nurture young minds for lifelong learning. Accessible and brimming with real-world examples, The Power of Play is essential reading for early childhood educators seeking evidence-based strategies to optimise children's development. With its insightful guidance, this book equips educators with the tools to cultivate rich, purposeful learning environments that inspire curiosity and ignite a love for learning in every child.

Developing Executive Functioning in the Early Years $44.95

In Developing Executive Functioning in the Early Years, Dr Rosalyn Muir delves into the crucial yet often overlooked domain of executive functioning in young children. Drawing on more than 30 years of educational experience and rigorous PhD research, Dr Muir introduces the SOWATT framework – a practical toolkit for educators. This book bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering actionable strategies for developing executive functions such as self-regulation, working memory and cognitive flexibility. Dr Muir’s work is deeply rooted in contemporary educational goals, resonating with the OECD’s vision of student agency and the Early Years Learning Framework. Through the lens of the SOWATT framework, educators are provided with concrete steps to cultivate these essential skills in the classroom. This book emphasises that all children – not just those with learning difficulties – benefit from the intentional development of executive functions. By presenting a holistic and accessible approach, the author empowers educators to transform their practice, ultimately setting up children for a lifetime of success and fulfilment.

AmplifyEd

Melbourne • 5-6 May 2025

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Selena Fisk bundle $174.95 Add to cart

Data storyteller, Dr Selena Fisk's best-selling books

Resources that help you use data more effectively in your school.

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Leon Furze is elevating teacher's methods in this practical series

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Coming Soon Teacher Resources The High School Success series From Hawker Brownlow Education Chapter books

Write Now! $39.95

Write Now! is an innovative resource for educators teaching creative writing to middle primary school students. Packed with 20 progressive lessons, this book offers a unique approach to literacy development through engaging writing exercises designed to ignite a love for words in young minds. Educators will gain access to sequential writing activities, freewriting techniques and editing strategies aimed at improving students' overall literacy while fostering individual voices. With a focus on craft rather than standardised testing, Write Now! provides teachers with tools to create a vibrant writing community. Included are assessment rubrics and guidance for publishing student work.

Excuse Me! $34.95

This engaging collection features five thought-provoking plays designed specifically for classroom performance. Written by acclaimed Australian author Hazel Edwards, the plays tackle contemporary themes including technology, life choices, media influence, bureaucracy and time management, while being perfectly crafted to fit within a standard forty-minute lesson. More than just entertainment, these plays serve as powerful teaching tools, combining literacy development with active learning and social skills. Whether exploring technological change in ‘The Not-So-Great Excuse Machine’, grappling with life's big decisions in ‘Everyperson’, satirising modern media in ‘The Fairly Fake TV Show’, unravelling mysteries in ‘The Mt Paperwork Whodunnit’, or diving into reader's theatre with ‘The Minutes of Time’, these plays promise engaging experiences that spark meaningful classroom discussions.

On the Same Wavelength $42.95

Discover how students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) think and learn differently in this groundbreaking guide for educators. Drawing from extensive research and firsthand accounts, On the Same Wavelength: Neurodiversity, Memory, Learning, and the Autism Spectrum introduces the innovative Thinking, Memory, and Learning Framework (TML), empowering teachers to become cross-cultural interpreters between neurotypical and neurodivergent minds. Through a unique blend of neuroscience, psychology and lived experience, this book challenges traditional teaching approaches and offers practical insights for creating hospitable learning environments that honour cognitive diversity. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader or education professional, you'll gain valuable tools for understanding and supporting students with ASD, while learning how to build bridges between different ways of thinking and learning. This essential resource transforms complex research into actionable strategies for inclusive education.

Positive School Culture & Effective Leadership $34.95

There is a growing body of research concerning the important role of the school principal in cultivating a positive school culture. School culture influences all happenings in a school and therefore impacts on a school community and on an individual's behaviour, expectations and interactions with others. It follows that cultivating and sustaining a positive school culture should be one of the highest priorities for all school principals. To improve schools and student learning, you must first focus on the culture of the school. Based on Australian author Michael Stewart's groudbreaking PhD thesis, this book explores the journey of a school principal in creating a positive school culture and presents research findings from a case study that explored the cultivation of a positive school culture from the viewpoint of the principal and the various stakeholders within the school. The results from this research indicate that the principal plays a pivotal and crucial role in the cultivation of a positive school culture. However, the results also demonstrated that the principal cannot do this alone, as many other members of the school community contribute to a school's culture. The principal's success in cultivating a school culture was found to depend upon his ability to unite the school community to work together to achieve the school's goals and vision. Results from the research indicated that the principal needed to use a range of strategies to cultivate and maintain a positive school culture. The aim for this book is to assist schools in creating positive school cultures. It is designed to provide some assistance for people who wish to make a difference in their own workplace.

A Life of Purpose $29.95

This four-book series, built on over three decades of global research and conversations with students, families and educators, provides a comprehensive roadmap for living a meaningful life. The books form a progressive journey: from discovering purpose, through developing excellence, into leadership, and finally creating actionable plans for impact. Drawing on research by Dr Phil Cummins from CIRCLE Education, a School for tomorrow, and the Game Changers podcast, each volume offers students practical guidance for personal growth and societal contribution. A Life of Purpose guides students in uncovering their core purpose and personal narrative. It helps identify fundamental motivations and shows how to connect one's story to broader commitments to people, place and planet, establishing the foundation for a meaningful life journey.

The Pruning Principle $34.95

The Pruning Principle offers a groundbreaking approach to educational leadership, drawing inspiration from horticulture to address the chronic issues of overwork and inefficiency in schools. The authors, Dr Simon Breakspear and Michael Rosenbrock, propose a radical shift from the culture of “doing more” to one of strategic subtraction, arguing that by carefully pruning away non-essential tasks and initiatives, schools can achieve better outcomes with less strain on resources and staff. This practical guide provides a comprehensive framework for implementing The Pruning Principle in educational settings. It outlines the causes of current challenges, introduces the concept and mechanics of pruning, and offers detailed, actionable steps for creating sustainable work rhythms and decision-making processes. With its focus on achievable improvement and educator wellbeing, this book promises to be an invaluable resource for school leaders seeking to cultivate more-effective and balanced educational environments.

High Impact Reading Instruction and Intervention in the Primary Years $42.95

High Impact Reading Instruction and Intervention in the Primary Years is a call to action for passionate teachers, education assistants, principals, and deputy principals who believe in the transformative power of literacy. With a focus on evidence-based practices and the science of reading, Julie Scali equips educators with accessible and practical knowledge to elevate their teaching to the next level. In the first part of the book, Julie lays the foundation for high-impact literacy instruction and intervention, emphasising the importance of data-informed practice, high expectations, explicit instruction, daily review, and response to intervention. With an unwavering dedication to student success, she guides educators through the fundamentals that will empower them to create classrooms where every student can thrive. The second part of the book dives into the science of reading, unravelling the complexities of how children best learn to read. Julie connects research to practical examples, providing educators with insights on implementing structured literacy in the classroom. Unlock the potential of young minds and nurture a love for reading that will last a lifetime. Access resources and templates from the book here.

Teacher Wellbeing $39.95

If you’re an educator you’ll know this: teacher wellbeing has never been more important. And yet, this complex issue is often misunderstood, leading to band-aid solutions that don’t address the root cause or inspire long-term change. In this go-to guide for teachers and leaders, Amy Green provides inspiration and practical tools to unpack the many facets of teacher wellbeing. She explores the purpose of teacher wellbeing; where we’ve gone wrong in tackling issues such as burnout and stress; and what we can do to build teacher capacity and enhance school systems to support teacher wellbeing. Amy believes we all play a part in writing a better story for our teachers. With awareness and knowledge we can move beyond tokenistic activities to long-term, embedded, sustainable solutions. In these pages you will find a deeper, richer, more holistic approach to improving wellbeing. It’s a book that will inspire the real conversations we so desperately need. Together, we can bring about transformation far beyond what we imagine.

Asserting a Culture of Child Safety $44.95

Child protection training, undertaken by educators, maintains a general knowledge of what to do if concerns arise. The purpose of this book is to help the early childhood sector to be working from a position of earlier identification and prevention. This book is a step-by-step guide to champion children’s safety and wellbeing. As a practical tool, it will give clarification and confidence about what to do to create a culture of child safety at your education and care organisation.

Wellbeing Leadership $39.95

It’s time to lead a wellbeing revolution in education. Staff wellbeing is now the number-one priority for many schools across the globe. As leaders, we know this is a positive shift; yet many of us feel ill-equipped and under-resourced to lead the change we know is needed. Wellbeing Leadership, Amy Green’s follow-up book to Teacher Wellbeing, provides guidance and inspiration to foster a thriving school culture. In its pages Amy unveils four essential qualities for a wellbeing-centred workplace, and eight characteristics that empower staff to feel, work, team and lead well. This book is more than just a guide; it’s a call to action. Amy invites you to rethink everything – from systems and processes to beliefs and assumptions. She encourages bold, brave action and leveraging the untapped power within your school setting. Be prepared to question, innovate and sometimes defy the status quo. This isn’t just about wellbeing; it’s about the revolutionary shift needed in our schools to truly support staff and students.

Student Wellbeing Handbook $29.95

Being a teenager can be tough. There are changes and challenges to deal with, and seemingly endless priorities competing for your attention. It can be hard to find the time and energy to take care of yourself, but it’s vital for your health and happiness to make self-care part of your daily routine. In the Student Wellbeing Handbook, Leon Furze unpacks the key issues impacting high school students’ mental and physical wellbeing, including mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, water, sleep, resilience, technology, bullying and emotional regulation. In these pages you’ll uncover effective strategies and proven techniques for increasing mindfulness, reducing stress and building resilience, ensuring you’re in the best position to meet the challenges of life and learning with confidence, clarity and a positive mindset.

Foundation Study Skills for High School Students $29.95

‘Life is too good for bad study.’ Whether academically aspiring or focused on passing, all students want to get the most out of their study time. Yet while many assume the amount of time we spend studying has the biggest impact on results, it is actually the intensity of our effort that reaps the greatest rewards. Aimed at high school students in years 7 to 9, Foundational Study Skills for High School Students reveals the 8 superhabits of study that will maximise the impact of your learning and take your performance to the next level. In this book, experienced teacher and author Scott Francis explores a range of high-performance learning strategies – from the power of purposeful planning and practice questions to the secrets of single-tasking and spaced practice – to supercharge your study and help you achieve your full potential. By putting these superhabits into practice, you will become more efficient as a student and have more time to enjoy the other great things in life. After all, life is too good for bad study!

Study Skills for Ambitious Senior Students $29.95

‘Life is too good for bad study.’ Whether academically ambitious or focused on passing, all students want to get the most out of their study time. Yet while many assume the amount of time we spend studying has the biggest impact on results, it is actually the intensity of our effort that reaps the greatest rewards. Aimed at high school students in years 10 to 12, Study Skills for Ambitious Senior Students reveals how to flex the 8 superhabits of study to develop your mind like a muscle and take your performance to the next level. In this book, experienced teacher and author Scott Francis explores a range of high-performance learning strategies – from the power of purposeful planning and practice questions to the secrets of single-tasking and spaced practice – to supercharge your study and help you achieve your full potential. By putting these superhabits into practice, you will become more efficient as a student and have more time to enjoy the other great things in life. After all, life is too good for bad study!

Starting High School $29.95

The transition from primary to secondary school is a big step, and it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and nerves during this time. As you get ready for this new chapter in your life, it’s important to remember that you have the power to shape your own experience for the better.In Starting High School Leon Furze provides a comprehensive approach to help students confidently navigate the academic, social and emotional aspects of the transition. Learn how to set goals and manage expectations, build your confidence and resilience, and navigate the ups and downs of this exciting new adventure.Full of tips and tricks, this book covers important topics such as time management, communication skills and stress management. Whether you’re in Year 5, Year 6 or about to start secondary school, Starting High School can help you prepare for the changes ahead and give you the confidence you need to succeed.

Grammar Skills Handbook $29.95

“Grammar exists to make communication easier.” Learning how to improve and master grammar and punctuation may seem tedious and challenging, but it will ultimately determine how you learn English. Despite the multitude of AI tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly that can help you with checking grammar, these tools can only help you so far to form the foundation of communication. Your own knowledge, and what you learn about English and writing it, will determine the quality, style and voice of your own creativity. Welcome to this handbook, designed to help you to develop the knowledge and skills to improve your grammar and punctuation. Aimed at high school students, Grammar Skills Handbook delves into the fundamentals of grammar, such as phrases, clauses, groups, punctuation, open-class words and closed-class words. Through getting a good grasp of grammar, you will unravel the different layers of grammar, starting with understanding the patterns of language, the parts of speech, and lastly, the essential element of written language, also known as the sentence. Knowing how written English works is at the mind and heart of writing and reading.

Leading Data-Informed Change in Schools $59.95

Data are everywhere. Countries are compared based on how their students perform in international testing. Schools are compared using standardised testing and school-leaver data. Students are tracked using their individual data and that of their peers. But while there is much already written about leadership styles, leading change and the benefits of being data informed, transferring an understanding of educational research and change leadership literature to a data-informed context is not always easy or seamless. Selena Fisk, EdD, author of Using and analysing data in Australian schools, believes that data should be used to support learning in a way that develops thriving learning communities where students are engaged and motivated. This invaluable resource introduces a 10-step process for leading data-informed change comprising measurable steps for action supported by connections to relevant literature and practical examples showing what the process looks like in schools. Fisk also introduces the 12 key elements required for a leader to prime the environment or build a culture that will enable them to lead data-informed change. Leading data-informed change in schools offers teacher team leaders, principals and administrators a practical guide on how to collect, analyse and use data to help school communities and the students they serve flourish. Download the Appendix with all the templates here.

Using and Analysing Data in Australian Schools $64.95

We know that data can be a powerful force for student learning and achievement, but what data should we be collecting, how should it be analysed and what does it really mean? Without answers to these big questions, making use of data in the classroom can end up being an afterthought – even a source of stress and confusion. In this expanded second edition of Using and analysing data in Australian schools, Dr Selena Fisk offers a practical guide for bringing data to life. Learn how data from a range of sources – formative and summative assessment, standardised testing, informal reflections and more – can empower everyone, from teachers to school leaders to students. Featuring over thirty relevant in-school examples, this essential resource is filled with customisable templates, strategies and tips you can start using today to build a culture of learning and trigger real data-informed change in your classroom. Using and analysing data in Australian schools will deepen your understanding of your students’ achievements and abilities and, in inviting students to take ownership of their data, transform how they see themselves as learners. Download the templates here.

Game Changers $59.95

The world is changing – and rapidly. If we want to foster young people’s ability to learn, live, lead and work in that changing world, the way we approach education and leadership in schools must change too. In Game Changers: Leading Today’s Learning for Tomorrow’s World, Philip Cummins and Adriano Di Prato distil years of professional practice and research into a roadmap for leadership that changes the game of school. Centring the character and purpose of leaders in education, Cummins and Di Prato make the case for leadership that strengthens, informs, orientates, focuses, aligns and enriches – courageous leadership that prepares the young people in our care for the world they will inhabit tomorrow. Featuring insights from dozens of game changers innovating the character, purpose and future of education, Game Changers: Leading Today’s Learning for Tomorrow’s World will challenge, inspire and change you.

Creating an Australian School Literacy Policy $49.95

Creating an Australian School Literacy Policy: A Research-Informed Guide to Designing a Policy That Fits Your School by Dr Margaret K Merga is the new go-to guide for creating effective and holistic literacy policy. Drawing on extensive analysis of literacy policy documents from one hundred and sixty-six schools in Australia and the United Kingdom, Dr Merga evaluates in this essential resource what makes literary policies effective – and what can hold them back – to provide a comprehensive framework for developing or revising your whole-school literacy policy. Creating an Australian School Literacy Policy empowers K–12 school leaders, classroom teachers and library professionals to become literacy leaders and make a real impact on their school communities. With a focus on ensuring clarity, depth and quality in these crucial documents, Dr Merga’s ground-breaking guide offers you the opportunity to transform the teaching and learning of literacy with a whole-school literacy policy that meets your school’s unique needs and supports your students to achieve their goals.

Interventions in Cases of Bullying in Schools $29.95

In Interventions in Cases of Bullying in Schools: A Training Manual for Teachers and Counsellors, renowned bullying expert Dr Ken Rigby OAM draws on five decades of practice and research to help schools tackle the seemingly intractable problem of bullying. Designed to be deployed alongside policy development and preventive programs, this essential training manual sets out nine evidence-based methods of intervention. Using a series of role-plays and prompts for discussion, Interventions in Cases of Bullying in Schools supports practitioners in selecting and applying the most appropriate method for each unique case of bullying. It also features a practical framework for recording and evaluating the application of interventions in your unique context, as well as suggestions of dozens of resources that will further develop your understanding of bullying. Practical, easy to use and focused firmly on solutions, Dr Rigby’s Interventions in Cases of Bullying in Schools is your indispensable guide to addressing one of the most vexed issues facing educators today. Download Appendix B: Recording Form reproducible here.

All or Nothing: Book 1 $12.95

Billy Kool was an ordinary boy until he was thrust into the life of an extreme sports TV celebrity. Billy finds an advertisement for a competition. A production studio is looking for hosts for a new reality TV show about extreme sports. Billy, as well as his friends Sally and Nathan, decide to try and win. It’s all or nothing. Will they make it? At the end of the book, there is an extreme information section detailing the origins of extreme sports as well as a glossary. Part of an 8-book series, the Billy Kool books are informative, empathetic and exciting; targeted to readers and reluctant readers alike ages 8-11 years. Teacher Notes here.

Whitewater Rafting: Book 2 $12.95

Billy Kool was an ordinary boy until he was thrust into the life of an extreme sports TV celebrity. In this book, Billy and his friends, Sally and Nathan are onto their second adventure; whitewater rafting! Billy can’t see the point of learning French at school until he meets Pierre, a world champion white-water rafter who happens to be French. We follow Billy and his friends as they battle nerves and prepare for the most extreme sport yet. When Billy falls into the water, it’s his new friend Pierre who saves him. At the end of the book, there is an extreme information section, a glossary and a description of the equipment used when whitewater rafting. Part of an 8-book series, the Billy Kool books are informative, empathetic and exciting; targeted to readers and reluctant readers alike ages 8-11 years. Teacher Notes here.

Bungy Jumping: Book 3 $12.95

Billy Kool was an ordinary boy until he was thrust into the life of an extreme sports TV celebrity. In this book, Billy, and his friends Sally and Nathan are onto their third adventure; Bungy jumping! Billy, still riding on the high of white-water rafting, is finding school a drag. The only thing that keeps him excited is the idea of bungy jumping on the weekend. However, Billy and Nathan are both scared of heights! Billy pops his first pimple and then attends the school dance, where he dances with his crush, Crystal. After this courageous act, he moves on to an even scarier one. The most extreme sport yet; Bungy jumping. Packed with exciting information, a glossary and a description of the equipment used when bungy jumping, as well as great images, this book will appeal to readers and reluctant readers alike aged 8-11 years. Teacher Notes here.

Snowboarding: Book 4 $12.95

Billy Kool was an ordinary boy until he was thrust into the life of an extreme sports TV celebrity. After white-water rafting and bungy jumping, the Xtreme World of Billy Kool is becoming more popular and the TV ratings are getting higher. Billy’s friend, Nathan is sad because his father (who left him when he was young) is coming to visit. Luckily, Nathan cheered up when it came to filming another extreme sport; snowboarding. Nathan’s dad happens to be amazingly good at snowboarding and shows the cast a couple of moves. Ultimately, snowboarding was an extremely fun experience for Billy, Sally and Nathan especially! At the end of the book, there is an extreme information section detailing the origins of snowboarding, a glossary and a description of the equipment used when snowboarding. Part of an 8-book series, the Billy Kool books are informative, empathetic and exciting; targeted to readers and reluctant readers alike ages 8-11 years. Teacher Notes here.

Skydiving: Book 5 $12.95

Billy Kool was an ordinary boy until he was thrust into the life of an extreme sports TV celebrity. Billy, Sally and Nathan realize that they want their viewers to believe that extreme sports are for anybody. They decide that Basher Brown, the neighbourhood cricket star, should join them in their next sport. Now, Basher, Billy, Sally and Nathan must prepare for the most extreme sport yet; Skydiving! At the end of the book, there is an extreme information section detailing the origins of skydiving, a glossary and a description of the equipment used when skydiving. Part of an 8-book series, the Billy Kool books are informative, empathetic and exciting; targeted to readers and reluctant readers alike ages 8-11 years. Teacher Notes here.

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With over two decades experience in educational publishing, Amba Press was founded to bring Australian classroom expertise to educators, parents and learners worldwide.

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