The Curious Cat and the Quest for School Improvement
$42.95
The Curious Cat and the Quest for School Improvement: Reclaiming Wonder in Education reveals how curiosity – once the heartbeat of vibrant schools – has been quietly squeezed out by compliance cultures, standardised testing, and the relentless pursuit of measurable outcomes. Dr Wayne Craig explores how this erosion has left educators feeling depleted, students disengaged, and school improvement efforts spinning without true transformation. Compounding the challenge, the persistent influence of school socioeconomic status (SES) continues to shape outcomes in ways that traditional reforms have failed to address. Yet curiosity isn’t lost – it’s simply waiting in the margins, ready to reignite the wonder that makes learning meaningful and sustainable change possible.
Through the metaphor of the curious cat, this book presents a compelling framework for renewal built on three pillars: curiosity as the spark for genuine learning, moral purpose as the ethical foundation of educational work, and school capital as the conditions that allow inquiry to flourish. Moving beyond surface-level reforms, it offers practical guidance for teachers, leaders, and systems ready to move from compliance to curiosity, from implementation to investigation. This is not another improvement strategy – it’s an invitation to remember what makes schools truly alive and to nurture the questions that lead to transformation from the inside out.
Connecting Whole-School Literacy
$42.95
Connecting Whole-School Literacy tackles the reality that many secondary students arrive with literacy skills years below grade level, yet every subject demands specific reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities. Author Hayley Harrison, drawing from twenty years of classroom experience, promotes the understanding that literacy development cannot fall solely to English teachers – it must become every educator's responsibility. This practical guide not only explains the research around how students learn to read and write, but also demonstrates how teachers across all subjects can effectively support struggling readers and writers while extending advanced learners.
Harrison bridges research -into practice with immediately usable strategies, activities and frameworks designed for busy secondary teachers. The book provides explicit explanation of current understanding in the process of literacy acquisition alongside concrete tools for vocabulary instruction, reading comprehension, writing development and oral communication that respect subject expertise while building teacher confidence. Whether you're seeking to better understanding and support individual students in your class or lead and implement whole-school literacy reform, this resource offers the roadmap for transforming student outcomes through collective, cross-curricular literacy instruction that recognises every teacher as a teacher of literacy.
School by Design
$39.95
School transformation isn't about programmes – it's about people, pedagogy and place working in harmony.
In School by Design, Anne Knock reveals how understanding complexity theory can revolutionise your ability to create thriving learning ecosystems. Drawing from her PhD research exploring the shift from solo to co-teaching as a response to educational complexity, Anne Knock demonstrates that without fundamental changes to how we think about school structures, meaningful transformation remains elusive. This guide explores five essential elements of transformative learning environments and practical strategies you can implement immediately.
Whether you're a school principal, educational leader, or teacher seeking to amplify your impact, School by Design offers a unique blend of theoretical insights and real-world application. Anne's research shows that the most effective educational transformations understand how to align vision, culture and practice through collaborative approaches. With compelling stories of famous minds who struggled in traditional systems, evidence-based frameworks and actionable tools, this book will help you master the art of educational transformation and become the kind of leader who creates schools where every learner can flourish.
Chalk Full of Laughs
$32.95
Robert Favretto hasn’t just survived 45 years navigating the vibrant chaos of primary school – he’s emerged with a treasure trove of hilarious stories!
In Chalk Full of Laughs, Favretto swings open the classroom door and invites you into a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud collection of true tales. Prepare for everything from students who took directions so literally it defied belief, to show-and-tell moments that spiralled wildly off-script, and the countless unpredictable surprises that kept him firmly on his toes (and occasionally sent him diving for cover).
Brimming with genuine warmth, sharp wit, and wisdom earned the hard way, these stories celebrate the joy, the madness, and the sheer fun of life at school. Perfect for teachers, parents, or anyone who's ever sat at a student's desk, this book is guaranteed to leave you smiling, snorting with laughter, and fondly remembering just how wonderfully unforgettable school days can be – especially in Mr Fav's class!
Teaching Primary Maths
$39.95
In this deeply personal and practical guide, educator Emma Bird takes you on a transformative journey that begins with the most important question: Who are you as a mathematics educator? Drawing from her own experiences of maths anxiety and her path to becoming a passionate advocate for quality mathematics education, she reveals how our beliefs and past experiences profoundly shape our teaching practice. Through honest reflection and research-backed strategies, she guides teachers through examining their own mathematical journey before they can truly transform their students' learning experiences.
Teaching Primary Maths goes far beyond traditional teaching methods to explore what truly matters – creating inclusive, engaging and conceptually rich learning environments where all students can thrive. Emma Bird addresses critical topics including maths anxiety, engagement, and the power of creativity, curiosity, and playful learning in mathematics.
Whether you're a new teacher feeling overwhelmed by mathematics instruction or an experienced educator ready to deepen your practice, this book provides the practical tools, current research, and real-world examples you need to nurture not just mathematical knowledge, but mathematical confidence and resilience in every student. Your work as a mathematics educator matters deeply – and this book will help you make that impact last a lifetime.
The Next Word: AI & Learners
$39.95
What happens when artificial intelligence becomes the smartest presence in every classroom?
In this essential follow-up to their acclaimed first guide, Dr Nick Jackson and Matthew Esterman team up with Amy Wallace – a current school student whose voice brings authentic urgency to the conversation about AI's role in learning. The Next Word: AI & Learners moves beyond the basics to tackle the complex realities students face today, from banned apps to cognitive offloading, from deepfakes to digital wellbeing.
The authors dive deep into the science of learning, explore how AI is reshaping everything from TikTok education to traditional classrooms, and investigate the crucial question: Is AI a helpful prosthetic or a dangerous crutch? Most importantly, this isn't just another book about students – it's a book with them. Amy's perspective illuminates how young people actually want AI to shape their futures and what authentic learning looks like when machines can seemingly learn everything.
With practical insights for educators worldwide and real-world tools for navigating education's AI-integrated future, The Next Word: AI & Learners ensures you're part of the conversation that's reshaping how we think about learning itself.
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