Engagement Matters

Personalised learning from grades 3-6

By Kathy Walker and Shona Bass

PRE ORDER NOW ~ Publication date November 30, 2025

$61.95

Following the success of Play Matters 2nd ed., Engagement Matters is the next stage of the Walker Learning Approach for implementation with primary students in Grades 3-6.

Engagement Matters provides a step-by-step, practical guide for teachers, emphasising student engagement, empowerment and achievement, and importantly, personalised learning.

The transition from Grade 2 into the middle and upper primary years is made seamless through the provision of tips, activities and explanatory theory. Engagement Matters will equip schools with the capacity to actively engage students in their learning across all subject areas and diverse contexts. In doing so, Engagement Maters effectively lays the foundations for ongoing engagement and successful learning throughout the school life.

The book contains a full colour section of photographs to highlight key themes.

Download the Appendices documents for planning, assessment and reporting activities here:

ISBN: 9781923569065

Size:

pages

Publication date: November 30, 2025

About the author: Kathy Walker and Shona Bass

Shona Bass, Managing Director, Early Life Foundations

Shona is renowned both within Australia and internationally for her work in the education, medical and health sectors. Shona completed her PhD in the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne and was a Professor and Head of School at Deakin University. She has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals and texts and has been the recipient of many national and international research awards. Shona is the co-author of Engagement Matters – Personalised Learning for Grades 3 to 6, and the DVD Creating an Engaging and Intentional Learning Environment.

Shona is a well-known speaker internationally and nationally, and works with a variety of professions on an extensive range of topics related to leadership, team building and developing relationships. She conducts a range of professional development sessions for educators working across all sectors of early childhood and primary education, as well as for parents and government organisations.

Kathy Walker, Founding Director, Early Life Foundations

Kathy Walker is one of Australia’s leading parenting and education experts, public speakers and authors. In 2012 and 2014 she was nominated for the Australian of the Year award, and in 2014 was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM). She is the Founding Director of Early Life Foundations, a leading parenting and education consultancy. Her expertise in parenting and early childhood education spans 30 years.

Kathy is a leading author with Penguin Publishing and the Australian Council for Educational Research. Her texts for parents include Ready, Set, Go?, What’s the Hurry?, Parenting and her most recent book Future Proofing Your Child. Kathy’s texts for educators include Play Matters – Investigative Learning for Preschool to Grade 2 and Engagement Matters – Personalised Learning for Grades 3 to 6.

Kathy is one of the country’s leading curriculum and teaching and learning experts in personalised learning. She is the designer of the Walker Learning Approach, a major personalised learning pedagogy (preschool to Year 8) that is implemented in Australia and internationally.