Secondary school

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.   Praise for Teacher Wellbeing by Amy Green: I absolutely loved this book. The whole thing. It is absolutely needed and so timely. This is the go-to guide for school leaders and teachers who are eager to unpack the complex issue of educator wellbeing in this current crisis and beyond. Despite the best efforts of school leaders, many of us feel that we have been falling short when it comes to understanding how to proactively attack issues such as burnout for ourselves and our staff. The chapter summaries and 'Theory into Action' learning throughout provide practical strategies for the individual and collective change that is so desperately needed for teachers and school leaders. Celia King, School Leader This book emphasises why teacher wellbeing is important and that it is far more than feel-good activities. Amy highlights many things that may not initially be perceived as part of wellbeing, however through explanation, research-based evidence and links to teaching, it just makes sense. Amy shows how teacher wellbeing is crucial to school culture and that we need to be open to reflecting on and changing the structures we use to support the wellbeing of teachers. This book is a must-read for leaders and teachers alike. Dr Selena Fisk, Author, Data Storyteller This book will resonate with many school leaders and teachers. I found myself nodding along in agreement many times. The framework Amy uses for teacher wellbeing throughout this book synthesises the elements of being and doing individually and collectively so beautifully, and fits in with all we do in schools and as humans. It aligns school culture and improvement to collective wellbeing, and in a currency of change is 100% on message and what is needed right now and beyond. It is a powerful, important, yet easy read. I struggled to put it down. I want a copy for every teacher I know. Belinda Fenn, School Principal

Practical Reading Strategies introduces teachers to six highly effective strategies that every reader uses when grappling with texts. Through a range of engaging classroom activities, students will be introduced to Making Connections, Visualising, Questioning, Inferring, Summarising, and Synthesising as a way of making meaning and understanding what they read. Activities range from focused close reading to group work and discussion, and are broken down into teacher and student instructions, clear examples, and the underlying theory. With Practical Reading Strategies, all teachers can develop confidence in building their students’ abilities to read and understand.   Templates from the Appendix are available to download here 

Amid the discourse surrounding the controversial role of generative AI in education, Practical AI Strategies goes beyond the hype to explore the opportunities and challenges of the technology in K-tertiary education. The book looks past individual applications to explore the broader landscape of generative AI, offering educators invaluable insights into its workings and ethical considerations. Divided into six parts, Practical AI Strategies guides readers through the construction and ethics of generative AI technologies, navigates policy landscapes and provides practical strategies for using these technologies in education. Detailed sections on text and image generation provide a solid foundation for using generative AI, and prepare educators for multimodal technologies on the near horizon including video, audio and 3D generation. Leon Furze prompts educators to engage critically with generative AI and consider the near future of this rapidly developing technology. He encourages readers to navigate this terrain with an open mind and a discerning eye, and stresses the need for educators to have the fundamental skills to work with generative AI.

Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2023 Shortlist - Secondary Teacher Resource Practical Writing Strategies is the perfect guide for educators looking to take their students' writing to the next level. This book balances the process and product of writing with a clear Writing Cycle in six stages: Purpose, Exploration, Ideas, Skills, Collaboration, and Publication. Each stage includes engaging activities to help students understand and value the writing process. Practical Writing Strategies teaches genuine writing not just as an assessment task, but as a means of self-expression, exploration, creativity, and knowledge building. With Practical Writing Strategies, you will learn how to guide your students to become confident and successful writers.  

“Philanthropy responds to a vision more than a need. Its best advocate is the voice.” A strong philanthropic culture enhances a school’s capacity to provide an exceptional education and improve outcomes for all students. The School Philanthropy Handbook explores the role of modern philanthropy in independent schools and provides a framework to establish an enduring culture of giving that will outlast short-term fundraising tactics. Gavan Woinarski’s future-focused model of school philanthropy empowers educational leaders to create a compelling vision and bring people together to connect and inspire prospective donors. He offers practical guidance on how to sharpen funding strategies, unify working groups, develop major gift plans, improve database management and practise good stewardship to secure real philanthropic support. Featuring a wealth of wisdom, tips and templates—with some fascinating stories shared along the way—the School Philanthropy Handbook offers a refreshed look at how schools can embrace a culture of philanthropy that delivers benefits for years to come.     Praise for the book:   It is rare to be able to access the deep expertise and wise counsel of a genuinely expert practitioner in such a concise and well-structured book. So many great messages and much values-based guidance. Definitely a must read. Emeritus Professor Glenn Bowes AO   A combination of vision, values, strategy, compelling communication via stories and practical advice make this a significant resource for school leaders. Philanthropy is not fundraising. If you are unsure of the difference, this is the book for you. Allan Shaw   There are a number of things common across third sector organisations; one is the need for friend and fundraising, another is how inexperienced the sector is in achieving either. This book provides an accessible, ‘hands on’ guide, written by an expert in the field with supportive tools to start or refine your approach to attract and retain philanthropic support. Whilst the book has a school focus, the contents extend to all third sector organisations. Dr John Ballard The accumulated wisdom and experience in this book are invaluable. It is a resource every independent school needs. Gabby Montagnese   I admire anyone who has the courage to write about culture. And I particularly admire someone who encourages a culture of giving to support something as essential as education. This book should be compulsory reading for anyone contemplating a school fundraising program. It contains the wisdom of a lifetime’s devotion to this critical task. Simon McKeon AO

Guerrilla Tactics for Teachers is the life-saving, career-preserving, sanity-building guide for teachers. Based on over 30 years of research these are the methods that will help educators create and maintain calm classrooms that learn effectively, achieve great results and still have a life. An essential collection of behaviour management and learning enhancement strategies that will help educators at any stage of their career.

The Connection Curriculum challenges the status quo in education, arguing that a lack of genuine connection is harming students and communities. Drawing on extensive research, Matt Pitman explores the essential role of connection in fostering academic achievement and student wellbeing. Through candid reflections and practical insights, educators are invited to rethink traditional approaches and embrace sustainable strategies for building whole-school connectedness. Divided into three parts, this book delves into understanding connection, building sustainable practices and maintaining connection over time. It focuses on collective leadership and community engagement to equip educators with the tools and inspiration to embark on the journey towards creating truly connected communities. Whether you are a teacher, school leader or community member seeking to revolutionise your school culture or promote positive change in your organisation, The Connection Curriculum provides the path to make it happen.

Dr Timothy O’Leary is a firm believer that decisions about improvements, whether they be for a teacher or school, need to be based on fact, not fancy. In Classroom Vibe he uses data to demystify why some classrooms are primed for learning while others aren’t and explains why strategies for change in schools often fail. In breaking down the atmosphere of the classroom as experienced by the students – the ‘classroom vibe’ – he gives teachers practical steps for improving theirs. The author argues that when teachers focus their improvement efforts on the ‘vibe’ in each of their classrooms and school leaders focus on supporting their teachers in this endeavour, everyone benefits. He provides a clear framework that highlights how the culture of a classroom can determine whether important teaching strategies will succeed or fail.   Praise for this book:  The right vibe is felt by all, but hard to deconstruct. How to create it is what this book is all about — the deconstruction of the essence of memorable classrooms. John Hattie, education researcher and best-selling author of Visible Learning Tim O’Leary provides an honest, well-written, and thoughtful account of teaching accompanied by practical strategies that will equip classroom teachers with the tools they need to be successful. Jenni Donohoo, five-time best-selling author and professional learning facilitator

In Seriously Fun Maths, Dr Laura Tuohilampi changes the narrative of mathematics education into something fascinating, intriguing and something that touches every human. Based on her cutting-edge research she challenges the outdated ways of motivating students around maths. This engaging book provides teachers with research, resources and activities to teach a lesson a month. The rich activities are accessible to young students and deep enough for secondary students. Even adults! This book will help mathematics educators reflect on their skills of orchestrating mathematical discussions and problem-solving. They will learn how to increase students’ engagement in ways that reduce stress-inducing expectations around what a ‘good’ student in maths can and cannot do. Teachers will improve their grasp of what’s important – making mathematics a meaningful experience. Everyone will have serious fun while learning maths!  

As educators we all recognise the power of using data to inform our work. A key piece that is often missing is how we engage students in their data story. When we use data with students they become data-informed learners. They have a better understanding of their ability as a learner and can articulate their goals and challenges more clearly. We can support our students through targeted conversations, working in partnership to help them improve. There are three main purposes for using data with students: goal setting, learning dispositions or behaviour, and the quality of student learning or understanding. There are five main modes by which we do this: data walls, success criteria, student-generated assessment, deliberate conversations and data on walls in classrooms. In this book, Dr Selena Fisk unpacks these purposes and modes, giving practical ideas for implementation in schools and classrooms. She offers guidance in having constructive data-informed conversations with students, while building a culture of psychological safety where data use is productive and transformational.   Praise for this book: This book offers readers an important glimpse into what it takes to ensure that students can answer my 5 questions: What are you learning and why? How are you doing? How do you know how you are doing? How do you improve? Where do you go for help? When they can, we know that they are all 'Data-informed Learners'! This makes this book a rich piece of school improvement literature. Dr Lyn Sharratt - International Consultant and Author  

Differentiation for Gifted Students in a Secondary School aims to provide secondary school teachers with a raft of ideas and strategies to differentiate teaching, learning and the curriculum for gifted students. Interweaving theory and research with everyday practice, this book offers guidance and suggestions from Australian experts who work every day with gifted students. With appropriate strategies to support gifted students in a variety of classes, subjects and situations in a secondary school, this book considers a range of known and emerging concerns relating to the education of gifted children from differentiating the curriculum, wellbeing, creativity, transitioning between school settings, the science classroom and STEM projects. Differentiation for Gifted Students in a Secondary School is a unique resource that will help new and experienced teachers with inspired and practical strategies to respond to the needs of their gifted students. The inclusion of several case studies helps exemplify these for readers.   Editor, Dr Susan Nikakis sure knows a thing or two about gifted and talented students. She has a special education graduate diploma, masters and doctorate in gifted education, and holds positions at the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children Association and as a Senior Gifted Education Programs Officer.   Chapter contributions from: Mark Smith Amy Horneman Carmel Meehan Geraldine Nicholas Christine Ireland Shelley Waldon Arrigo Dorissa  

Grammar in its place tackles the two questions most asked by teachers: How do I teach grammar? What grammatical features do I include in my teaching? Part A of this book presents a variety of text types and the grammatical features that are associated with each one. It demonstrates how to use these text types to give purpose to the students’ writing and meaning to the teaching of grammar. Part B deals with the knowledge, understandings and the terms used in traditional and functional grammar. This section covers parts of speech, sentences, phrases, clauses, noun groups and punctuation. This book is packed with activities, and the authors show teachers how to implement strategies that will integrate the knowledge and the function of grammar into all areas of the school curriculum. Some activities focus on the needs of individuals while other activities can be used as the basis for class lessons. The methodology suggested in Grammar in its place encourages students to realise that a sound knowledge of grammar is essential for clear, concise and effective communication.

Dive into the intricacies of differentiation with this handbook designed for primary and secondary school educators. With candid reflections on the challenges and triumphs of implementing differentiation, the author shares invaluable insights and practical strategies to make inclusive education a reality in your classroom. From debunking myths to embracing a transformative philosophy of teaching, this book empowers educators to tailor learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of every student. Whether you're an early career teacher seeking guidance or a seasoned educator looking to refine your practice, Dr Tom Porta offers a roadmap to navigate the dance of differentiation with confidence and purpose.

Good thinkers are 4P thinkers. The international bestseller, Become A Better Thinker, focuses on ways of improving the 4Ps. Positivity for better attention to a task Pattern seeking for identifying key elements Probing for asking yourself helpful questions Picturing for summarising key words and their connections Become a Better Thinker contains examples, strategies, and tests for improving the 4Ps. Aiming to examine, support and improve the creative and critical thinking skills of teachers and their students in order to help all learners think better in our rapidly evolving world. Revised and updated, this book is now in its fourth edition.     Download PDF of the tests from this book to use: The Langrehr Test of Creative ThinkingThe Langrehr Test of Critical ThinkingThe Langrehr Test of Early Childhood Thinking

Do you want to engage students, prevent disruption, and maybe even teach a decent lesson? The Teaching Game offers a very practical approach that can be applied immediately. You’ll discover how to manage a classroom, deliver curriculum, provide effective feedback, use data, plan for the next unit, write an assessment piece, teach students on the spectrum, and care for your own wellbeing. This book is for those who are: About to embark on their teaching career Thinking of joining the teaching ranks Wanting to further develop their teaching skills Mentoring early-career teachers    

‘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!  

‘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!  

Earning money for the first time can be very rewarding. For teenagers earning money from part-time work at food outlets and retail stores, from their own small businesses and from their hobbies, there are more opportunities than ever for a motivated young adult to earn some money. In the Financial Literacy Handbook, Scott Francis provides financial education to help students learn money lessons they can take for life, to be confident talking about their money and to make better-informed financial decisions. This book covers crucial financial topics including spending, saving, investing, financial goals, credit card and high interest debt, key paperwork, building budgets, and understanding tax and superannuation. Whether you’ve already earned some money through work or are still learning to earn an income, you’ll find practical strategies that will help you make wise financial choices, become confident in managing your financial skills and positioning yourself for financial success in the future.

Writing is essential for communication, landing a good job, expressing oneself creatively and solving problems. In today’s world, where technology is reshaping the landscape of communication, the ability to express oneself articulately through written words is more important than ever. Filled with effective techniques and strategies, Writing Skills Handbook is designed to help students confidently acquire high-performance writing techniques. This book will cover the basics of writing skills, ranging from grammar and punctuation, sentence structure, paragraph construction, learning how to revise and self-edit, and exploring different types of writing and the unique challenges and opportunities that each form of writing presents. Writing is a journey and by acquiring these writing techniques through time, patience and practice, you will become a proficient writer and effectively set yourself up for success!

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.  

People Interacting is an extensive resource of interactive games that can be used to help students develop a breadth of social skills. The 150 activities have been designed for a range of abilities, ages and levels of maturity. Each activity is clearly set out with a focus, time, materials, the procedure and points for discussion. The selection of activities cover warm ups, self development and responsibility, communication and relationships, and problem solving and decision making. Each procedure, variation and discussion topic has been tried and tested and chosen specifically because of the value it provides to students. Combining the activities with conversational prompts to encourage reflection and discussion, People Interacting aims to encourage and aid the development of the student as a total person by exploring mind, body, emotions, values, and attitudes. The activities enable students to make sense of what they experience in terms of their own needs – their ability to solve problems, to develop a positive self-concept and to develop their social and interpersonal skills more broadly.   About the authors: Ken Hancock was a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of South Australia and Flinders University. He taught in-service courses in humanistic education and person-centred education throughout his life. He also worked in schools in the areas of behavioural management, social learning, and staff development. Barry Blaby was a Principal of primary schools in Adelaide. He has had many years’ experience as a teacher, administrator and teacher educator, and trialled all the activities in this book in pre-school to tertiary level settings.

Get all 3 titles in the Practical Strategies series. Practical Reading Strategies by Leon Furze Practical Writing Strategies by Leon Furze and Benjamin WhitePractical AI Strategies by Leon Furze

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. 

From unlocking the untapped potential of gifted students to revolutionising school cultures, this book is a roadmap for educators and leaders alike. Discover tried-and-true mentoring methods that propel students to unprecedented heights, whether it's excelling in their final years of schooling or mastering the art of inquiry-based learning. Through the lens of mentorship, explore innovative strategies that not only foster academic excellence but also nurture personal growth and community empowerment. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a school leader seeking to inspire change, Mentoring for Talent offers practical insights and creative solutions to elevate your teacher practice and transform the educational landscape.