Mindful Assessment redefines how we think about teaching, learning, and assessment in the modern classroom. In this insightful and practical guide, Lee Crockett and Andrew Churches reveal how true learning begins when teaching becomes a response to students’ needs—rather than an end goal in itself. Grounded in six essential fluencies—core skills every learner needs to succeed in today’s complex world—Mindful Assessment provides a clear pathway for aligning teaching and assessment with inquiry-based and project-driven learning. Through practical examples, rubrics, and classroom-tested strategies, Lee and Andrew show how to move from grading tasks to cultivating growth. Both visionary and actionable, Mindful Assessment equips educators with the tools and mindset to create classrooms where mindfulness, feedback, and continuous improvement drive authentic learning.

Agents to Agency is a compelling, practice-driven guide to transforming learning by empowering learners to take true ownership of their growth. Drawing on decades of work with hundreds of schools around the world, renowned author and speaker Lee Crockett reveals proven strategies for shifting the responsibility for learning from teachers to learners—creating classrooms where curiosity, autonomy, and agency thrive. With clear explanations, insightful reflections, and real-world examples, Agents to Agency shows you exactly how to cultivate the mindsets and practices that foster genuine learner agency. Each chapter breaks down complex ideas into practical steps you can apply immediately, helping you transform both teaching and learning. In the final chapters, Lee introduces a series of practical continuums—powerful tools for guiding, facilitating, and measuring the progression of learner agency in any educational setting. The result is an inspiring and actionable roadmap for every educator ready to move from simply managing learning to truly empowering it.

Future-Focused Learning is the definitive guide to transforming today’s classrooms into thriving, future-ready learning environments. Drawing on years of work with schools across the globe, renowned keynote speaker Lee Crockett distils his experience into ten powerful shifts of practice, designed to help educators move from good teaching to truly exceptional learning. With practical clarity and a focus on immediate impact, Lee introduces simple microshifts you can apply right away, regardless of your curriculum or teaching style. These proven strategies make it easy to create more student-centred, inquiry-driven classrooms that foster authentic learning for every kind of learner. Packed with over 50 classroom-tested examples, Future-Focused Learning provides educators with a clear roadmap for implementing change at any scale. You’ll also discover the six essential fluencies—core skills that empower students with creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability in an ever-changing world. From project-based learning and essential questions to STEM education and digital fluency, Lee offers a compelling vision of what learning can—and must—become. Future-Focused Learning is both a practical handbook and an inspiring call to action for educators ready to build classrooms that prepare students not just to learn for the future, but to shape it.

Every teenager is navigating one of the most extraordinary periods of brain development in their lifetime – a brain that is constantly growing, adapting, and rewiring itself in response to the world around it. In The Livewired Teen renowned educator and neuroscience researcher Dr Michael C. Nagel takes parents and educators on a fascinating journey through the adolescent brain, from the onset of puberty through to early adulthood. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific research, Dr Nagel reveals how the experiences we provide teenagers in these pivotal years don't just shape who they are – they quite literally wire the architecture of their brains. Written in an accessible and engaging style, The Livewired Teen bridges the gap between cutting-edge brain science and the everyday realities of raising and educating adolescents. Covering everything from learning and identity to emotional regulation and cognitive development, Dr Nagel offers practical insights to help parents, teachers, and caregivers make the decisions that matter most – because understanding how a teenager's brain evolves is the first step to supporting it well.

Every child is born with the most extraordinary organ on earth – a brain that is constantly growing, adapting, and rewiring itself in response to the world around it. In The Livewired Child, renowned educator and neuroscience researcher Dr Michael C. Nagel takes parents and educators on a fascinating journey through the developing brain, from conception to the early school years. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific research, Dr Nagel reveals how the experiences we provide children in their earliest years don't just shape who they are – they quite literally wire the architecture of their brains. Written in an accessible and engaging style, The Livewired Child bridges the gap between cutting-edge brain science and the everyday realities of raising and educating children. Covering everything from learning and language to emotional intelligence and cognitive development, Dr Nagel offers practical insights to help parents, teachers, and caregivers make the decisions that matter most – because understanding how a child's brain grows is the first step to nurturing it well.

A Commitment to Growth: Essays on Education is an edited collection of materials that Geoff Masters has published over the last seven years, including the ground-breaking Reforming Educational Assessment (Australian Education Review; No. 57). This collection is mostly comprised of shorter pieces such as the influential Five challenges in Australian school education and other essays and posts relating to themes of: effective use of assessment; focus on growth and progress; and school and system improvement. The four sections of the book are: Part 1: ‘Big Five’ Challenges in School Education. Part 2: Is School Reform Working? Part 3: Reconceptualising Educational Assessment. Part 4: Schools as Learning Organisations.  The editors have drawn on this body of writing by Professor Masters in an attempt to tell the story of these past seven years. If the beginning of this story was the publication of Reforming Educational Assessment: Imperatives, principles and challenges (AER 57), the release of the report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, might be seen as the end of the beginning. With a greater understanding and emerging consensus of the challenges, implications and needed approaches, the next chapter in the story must focus on what Masters has called ‘the hard work of improvement’.

Problem-based learning is a powerful alternative to drill-and practice or skills-based learning, especially within maths, but it can be difficult to source rich materials that engage an entire class.The Creative Activities in Mathematics series provides a wealth of investigations and open-ended active learning activities, designed to engage students with mathematics and develop their problem solving, collaboration and mathematical skills.Book One provides 12 different class activities suitable for students in lower and middle primary school (Foundation to Year 4), along with teaching notes and staged lesson plans. Each activity is a whole-class investigation with open-ended answers that takes a particular scenario and develops it over three levels. This enables it to be used both at different year levels and with students of differing ability in the same class. All activities are firmly rooted in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics and linked to the content descriptors of the Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability strands.   Student materials Download a full set of activity sheets that provide a framework for student responses. These can be printed or copied for use in class. Download activity sheets Additional online resources Part 1: Number and Algebra Chapter 1: Numbers and words Simon Singh's Black Chamber - http://www.simonsingh.net/The_Black_Chamber/index.html The Caesar cipher - http://www.simonsingh.net/The_Black_Chamber/caesar.html Caesar’s method (The Caesar cipher) - http://mathworld.wolfram.com/CaesarsMethod.html Chapter 2: Cats and dogs How cats age - http://www.calculatorcat.com/cats/cat-years.phtml Chart of cat ages to human ages - http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/agechart.htm Dog years calculator - http://www.onlineconversion.com/dogyears.htm How to calculate a dog's age in years - http://www.ehow.com/how_8461704_calculate-dogs-age-years.html The lifespan of animals - http://sonic.net/~petdoc/lifespan.htm Chapter 3: Difference and sum problems 1089 problem - http://www.mathsisfun.com/1089.html 1089 and a property of 3-digit numbers - http://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/Arithmetic/S1089.shtml Mathematical magic tricks: The 1089 problem - http://www.numericana.com/answer/magic.htm#1089 Chapter 4: Arks and Tarks Missionaries and cannibals problem - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionaries_and_cannibals_problem The river crossing puzzle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_crossing_puzzle Tricky crossings - https://www.sciencenews.org/article/tricky-crossings Chapter 5: The farmyard problem The farmyard problem - http://nzmaths.co.nz/problem-solving-strategies#The Farmyard Problem Chapter 6: The 12 game Game theory - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory Blackjack - http://www.pagat.com/banking/blackjack.html Pontoon - http://www.pagat.com/banking/pontoon.html Nim games - http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=4221   Part 2: Measurement and Geometry Chapter 7: Classroom shapes Polyhedron net animations - http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-net-animations.html Pyramids - http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/pyramids.html Pyramid animations - https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/pyramid.html The Dubai Pyramid - http://inhabitat.com/ziggurat-dubai-carbon-neutral-pyramid-will-house-1-million/ The Louvre Pyramid - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Pyramid The Shrine of Remembrance - http://www.shrine.org.au/The-S... Chapter 8: Jenny's jelly bean problem Maximum volume of a lidless box - http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMAT6680Su09/Park/As12dspark/As12dspark.html Chapter 9: Horrible Hal’s humungous hall Tessellation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessellation The Alhambra - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tassellatura_alhambra.jpg MS Escher - http://www.mcescher.com/Galler...   Part 3: Statistics and Probability Chapter 10: The longest name Chinese names - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_name Sri Lankan names - http://www.babynology.com/sri-... (Link inactive) German names - http://www.babynamescountry.com/origins/popular_german_baby_names1.html English names - http://www.babynamescountry.com/origins/popular_english_baby_names1.html French names - http://expat-friendly.com/?Top... Top baby names in 2011 for Australia - http://www.kidspot.com.au/baby... Top baby names in 2011 for England - http://www.kidspot.com.au/baby... Top baby names in 2011 for the United States - http://www.kidspot.com.au/baby... Top baby names in France - http://expat-friendly.com/?Top... Top 20 pet names - http://www.bowwow.com.au/find-... Pet name search - http://www.bowwow.com.au/find-a-name-for-your-pet/pet-name-search.aspx Chapter 11: Penny’s Pet Shop No way José - http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/resource/no-way-jose?parent_node= Lonely pig - http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/resource/lonely-pig?parent_node= Chapter 12: The teddies’ race That's not fair - http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/resource/thats-not-fair?parent_node Dice roller - https://www.random.org/dice/ Dice roller - http://www.roll-dice-online.com Dice roller - https://www.random.org/playing-cards/ Additional sites Maths 300 - https://maths300.com NRICH - http://nrich.maths.org/ NZ Maths - http://nzmaths.co.nz AMSI TIMES (The Improving Mathematics Education in Schools) modules - http://schools.amsi.org.au/times-modules/

Problem-based learning is a powerful alternative to drill-and practice or skills-based learning, especially within maths, but it can be difficult to source rich materials that engage an entire class.The Creative Activities in Mathematics series provides a wealth of investigations and open-ended active learning activities, designed to engage students with mathematics and develop their problem solving, collaboration and mathematical skills.Book Two provides nine different class activities suitable for students in upper primary school (Years 4 to 7), along with teaching notes and staged lesson plans. Each activity is a whole class investigation with open-ended answers that takes a particular scenario and develops it over four levels. This enables it to be used both at different year levels and with students of differing ability in the same class. All activities are firmly rooted in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics and linked to the content descriptors of the Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability strands.   Student materials Download a full set of activity sheets that provide a framework for student responses. These can be printed or copied for use in class. Download activity sheets Additional online resources Part 1: Number and Algebra Chapter 1: Hours in a day Leap day timeline - http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leap-day-timeline.html Leaplings - http://patch.com/minnesota/edina/what-s-a-leapling-fun-leap-year-facts Leap years - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/time/leapyear/ Days of the planets - http://www.universetoday.com/37481/days-of-the-planets/ How long is a day on Jupiter? - http://www.universetoday.com/15084/how-long-is-a-day-on-jupiter/ The Hebrew calendar - http://www.judaica-guide.com/the_hebrew_calendar/ Why are there 24 hours in a day? - http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/11/15/3364432.htm Decimal time - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_time Internet time - http://www.timeanddate.com/time/internettime.html Chapter 2: Magimaths Mind-reading card trick - http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_card_trick1.htm Two wrongs do make a right - http://www.cs4fn.org/mathemagic/twowrongs.php Mathemagic - http://www.cs4fn.org/mathemagic/mathemagic.html Guess your number - http://izismile.com/2011/02/01/it-will-guess-your-number.html Magic shuffles - http://www.cs4fn.org/mathemagic/magicshuffles/ Wizardy - http://www.milaadesign.com/wizardy.html All change - http://www.cs4fn.org/mathemagic/coins.php Mind reader - http://www.sandlotscience.com/... I can read your mind (video) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVrmQipRvpY&NR=1&feature=endscreen Chapter 3: Mr Mac’s iPhone Apple's guide to battery life - http://www.apple.com/au/batteries/ Egyptian fraction calculator - http://www.had2know.com/academics/egyptian-fraction-calculator.html   Part 2: Measurement and Geometry Chapter 4: Hubcaps Rotational symmetry (video) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlWXuT4R3oI Indigenous Instyle Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery (DNAAG) - http://dnaag.com.au/ Rose windows - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_window Rotational symmetry - http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-rotational.html Chapter 5: Goats and wheels Locus of points on rolling objects - http://www.math-mate.com/chapter44_3.shtml Cycloids - http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Cycloid.html Cycloids (video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohP0clzK5rc The cycloid family of curves - http://curvebank.calstatela.edu/cycloidmaple/cycloid.htm   Part 3: Statistics and Probability Chapter 7: Sports shots Goal kicking - http://www.afl.com.au/news/201... Standard normal distribution - http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-normal-distribution.html Chapter 8: Roman gamblers How many dice? - http://nrich.maths.org/692 Chapter 9: The school fete Hans Rosling and the magic washing machine (video) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sqnptxlCcw The Likert scale - http://www.surveygizmo.com/sur... Additional sites Maths 300 - https://maths300.com NRICH - http://nrich.maths.org/ NZ Maths - http://nzmaths.co.nz/ AMSI TIMES (The Improving Mathematics Education in Schools) Modules - http://schools.amsi.org.au/times-modules/

The core purpose of schools and educators must be the successful facilitation of teaching and learning – and to do this effectively, teachers must also be leaders. In Leading Learning and Teaching, Stephen Dinham follows up the success of How to Get Your School Moving and Improving with an authoritative, in-depth examination of the field of instructional leadership. Building on extensive research in Australia and around the world, Leading Learning and Teaching examines the importance and impact of instructional leadership. Key themes include successful change management, the effectiveness of teacher professional development and the importance of evidence and the use of data. Examining current international contexts of educational theory, policy and practice, Dinham presents strategies, agendas and direction for enhancing the capabilities of individual educators, teaching teams, schools and systems. He brings together essential research and understandings of leading teaching and learning, and the role of instructional leadership in promoting quality teaching and enabling student learning.

The role of a school principal is an extremely challenging one. Principals are required to be educators, business managers, strategic planners, counsellors and most importantly, leaders. While there are professional development opportunities and short courses available for aspiring principals, many principals work their way up to the role without receiving any formal training in the specific skills required to successfully lead a school and its community. Neil Barker argues in Ecosystem leadership: an approach for schools that in order to improve school leadership and subsequent student outcomes, principals and leadership teams need to better understand how to lead together; to be intentional about the school’s leadership and to methodically and deliberately develop a collective leadership approach. Based on the organic and interconnected ecosystems found throughout the natural world, Ecosystem leadership provides practical, hands-on activities and templates to assist school leaders in developing collective leadership skills and practices. The book sets out 5 key leadership elements for school leaders to address: context, vision, processes, focuses and impact. Ecosystem leadership provides a collaborative, self-improving approach to leadership that is systematic, integrated and comprehensive. It describes a system of leadership that is fit for purpose, based on a school’s unique context, and always with improving student outcomes at the forefront.

Demystify the world of Shakespeare with this refreshingly honest and accessible guide. From decoding Shakespeare's unique language and invented words to exploring the timeless themes of love, power and deception across his comedies, tragedies, histories and sonnets, this comprehensive handbook transforms potentially intimidating content into relatable, engaging material. Each chapter builds essential skills for understanding and enjoying Shakespeare's works – whether you're analysing complex characters, tracking themes, or exploring modern adaptations. With practical activities, analysis worksheets, and a healthy dose of humour, this guide equips students with the tools to confidently tackle Shakespeare without getting lost in the 'thous' and 'thees'. Perfect for reluctant readers, this book reveals why the Bard's stories of drama, betrayal and ‘situationships’ still powerfully resonate in today's world.

This book has been designed to support you as you begin experimenting with Project Based Learning (PBL) in your English classroom. Trying out something new in the classroom is always a daunting experience because feedback on success or failure is immediate. The great thing about PBL is that it is creative for both the teacher and the student, and that means that experimentation, and sometimes failure, is a natural part of the process. The methodology of PBL is relevant to areas other than English – it can be used in a range of subjects, with many projects actually integrating more than one subject across the curriculum. This book has been structured into three distinct parts, designed to help you feel supported in your PBL journey. PART ONE: The What, Why and How of Project Based LearningThe first part of the book provides you with some background information about the nature and purpose of PBL, as well as outlining key strategies to ensure a successful and enjoyable learning experience for you and your students. This section also includes a discussion of how assessment works in PBL, as well as the relationship between PBL and the Australian Curriculum’s General Capabilities. PART TWO: Sample ProjectsThe second part of the book provides you with a selection of sample projects suitable for students in Years 9 and 10. You will be pleasantly surprised that a lot of the activities in this section look familiar – that’s because PBL is about taking the best teaching strategies and re-purposing them. The difference with PBL is that it empowers students to see a purpose for their learning beyond the classroom and to feel confident that they know where they are headed while they move through the project process. PART THREE: Additional ResourcesThe third part of the book is full of extra resources to help you design and run your own engaging projects for your English classes.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an architect? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Gerard on his journey from student to owner of two architecture businesses. On the way, you’ll read all about what Gerard does each day, see pictures of his creations, and learn some interesting facts about his job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a engineer? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Donna on her journey from trade assistant to LAME (Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer). On the way, you’ll read all about what Donna does each day, see pictures of the aircraft hanger where she works, and learn some interesting facts about her job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a teacher? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Sarah on her journey from private nanny to kindergarten teacher-in-charge. On the way, you’ll read all about what Sarah does each day, see pictures of the early learning centre where she works, and learn some interesting facts about her job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bank manager? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Joe on his journey from bank teller to branch manager. On the way, you’ll read all about what Joe does each day, see pictures of his office, and learn some interesting facts about his job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an optometrist? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Joe on his journey from recent migrant to qualified optometrist. On the way, you’ll read all about what Joe does each day, see pictures of the clinic where he examines patients, and learn some interesting facts about his job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a hair stylist? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Lisa on her journey from apprenticeship to salon owner. On the way, you’ll read all about what Lisa does each day, see pictures of her place of work, and learn some interesting facts about her job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a librarian? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Jessica on her journey from a Customer Service Officer in a library to a Children's Librarian. On the way, you’ll read all about what Jessica does each day, see pictures of her place of work, and learn some interesting facts about her job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an equine carer? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Sam on her journey from after-school employee to self-employed equine carer and services provider. On the way, you’ll read all about what Sam does each day, see pictures of the places where she works, and learn some interesting facts about her job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a web designer? In this book from the Real People, Real Careers series, we follow Nick on his journey from high school student to self-employed web designer. On the way, you’ll read all about what Nick does each day, see pictures of his home office, and learn some interesting facts about his job as well as key terms that will help you to better understand the world of work.

Thinking tools are the strategies or scaffolding through which students can access the curriculum. They can be defined as artificial devices that have been developed specifically to improve children’s thinking by: focusing their attention (visually) on an issue that needs to be resolved offering immediate feedback through seeing their ideas on paper seeing the big picture making new connections analysing complex situations explaining relationships between concepts developing new thinking skills producing a larger number of possible solutions making informed choices constructing new knowledge creating new ideas and products. In this exciting resource, author Ralph Pirozzo offers an introduction to teachers to the world of thinking tools, covering a range of different tools for different tasks, and directing teachers as to how to choose the most appropriate tool for each. Transform your school into a thinking school with this helpful guide.

Improving thinking in the classroom does not have to be difficult. This book, Improving Thinking in the Classroom, provides teachers with useful and practical strategies that will enable them to provide all their children with the most engaging, exciting and challenging learning environment. Teachers can achieve this most noble goal by: building depth and rigour using Bloom’s taxonomy engaging students with multiple intelligences transferring the knowledge to the real world. Engagement, depth and rigour are essential characteristics of a curriculum that will motivate and interest students. This means challenging, meaningful and relevant activities that make the classroom an active centre of learning. 

When challenging behaviour appears in a classroom, early years setting or care environment, it draws immediate attention. But what is visible on the surface is rarely the whole story. Behaviour Is Not the Whole Story is a practical, grounded guide for educators, leaders and teams who want to move beyond reactive responses and build behaviour support that is informed, consistent and sustainable. Drawing on extensive field-based experience across early years, school and OSHC settings, Kelly Oldfield offers a wider lens on behaviour — one that looks beyond the visible act to the regulation, communication, environment, adult responses and systems that shape it. Structured across four parts and packed with practical tools including reflection prompts, practice scenarios and ready-to-use frameworks, this book helps educators and leaders ask better questions, build stronger systems and create settings where young people can genuinely thrive. This is not a book of quick fixes or one-size-fits-all strategies. It is a thoughtful, realistic guide for people who understand that stronger outcomes for young people come from strengthening the adults, environments and systems around them.