This book provides pre-service and practising teachers with an integrated approach to language and literacy learning in early childhood. Written by leading academics in the field, it explores how children learn to talk, play using language, become literate and make meaning - from birth through to the pre-school years. Emphasising the importance of imagination and the arts in language learning, this book addresses a wide range of contemporary issues, highlights the impact of diverse socioec...

This book offers unique interdisciplinary insights into developing connections between reflective practice and employability particularly through the lenses of the education and social work professions. It recognises the various meanings that can be applied to the notion of reflection and examines the challenges of using reflective practice in the workplace. The chapters explore the tensions that arise from preparing professionals to be agents of change and concerned with social justice an...

Being literate in the twenty-first century means being an empowered receiver, user and creator of diverse text types communicated across multiple and rapidly changing modalities. English and Literacies: Learning to make meaning in primary classrooms is an accessible resource that introduces pre-service teachers to the many facets of literacies and English education for primary students. Addressing the requirements of the Australian Curriculum and the Early Years Learning Framework, English...

This textbook highlights the unique role that quality Arts processes and experiences can and should play across the curriculum to ensure that all learners’ creativities and imaginations flourish. It provides much-needed strategies, units of work and practical resources in six arts disciplines – visual arts, literature, drama, music, dance and media arts. It is a must-read for those keen to develop research-informed, integrated, arts-rich learning and teaching strategies while also explorin...

This book builds on conversations between the author educators and other experts in the field, including authors, illustrators and teachers, to explore the benefits of discussions around quality literature within a classroom context that exercises the imagination and generates new ideas and discoveries. The book focuses on a range of strategies that can be utilised to reimagine literacy learning in a 21st century context including parent and teacher talk; active listening; fostering studen...

This volume offers rare insights into the connection between young audiences and the performing arts. Based on studies of adolescent and post-adolescent audiences, ages 14 to 25, the book examines to what extent they are part of our society’s cultural conversation. It studies how these young people read and understand theatrical performance. It looks at what the educational components in their theatre literacy are, and what they make of the whole social event of theatre. It studies their v...

Teaching is becoming increasingly complex in the 21st Century, creating a need for more sophisticated frameworks to support teachers’ professional learning. Action learning is one such framework and has been used for workplace learning in business settings for many years. It is now becoming increasingly popular in school and university settings, but it is often misunderstood. This book clarifies what action learning is, linking key concepts to illustrate that it is not merely a process, bu...

School Drama is a professional learning program for primary school teachers, which focuses on the power of using drama and literature to improve English and literacy in young learners.School Drama was developed by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) in 2009, in partnership with the University of Sydney. It has been acclaimed by Australian and international critics, and is now a cornerstone of the STC’s Education program.This book is a comprehensive School Drama resource. It in...

What are the ways in which young children learn to communicate? Collating their extensive experience of language and literacy in the early years, the contributors explore key aspects of this topic, linking practical ideas for early years settings and classrooms to relevant theory and research.This second edition is updated to take into account important developments in research, policy and practice, and now covers the 0-8 age range. It also addresses developments in new media and t...

This very popular series gives teachers practical advice and guidance, together with resource ideas and materials for the classroom.

With approximately 16,000 students beginning primary teacher education in the UK each year, and each of those being expected to teach art and design, this pioneering volume provides a renewed emphasis on ideas, issues and research in art and design education in the primary and early years phases. It gathers together work from internationally recognised authors, providing a critical framework to underpin current and developing practice in primary art and design education in the UK and world...

′An essential read for trainee and newly qualified teachers covering all key areas of the primary curriculum. There is a real sense of experienced and enthusiastic practitioners writing about "what makes good" and why, with lots of clear practical examples of how to put ideas into practice.′ - Jackie Keith, Deputy Head and Programme Leader for School Direct, London East Teacher Training AllianceTo be a successful teacher in primary schools you need to have...