Education for Older Kids: Essential Kids

Preparing for NAPLAN

Children around Australia are brushing up on their reading, writing, language and numeracy skills this week in preparation for NAPLAN but how can you help them perform on the day?

The case for NAPLAN

Barry McGaw Other learning depends on literacy and numeracy, a strong foundation is essential.

Growing healthier children one school at a time

Katie Carlin A love of food, gardening and children inspired renowned cook Stephanie Alexander to attempt to change the future health of a generation one child at a time.

Students influenced by parents attitude to maths

Kim Arlington When it comes to keeping students interested in maths, the attitudes of their parents are a key part of the equation.

The view from the circle inside the square

Elisabeth Tarica One student and his family have found being bright can have its drawbacks.

Harmony Day is a time to celebrate our nations’ diversity and while many of us who have been born in this great country have grown up in its safety and beauty there are also others who have fled their own country to seek the safety and refuge we often take for granted.

Survey

Baffled? Bet your cotton socks

Saffron Howden Australian primary school students believe cotton socks derive from animals and yoghurt comes from plants.

Art galleries not just for the well-to-do

Jen Vuk Do your eyes widen with fear at the thought of taking your kids to the art gallery? Jen Vuk finds out just how kid-friendly galleries can be.

Jury is still out, but iPads may put the pen to the sword

Andrew Stevenson PEN and paper are not yet in the dustbin of history but the radical transformation being wrought in the learning experiences of year 6 students at Neutral Bay Public School in Sydney's lower north shore suggests time may be running out for traditional methods.

We need to stop both nation and needy from falling behind

David Gonski As the global economy continues on its trajectory of change, the pressure is on Australia to maintain a knowledge and skills base that can change and adapt to keep up with the world around us.

Cyberbullying: The Facts

QUIRKY KID If you suspect your child is a victim of cyberbullying or you want to know more this factsheet will give you a comprehensive overview of what you need to know and what action to take.

Men weep into their muggaccinos too, you know

Andrew Daddo DON'T you wonder where the dads are in those schmaltzy first-day-at-school stories on the current affairs shows?

Comments

Forget highs and lows, it's the little stuff that counts

Andrew Daddo I WAS all geared up to write something gushy and emotional, and end-of-yeary-teary.

Private school fee growth tops inflation

Andrew Stevenson LEADING private schools will again increase their fees by almost double the inflation rate, with Sydney school fees set to break the $30,000 ceiling in 2013.

A new take on kids behaving badly

Denise Ryan THE classroom wall is covered in obscenities. The teacher knows the culprit, but decides to clean up the mess and not tell anyone.

School of thought

Heidi Davoren My children have attended a private school since prep. Next year that will all change.

Primary school languages plan hits resistance

Andrew Stevenson PRIMARY school students in NSW, many of whom learn no languages other than English, would be taught a language for two hours a week under the national curriculum the federal government is developing.

God may be first casualty as Guides look for a fresh start

Cosima Marriner ''I promise that I will do my best: to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen and my country; to help other people; and to keep the Guide law.

The truth about the gifted & talented

QUIRKY KID All parents consider their children to be ‘gifted and talented’ and this term can be quite controversial in many schools, often due to competition for places in specialist classes designed to ‘excel’ high achieving students.

Schoolboys thrive on risk at recess

Andrew Stevenson For generations children have complained that school can be cruel and unusual punishment. Now it seems some headmasters are listening, introducing more breaks during the school day and explicitly recognising the value of running wild.

Study's the name of the game

Megan Johnston Learning institutions are taking classes to the next level, writes Megan Johnston.

Gap between poor and rich schools growing

Andrew Stevenson CHILDREN at public schools serving poor communities are three to five years behind their peers at schools in wealthy suburbs, an analysis of NAPLAN test results has found.

Now kids can explore their Lonely Planet too

Staff Writers Discovering the wonders of our world is one of the many joys of traveling. While not all of us can afford to take our kids trekking around the globe it never hurts to broaden their horizons by getting them interested in other countries and cultures while they are young.

Should children do traditional homework?

Schools are under pressure from parents and academics advocating more, less or something different.

Families drop homework down the pecking order

Andrew Stevenson Schools are being dragged in opposite directions over homework, with some incorporating household tasks, sporting and cultural activities under the banner and others embracing traditional nuts-and-bolts learning.

Rowling voted 'ideal teacher'

The magical school she created may be fictional, but many children also believe JK Rowling would also be a wizard in their classrooms, a poll suggests.

Homework help for harried parents

Katie Carlin Procrastination is as evident in our children as it is in us.

Poor teachers set students back years

Andrew Stevenson Teachers who always give their students time to ask questions, who ask challenging questions themselves and who tell students how their work will be judged can dramatically improve literacy performance, according to a NSW Education Department analysis.

A private tutor at their fingertips

With increasing demands on teachers and students, many schools have embraced the helping hand offered by online tutoring sites.

Schools ponder if an Apple a day keeps ignorance at bay

Stephen Cauchi Do iPads work better than mere computers in helping kids learn?

Parenting

Kids urged to study less, sleep more

Over-scheduled, stressed kids in a 'Race to Nowhere' claims new documentary.

Kylie Orr's blog

Gifted is the new black

Kylie Orr The "g" word gets bandied about so recklessly nowadays. A child recognises the first letter of his name before he can actually speak so his proud mum thinks he is advanced, potentially gifted. The fact it is written on every surface of the house and pointed out to him multiple times a day doesn't register.

Do high achievers find parenting more difficult?

Kylie Orr I recently took a personality test. Love those things. It came back with a nice neat label for my kind of people: Perfectionists. Are you a high achiever (or are you married to one)? Did you (or they) find parenting a difficult adjustment?