David Morkunas Launching the Think Forward Maths Network
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David Morkunas Launching the Think Forward Maths Network

Launching our first ever meeting of the Maths Network, Join David Morkunas as he unpacks the elements that have led Bentleigh West Primary School to be recognised as a high-performing school for mathematics. This session aims to bust the myth that some students or teachers “just aren’t any good at maths” and will prove that any teacher can become comfortable teaching mathematics to a high standard. This session will demonstrate how David and his colleagues use approaches including Explicit Direct Instruction and Cognitive Load Theory in order to craft and teach lessons which give their students the greatest possible chance of success in mathematics.

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The Writing Network Connect #6
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The Writing Network Connect #6

A key goal of the Think Forward Writing Network is to open a conversation about writing in the classroom, using research, trialled techniques, assessment and data collection. Catch up on our third Network Connect Session! All welcome. Let’s share expertise, discuss best practice, learn from each other!

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Dr Nathaniel Swain and Shane Pearson - From the big five to a coherent curriculum
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Dr Nathaniel Swain and Shane Pearson - From the big five to a coherent curriculum

At Brandon Park Primary School, we are building upon our low variance spelling and word reading curriculum, to make direct connections between spelling, reading, and writing instruction within English lessons and in every learning area. In this session we will describe how we are ensuring that in every subject, children are supported to read, write and discuss high-level academic concepts and ideas, and put their hard-won literacy skills to good use. This practical and research-informed presentation will detail how we have sought to make explicit and direct connections between what students are learning in English, and the vast knowledge bases in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. By using a knowledge-rich, coherent and cohesive curriculum map, and the thought-enriching techniques from the Writing Revolution, we are supporting our students to become informed, insightful, critical and independent readers, writers, and learners. Come hear how you could do the same!

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What it takes to shift practice - Montello Primary School's Journey towards structured literacy
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What it takes to shift practice - Montello Primary School's Journey towards structured literacy

As a small, regional primary school with a vulnerable student population, the leadership of Montello Primary School knew that changes were needed to support their students to become proficient readers. Over the course of a year, the school has trained staff and implemented a structured literacy approach in their early years classrooms. This hasn't come without challenges, but Dion McCall (Principal) and Ruby Moore (Quality Teaching Coach) are ready to share preliminary data, experiences and wisdom with other schools thinking of embarking on a similar journey. In this session, Jocelyn Seamer will facilitate a conversation with Dion and Ruby about their methodology, motivations and future plans for structured literacy in their school.

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Principals’ Forum - Riverwood Public School - Anne Davis
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Principals’ Forum - Riverwood Public School - Anne Davis

Open to all Principals and Assistant/Deputy Principals. Riverwood Public school is a small school located in a low socio-economic community in south-western Sydney. A focus on evidence-based wellbeing and learning practices has underpinned the school’s improvement work. We are committed to Explicit Direct Instruction as a key pedagogical approach and our literacy practices are aligned with the research from the science of reading. The school’s wellbeing framework articulates a twin focus on staff and student wellbeing.

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Shane Pearson - Introducing PhOrMeS: A Free Foundation-Year 6 Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum
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Shane Pearson - Introducing PhOrMeS: A Free Foundation-Year 6 Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum

Standing for Phonology, Orthography, Morphology, Etymology and Semantics, PhOrMeS aims to equip teachers and schools with a ready-to-teach, comprehensive, whole-class curriculum which covers the skills outlined above. In this webinar, you will hear from the lead author, Shane Pearson. You will learn about the components of the PhOrMeS Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum and how they progress from Foundation to Year 6, learn how PhOrMeS uses the SoR and SoL to teach decoding and spelling, and see examples of slides and instructional sequences and much much more.

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Follow up Q and A - Creating and sustaining effective learning environments
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Follow up Q and A - Creating and sustaining effective learning environments

Catch up on this follow up Q and A for this very popular session! Have you been working hard to establish classroom routines and clear behavioural expectations at the start of this year? Dr. Russ Fox and Dr. Erin Leif are obsessed with all things behaviour and are excited to talk with Think Forward Educators about ways to create and sustain positive and productive learning environments for all students.

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Implementing the science of learning when the rest of the school isn't - Brendan Lee
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Implementing the science of learning when the rest of the school isn't - Brendan Lee

Have ever you had the realisation that the way your school has been going about things is not evidence-informed? Have you also struggled with initiating the changes that are needed for school improvement? This talk is targeted at classroom teachers and middle leaders who are experiencing barriers in the implementation process. In this presentation, Brendan will discuss some of the strategies that teachers can use when approaching school leaders and what you need to understand before moving forward.

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Principals’ Forum - Term 2 2022 - Beeliar Primary
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Principals’ Forum - Term 2 2022 - Beeliar Primary

The journey to become a school of excellence for Beeliar Primary School started with an in-depth analysis of student data, where all staff engaged in a disciplined dialogue about school and student performance. Whole school programs including Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), InitiaLit, Critical Reading and Spelling Mastery were introduced to ensure consistency of practice and a systematic development of reading across the school. The results have been outstanding and Beeliar PS achieved green boxes for all literacy areas in our 2021 Year 3 NAPLAN results.

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Beyond Phonics...Morphology & Why it Matters - Jasmine Shannon & Kylie Conrad
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Beyond Phonics...Morphology & Why it Matters - Jasmine Shannon & Kylie Conrad

Jasmine Shannon, and Kylie Conrad are morphology-obsessed. Seeing morphology as such an unsung hero. they constantly research Greek and Latin and how these languages influence the way we spell today. Morphology has huge potential to build comprehension, vocabulary and to drive spelling instruction. However, how this is used is still being thought out in many schools. Morphology is the organisational feature of the entire English spelling system which shares a leading role with phonology and is heavily influenced by etymology. Join us for this exciting presentation, and get ready to become morphology-mad too!

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A crash course in pedagogy for surviving and thriving in the English classroom - Rebecca Birch
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A crash course in pedagogy for surviving and thriving in the English classroom - Rebecca Birch

Rebecca Birch hosts a crash course for early career English teachers on how to create cultures of writing and reading in the classroom. Drawing on evidence-based practice, Rebecca will share key strategies to support teachers in making writing routine, including the direct teaching of writing structures that enhance learning, and the modelling and scaffolding of responses. She will also present on how to support students in reading comprehension, while providing an appropriate level of challenge. Finally, she will present on the structures and resources that can support early career teachers in doing their job, for example effective use of aides, strategic programming and efficient whole class and individualised feedback.

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Trauma informed schooling and EDI - An intentional approach to social and academic success - SA Branch
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Trauma informed schooling and EDI - An intentional approach to social and academic success - SA Branch

James Kelly and Dave Pascoe presented on the contextual and sustainable approach to Trauma Informed Practice at Elizabeth Vale Primary School. Key elements will be: the importance of intentionality, predictability, consistency and communication in a trauma informed school and some tips that we would give to others on a similar journey. From here, the workshop will provide a snapshot of Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) as a pedagogy for learning and how it complements the trauma informed approach. It will provide a very clear idea of what EDI is and what EDI is not and some practical uses in a classroom setting.

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Read 2 Learn Project Launch
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Read 2 Learn Project Launch

Read2Learn (r2L) is Brandon Park Primary’s new platform for teaching reading comprehension within a knowledge-rich curriculum. This is an evolution from their work in recent years to teach reading comprehension explicitly and in a way that gets students focussed on in-depth text. Catch the recording fro this free information session to hear about the ambitious project to share our curriculum resources with you, and collaborate with other schools to produce high-quality units that develop knowledge and reading/writing expertise in students.

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Environments for learning: Docklands Primary
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Environments for learning: Docklands Primary

Basing their work on professional reading around the importance of calm, settled learning environments, our guest presenters will be sharing their experiences and findings about effective classroom setup. Reviewing the kinds of seating plans that lend themselves to different kinds of work in the classroom; they have a heap of practical experiments in their own classrooms to share!

Jac and Leah will also share insights about classroom displays and organising student materials.

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Creating and sustaining effective learning environments using behaviour science - Dr Russ Fox and Dr Erin Leif
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Creating and sustaining effective learning environments using behaviour science - Dr Russ Fox and Dr Erin Leif

Have you been working hard to establish classroom routines and clear behavioural expectations at the start of this year? Are you wondering how to sustain, embed, and then responsively adapt these practices over the course of the year? Diving into behaviour science may assist you with your behaviour change efforts (yours and your students!).
Dr. Russ Fox and Dr. Erin Leif are obsessed with all things behaviour and are excited to talk with Think Forward Educators about ways to create and sustain positive and productive learning environments for all students.

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