CPL Podcast

Mary-Ellen Betts and Sandra Rowan explain what effective spellers do and how to teach spelling using the NSW English Syllabus.

“At the heart of the English syllabus is to make meaning… in order to communicate your message you want to be able to spell it so that people get the meaning you intend… Correct spelling is respecting your reader to ensure they get the message you intended.

… ‘good spellers’ implies that you either get it right or you don’t… ‘effective spellers’ have a range of strategies so that they will have a go at different words and exciting words but they then have ways to get to the correct spelling of it… W want kids who are willing to take a risk, who are willing to expand their vocabulary and try to use it without worrying about ‘am I a good speller?’… for kids to be effective spellers the first thing we need to get them to do is care about getting their message across to the reader.

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Lorraine Chaffer explains why she is passionate about teaching Geography and how to best implement the new syllabus.

“There is an exciting future out there are we are doing good things in the right direction… we need to think about the inquiry approach that is now a main feature of this new syllabus... The focus is to get students questioning and to make inquiry the basis of their learning.... When you look at the syllabus it’s easy to think that it’s a linear process… but we could be doing any part of that inquiry in any one lesson and as a result… questions may arise that lead us to another inquiry.

…Reflecting is really important... There is so much out there that we can choose … we should try for a really good balance of breadth and depth … go back to the topic focus and rethink what you’re doing in-depth and have you got the depth in the right places?”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Claudia Vera supports you to meet the needs of all your students.

“Just as with any other student, we are aspiring for excellence for the student... What we can do today in our classrooms today can really have an important impact on the lives of our students.

…apply the A.T.P. approach, that is, ask the person… know your student; that is the best place to start… it is helpful knowing the diagnosis but it is even more helpful to know the person… show that you value them and that their contribution matters… talk to other people who can help you…the Department has some really valuable tools that can support you.

…an adjustment is about giving access to learning… we refer to making adjustments as an opportunity… that student is also teaching you how to making teaching and learning accessible to every child that comes into your classroom.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Lloyd Bowen shares the hints and tips he has collected to improve classroom management through effective teaching in the Secondary school.

“When we’re in that room, we’re usually the only professional in that room. There is nowhere to hide… Even the most expert and experienced teachers would still have those days when it’s difficult... It’s never too early to ask for help.

…when a lot of effort has been put into making the lessons authentic and meaningful to students, classroom management is infinitely easier and we can use a lot of non-verbal things like… We can know the rooms we are in and control the energy in the room… All of the things I do in my class are not original… sometimes they work within a week and sometimes they work within a term...

…We need to focus on students as people first.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Sandra Rowan and Jenny Williams understand that some students are challenged by learning mathematics. They guide teachers to the essentials of teaching Mathematics using the NSW K-6 syllabus.

“Mathematics has got a bit of a bad rap… we have a challenge to get kids engaged in mathematics. We need to make connections to everyday things around them… and perseverance is important. Mathematics is about thinking, and having a go and trying to solve a problem.

…The new syllabus is asking students to be creative and critical problem solvers… There is a need to have an understanding of the mathematical concept. It’s very important that we give students a range of manipulatives to help them solve the problems… One of the essentials of teaching Mathematics is knowing your students.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Kathryn Bellach suggests some principles and practices to improve classroom management through effective teaching in the Primary school.

“For many teachers, classroom management is the thing that keeps them awake at night… we can actually put things in place and development them over time to make sure things are working for each student…

If one student needed help with reading, we would do everything we can to help them. If someone needs help to be a member of our class, then they need help too… usually, a lot of the great lessons comes towards the end of the unit, but of you run out of time then you don’t get to do the fun parts.

…You need to work as part of a team. Just because they are in your class does not mean they are only your student. There are people in your school who can help you.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Denis Fitzgerald is a teacher. He reflects on being in promotions positions in NSW Public Education. Denis thinks being a Head Teacher is one of the best roles in our system.

“One of my first feelings was of an inner sense of self-doubt but also knowing that I had to exude a sense of confidence and command of the role from the first day… when you turn up at your first school you think “can I really do this?”… you turn up in your faculty as a good teacher and aspire to be one of the better teachers in the faculty… The first idea was to get to know the school, and my faculty and also developing relationships with the other executives and of, course, the students… each combination of people are quite different.

You need to earn that capacity and the inclination for other people to follow you… The leadership principle that is in vogue now was not nearly as widespread. We had inspectors and a strong Department. A Department that would set values across the system and across and between our schools… they were the gel of our system.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts

Jenny Williams and Sandra Rowan explain why all students need to learn poetry. They help teachers to implement the poetry aspects of the NSW K-6 English syllabus.

“Poetry is best words, in the best order, about something important… Poetry improves vocabulary and … it’s a short text normally, that kids can manage because they can write briefly, rather than long essay type writing.

…Poetry is also about playing with words, and so we can have a lot of fun with words… We have a mandate to teach poetry in every stage… it's small manageable chunks, it’s often about emotion and so everyone can relate to it… The message of the poet can be very powerful.”

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded for the JPL Podcast, hence the references to the JPL Podcast throughout.

For information about contributors and the JPL Podcast, as well as Journal of Professional Learning articles and Centre for Professional Learning courses, please visit our website www.cpl.asn.au/podcasts