social and emotional competence

What teachers need now to survive (hint: not this old trick)

By Julianna Libro

The advice given to teachers entering the classroom for the first time is often ‘Don’t smile until Easter’. The expression suggests hostility, attempting to place the teacher as the enforcer and the one who will wield the power for the year.  While the phrase might still ring true for some teachers, we, as teachers, are

Australia doesn’t need a ‘Behaviour Curriculum’. We need to implement Social and Emotional Learning now

By Melissa Close and Linda Graham

Last month, the Senate Education and Employment References Committee released an interim report on the Senate Inquiry into increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms – and it looks like we will get the final report today. It used an unsubstantiated decline in Australia’s rank in the OECD’s disciplinary climate index to claim Australian classrooms as

Part two: A new way forward for toddlers, teens, educators, parents

By Marg Rogers and Margaret Sims

Educators and parents often complain about toddlers and teenagers. In the first article of this two-part series, we explained similarities in their physical, social and emotional development. In this second article, we explore the cognitive similarities, share tips on building positive relationships, and provide ways to address their mental health and wellbeing. What are the

Toddlers and teens: the news educators and parents need right now

By Marg Rogers and Margaret Sims

Among educators and parents, the most often complained about age groups are toddlers and teens. Physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively there are many similarities in these developmental ages. Understanding these similarities can reduce frustrations and help us better connect with them. In this two-part series, we explore the physical, social and emotional similarities. In the

Is the cheery praise for mindfulness based on expert evidence?

By Christopher T. McCaw, Winky Lee and Nicholas Van Dam

Educators, desperate to offset the mental health impacts of COVID on students, are taking up mindfulness programs to

How to talk to students right now about the most important crisis of our time

By Charlotte Jones and Cristy Clark

Charlotte Jones on why we need to pay attention to the emotional significance climate change has for students, as many young people experiencing legitimate and increasing anxiety as they grapple with climate change. Cristy Clark on the existential threat posed by climate change and why the only ethical thing educators can do is to acknowledge

Playground duty really is quality time: how joyful learning happens outside the classroom

By Olivia Karaolis

The Quality Time Action Plan is described by the department of education as an approach intended to reduce and simplify administrative processes for teachers and provide them with more time for “high value tasks”.  It is here that I have a quibble with this document and its definition of playground duty or supervision at lunch

Six things schools need to do now to stop gendered violence

By Amanda Keddie

Wesley College refers sexual assault and harassment complaints to police (ABC News, March 2021) Abuse Scandal Shocks St

Teachers ‘must show’ emotional intelligence but how will it be measured? (And other questions)

By Kristina Turner

All initial teacher education graduates must now “show superior cognitive and emotional intelligence measured via a psychometric assessment” before they will be considered for teaching jobs in New South Wales public schools.  This requirement is part of the Teacher Success Profile launched last year by the New South Wales Education Minister Rob Stokes. I asked