Kids on the coast

What is ‘middle schooling’ all about, and could your child benefit from this approach?

by Justine Stewart

Just as it can be hard to adjust your parenting style as kids get older, schools and teachers are now discovering a one-size-fits-all teaching method hasn’t worked for kids in the “middle years”, or roughly Grades 5 to 9.

In fact, it’s now established that early adolescence mirrors early childhood in its complexity and importance to educational success.

 Read more

by Sandra Smith

Most Queensland families are satisfied with our state and independent schools, but for some families, conventional school is not the best option and they turn to home education, or homeschooling, as a viable alternative.

 Read more

by Justine Stewart

Whether it’s entering Prep or moving to a new school, change can be daunting but you can help kids successfully tackle the challenges involve.

 Read more

by Kim Robins and Katharine Bogard

The task of choosing a school for your child can be quite time consuming and overwhelming, not to mention nerve-racking. Even the most calm and relaxed parents out there have been known to worry and lose sleep over choosing the ‘right’ school for their kids.

 Read more

by Maxine Arthur

“Homework should be abolished” is a popular topic for school debates, guaranteed to inspire lively argument and the faint hope the teacher might agree. Until recently it’s not a proposition teachers or parents have entertained seriously, believing that “practice makes perfect” and with more practice comes a higher level of academic achievement. But this assumption is now being questioned, particularly for primary school students. Parents want their children to succeed in school but many believe after-school time might be better used spending quality time with the family, pursuing interests such as music and sport, or simply playing.

 Read more

RELIGION IN STATE SCHOOLS

by Sandra Smith

Queensland is home to an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural population, with a range of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Our state schools and communities need to respond to this diversity and meet the needs of contemporary Queenslanders in an inclusive way, and this means ensuring that religious diversity is provided for.

 Read more

by Kim Robins

Spare time and surplus household funds are luxuries that most of us don’t have these days. Yet thousands of mums, dads, carers, teachers and community members angelically give their time to raise funds for struggling organisations, schools and charities. More raised hands are always needed, so let’s talk about fundraising!
 Read more

by Justine Stewart

While it’s true that many kids will happily breeze through the school system, fitting neatly into teachers’ expectations, enjoying their learning journey, and achieving results which correlate with their career ambitions, they’re the lucky ones.
 Read more

Handling schoolyard bullies

by Maxine Arthur

Your child storms through the door declaring he is never going back to school because he is sick of being “picked on” and he “hates” someone at school. When he runs out of steam, the tears start. The desire to protect your child kicks in, along with a few memories of schoolyard bullies from your own school days. The temptation to confront your child’s tormentor immediately is strong, but is this in your child’s best interests?
 Read more

Transition to, or between schools

by Sandra Smith

The five year old stands wide-eyed outside the school gates. His uniform is crisp and new, and his school bag is packed with icy drink bottle, bulging lunch box and pencil case. His tiny hand clings to his mother’s and his lower lip quivers slightly. He stands quietly in his shiny, new shoes, as jostling children run past, then he takes a deep breath and takes a tentative step inside – he is ready for his first day of Year 1.
 Read more