Books

‘The study of English introduces a student to other voices and other lives … and in doing so, helps them find their own voice.’ Whether you are planning to study a new text, looking for a fresh approach to teach an old favourite or simply seeking strategies to provide more variety in your teaching, this is an invaluable guide for all English teachers. The literature toolbox features over fifty activities for exploring text. Easy to implement and rigorously road-tested in real classrooms, these practical strategies foster engagement, deepen inquiry, and model fluent and sophisticated essay writing.

Learn More

I’m listening: How teacher-student relationships improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening debunks the misconception that a teacher can’t offer grades 6-12 students both academic rigour and emotional support. While sharing activities grounded in social-emotional research, author Beth Pandolpho reveals how listening to students’ voices enables them to practice crucial literacy skills and simultaneously build positive, trust-based teacher-student relationships. She guides readers as they foster an environment that is personally welcoming and educationally ambitious. Creating such a caring, engaging classroom provides students the support they need to develop social-emotional skills and to persevere through difficult and demanding coursework.

Learn More

Show your students how amazing it can be to just ‘see what will happen’ when they blend biology, engineering and serendipity. Focusing on innovations sparked by accidental or unexpected observations, the case studies in this resource are a lively way to integrate engineering and experimentation into your biology classes. Middle and high school students will learn fundamental science processes while using their natural curiosity to explore ideas for new applications and products. They’ll also find out that small, plant-eating mammals called pikas helped scientists find new ways to survive extreme weather events and that algae can be used as airplane fuel.

Learn More

In Rough draft math, Mandy shares the power of infusing mathematics class with the spirit of revision so that students feel comfortable thinking aloud as they talk to learn through problem-solving, rather than talking only to perform right answers. In the process, a class of students becomes a community of mathematical thinkers and teachers gain access into their students’ ideas and understandings. Inside you’ll find the following: an exploration of what the idea of revision could mean for mathematics teaching and learning; classroom vignettes to see rough draft mathematics in action; specific teaching techniques to encourage and practice rough draft thinking; voices of teachers and students in rough draft classrooms; Mandy’s reflections about her own teaching as a work in progress.

Learn More

Instead of drill-and-practice apps and worksheets, what if technology enabled exploration of mathematics concepts? Instead of screens for disconnected individual learning, what if technology fostered mathematical discourse and collaboration? Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching mathematics, what if we used technology to differentiate to meet students’ diverse needs? Technology has the power to support the teaching and learning of mathematics content at all grade levels, but the presence of technology is insufficient unless it’s paired with effective teaching practices and meaningful content. This book poses and unpacks the above questions and many more, with detailed classroom examples to illustrate practical strategies for integrating technology in the 6-12 classroom.

Learn More

Are you interested in using argument-driven inquiry for high school lab instruction but just aren't sure how to do it? Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physics, Volume 1 focuses on mechanics and will provide you with the information and instructional materials you need to start using this method right away. The book is divided into two basic parts: an introduction to the stages of argument-driven inquiry, and a well-organised series of 23 field-tested labs designed to be much more authentic for instruction than traditional laboratory activities. The book features easy-to-use, reproducible student pages, teacher notes and checkout questions. The labs also support today’s standards and will help your students learn science practices, crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas.

Learn More

This second edition of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 1, is loaded with classroom-friendly features to pinpoint what your students know (or think they know) so you can adjust your teaching accordingly. At the book's heart are 25 'probes' - easily administered formative assessments will determine your students' thinking on 60 core science concepts in a variety of areas, including light, sound, matter, gravity, heat, temperature, life science, and Earth and space science. The probes are invaluable formative assessment tools to use before you start a topic or unit. Each probe has been field-tested across multiple year levels and can be used at any point in an instructional cycle, and will help you understand what your students are thinking and adjust your instruction accordingly.

Learn More

The Dr Birdley Teaches Science series presents a fun and exciting new way to teach science to your Years 9-12 students. Each book features comics that explain critical concepts in science using easy-to-understand terminology, engaging illustrations and memorable characters. It is focused on standards-based learning objectives - correlating to the Australian F-10 Curriculum: Science and Senior Secondary Curriculum: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics - and makes science accessible to all learners. Learn More

Properties of Matter, a Dr Birdley Teaches Science book, explains critical concepts in science using words, images and characters. It is focused on standards-based learning objectives and makes science accessible to all learners. It exemplifies good science teaching. Following the outline provided, teachers help students warm up by assessing prior knowledge and developing vocabulary, learn about a new concept with the source cartoon, apply the new concepts in independent practice, and assess new learning with quizzes and tests that check for understanding of key ideas. Properties of Matter features chemistry topics including: the scientific method; mass, volume and density; boiling point; chemical and physical properties; density and buoyancy; and phases of matter.

Learn More

Parts of the Cell, a Dr Birdley Teaches Science book, explains critical concepts in science using words, images and characters. It is focused on standards-based learning objectives and makes science accessible to all learners. It exemplifies good science teaching. Following the outline provided, teachers help students warm up by assessing prior knowledge and developing vocabulary, learn about a new concept with the source cartoon, apply the new concepts in independent practice, and assess new learning with quizzes and tests that check for understanding of key ideas. Parts of the Cell features biology topics including: three parts of the cell, cytoplasm, plant cells, membrane, DNA, bacterial cell parts, and cells and the city.

Learn More

Mysteries of the Earth, a Dr Birdley Teaches Science book, explains critical concepts in science using words, images and characters. It is focused on standards-based learning objectives and makes science accessible to all learners. It exemplifies good science teaching. Following the outline provided, teachers help students warm up by assessing prior knowledge and developing vocabulary, learn about a new concept with the source cartoon, apply the new concepts in independent practice, and assess new learning with quizzes and tests that check for understanding of key ideas. Mysteries of the Earth features Earth and environmental science topics including: the fossil record, a microbial planet, geologic time, introducing rocks, sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks, origin of life and volcanoes.

Learn More

Introducing Cells, a Dr Birdley Teaches Science book, explains critical concepts in science using words, images and characters. It is focused on standards-based learning objectives and makes science accessible to all learners. It exemplifies good science teaching. Following the outline provided, teachers help students warm up by assessing prior knowledge and developing vocabulary, learn about a new concept with the source cartoon, apply the new concepts in independent practice, and assess new learning with quizzes and tests that check for understanding of key ideas. Introducing Cells features biology topics including: why cells are important, smallest units of life, discovering cells, hierarchy of life, characteristics of life, the cell theory and one-celled organisms.

Learn More