This article explores ways in which a forum and process were created for teachers to think about assumptions, values, and the purpose of education; explore reciprocal influences of teachers’ and children’s interactions; and deepen opportunities for parents and children to contribute to the curriculum. It discusses policy and practice implications ...

There is a widespread expectation that acquiring ICT skills and experiences during childhood will be critical for later success in the workplace. The writers examine some of the issues and evidence from the literature.

From Alan Duff’s original vision in 1992, the Books in Homes programme grew to reach 397 low-decile schools and 78,000 students by 2001, with well over a million books distributed. The evaluation was based on questionnaire responses from Year 5 students, teachers and principals. The results showed that Books in ...

The author describes a study in which videotaped interviews from the NEMP project were analysed to see how children explained their answers to questions involving the commutative (“changing the order”) properties of addition, subtraction and multiplication. Many of the children, having grasped that “turn-arounds” worked in addition, incorrectly applied that ...

Earlier this year 225 primary, intermediate and secondary schools took part in a national consultation on the draft national exemplars. Schools effectively trialled the exemplars and provided feedback on their quality and usefulness. The results, though mixed, were generally positive, and have influenced the ongoing development of national exemplars. They ...

This article draws on a study of three New Zealand primary co-principalships to discuss some alternatives for re-ordering school organisational structures and power relationships. Some recommendations are made for teachers and boards considering this approach for their own schools.

This paper explores differences between scientists’ experiences of science and the investigations that are a common type of learning activity in school science. The first half of the paper makes a case for distinguishing between investigative processes that build new knowledge and those that help students learn knowledge that is ...

Spelling is an important aspect of literacy – but not something that children can “pick up” during reading or writing. Here are some practical suggestions for combining spelling with writing in the primary classroom.