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The AATE/ALEA National Conference organisers have generously allowed us to share the recording and slides from our sessions. Watch them on YouTube now!
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We went to the AATE/ALEA National Conference in Canberra last month. Here’s a short summary of what we got up to during our trip!
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Bridget Forster, Head of Kerferd Library and VCE Literature Teacher at Mentone Girls’ Grammar School! Bridget’s project will focus on using AI generated texts in the English classroom to interrogate the notion of an Australian literary voice.
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Supporting professional skills development and career-enhancing opportunities for English and literacy teachers and teacher librarians.
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Following the success of last year’s inaugural Literature Symposium, the Foundation for Learning and Literacy has brought together an even bigger group of like-minded organisations to advocate for the power and pleasure of stories!
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The full article, which contains links to Edwina’s website and other useful resources, is freely available from Teacher’s website.
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Thank you once again to everyone who entered the giveaway, and to Penguin Random House for providing the books for the prize pack!
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Thanks to our friends at Penguin Random House Australia, we’re giving away a set of newly redesigned books by iconic Australian author Tim Winton!
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Enter this fabulous creative writing competition for primary and secondary students, revolving around the theme of change and continuity.
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The Reading Australia team flew to Darwin for the AATE/ALEA National Conference in July – here’s what they got up to!
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…Jantiena Batt from the ACT Education Directorate, whose project aims to ensure access to literature that is both a window and mirror for children.
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This series of free online presentations will roll out between June and November 2022. Register so you don’t miss out on new instalments!
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This is the second guest post from our 2021 Reading Australia Fellow, Edwina West. Here she turns her attention to the reading habits of young Australians.
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In partnership with ABC Education, we are delighted to share a series of short videos on Reading Australia texts/authors featured on the show!
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In this article, 2021 Reading Australia Fellow Edwina West explains why aliteracy research matters and how we might reverse a worrying trend.
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We received 150 beautiful entries from Kindergarten through to Year 6, and it was very difficult to pick just two standouts…
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The AATE/ALEA National Conference organisers have kindly allowed us to share the recording for this workshop.
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Thank you once more to everyone who participated, and to Penguin Random House for teaming up with us on this giveaway!
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Take part in our annual colouring competition with these exclusive designs from illustrator Charmaine Ledden-Lewis!
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Congratulations to Edwina West of Oakhill College, who has been awarded the $15,000 Fellowship for her project to combat aliteracy!
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An update on the state of Reading Australia today, as it approaches 22,000 subscribers and over 230 resources.
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Thanks to our friends at Penguin Random House, we have five copies of A Glasshouse of Stars to give away to Reading Australia subscribers!
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The results of our playwriting competition with the ACLF are in! Thank you to everyone who entered!
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Reading Australia has partnered with the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation (ACLF) to present an exciting opportunity for aspiring storytellers!
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A huge thanks once again to everyone for taking part, and to Nelson Cengage for partnering with us to offer this giveaway!
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There’s just one more month to apply for the Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy!
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Australian Children’s Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky has put together some tips to help aspiring storytellers get to grips with this unique text type.
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In partnership with Nelson Cengage, we are giving away a set of resources from Our Land, Our Stories to a Reading Australia subscriber! Entry details here!
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As we prepare for the new school year, we’d like to highlight a fantastic resource to help you teach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories…
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This has been a record year for Reading Australia: not only did our community surpass 20,000 subscribers, but we also published 35 resources in the last 12 months (compared with 21 resources the year before). As our final news post for the year, we’ve gathered here all 35 resources – 15 for primary teachers and […]
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We are delighted to be able to share this workshop on how to teach culturally sensitive and challenging texts in classrooms. The presentation was recorded during the AATE/IFTE Conference in July 2020 – thank you to ETA NSW and the conference for giving us permission to share this video with our users. The presenters are […]
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Thank you to everyone who entered our National Reconciliation Week colouring competition – there were over 850 entries, so it was fiercely competitive! The Reading Australia team had a hard time choosing the final winners, but we are delighted to share the winning entries with you below. Dub Leffler is the wonderful illustrator behind this […]
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Every year we dive into the Reading Australia website analytics to figure out which books teachers have been loving. In the last twelve months, teachers have been reaching for the classics as well as exploring a few newer titles. How many of the books on this list do you use in your classrooms? The resource […]
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Karen Yager, a teacher with more than 25 years’ experience, has been awarded the 2020 Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy. The Reading Australia Fellowship provides $15,000 to a leading English and/or literacy teacher to undertake a career-enhancing research project that will benefit the successful Fellow as well as the education sector. Karen […]
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National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is commemorated every year from 27 May to 3 June, giving Australians the opportunity to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this country, to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture, and to celebrate Indigenous culture. The theme of this year’s NRW is ‘In This Together’. To learn […]
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The Reading Australia team are delighted to announce that next year we will publish ten units of work for secondary school and 20 units for primary school. This is in addition to the resources already available on our website, including 78 primary units and 120 secondary units. Click the book covers below to read more about each […]
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We are thrilled that Ursula Dubosarsky has been named the new Australian Children’s Laureate for 2020–21. Ursula is the author of over 60 books for children, including novels, picture and illustrated books, non-fiction books and a play. Three of her books have been adapted into plays, and many of her titles have won or been […]
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EDIT: The deadline has been extended! New deadline: 5 p.m. Friday 10 July 2020. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our annual poetry competition, this year hosted in partnership with Red Room Poetry. The competition will open on 21 March 2020 to coincide with World Poetry Day, a day which provides the chance […]
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Applications are now open for the 2020 Reading Australia Fellowship for the Teaching of English and Literacy. For full details visit the Copyright Agency website. The Fellowship, worth up to $15,000, will support an experienced teacher or teacher librarian to undertake professional skills development and career-enhancing opportunities. The Fellowship will enable teachers of English and […]
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Now that the school year is drawing to a close, we are able to recap the units we published this year, as well as start planning for 2020. The summer holidays are a great time to get stuck into reading books and resources, so for your convenience we have compiled all the units we published […]
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Alexander Wharton is halfway through his year-long Reading Australia Fellowship, and he’s been reading up a storm! He shares his teacher perspective on the books that have inspired him and educated him, just in time for the school holidays. You can follow his journey as the Reading Australia Fellow at The Missing Peace, where he blogs about […]
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Every year Reading Australia runs a NAIDOC Week colouring competition, and every year we are blown away by the enthusiasm and creativity of Australia’s students. We commissioned two brilliant illustrators to design colouring sheets inspired by their books that feature on Reading Australia: Angela Ramirez, who illustrated The Little Corroborree Frog, and graphic novelist, Brenton McKenna, who wrote […]
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Students around the world are increasingly engaging with (and in fact, driving) activism around the climate crisis. We’ve put together a list of six books about the environment, ranging from primary to secondary titles, for students interested in stories about conservation, endangered species, and sustainable practices. 1. Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker ‘My father says […]
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We are thrilled to be able to share with you the new titles we will be publishing resources for in 2020. This news follows our announcement last month that the Miles Franklin Literary Award-winning title, Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, will have a secondary unit of work published on Reading Australia next year. Click […]
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THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. This year we have commissioned two brilliant illustrators to create the artwork for our annual NAIDOC Week colouring competition: Angela Ramirez, who illustrated The Little Corroborree Frog, and Brenton McKenna, the graphic novelist who wrote and illustrated the Ubby’s Underdogs trilogy. The colouring sheets are designed to be used as […]
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Alex Wharton from Carinya Christian School in Gunnedah, NSW, is the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund’s first Reading Australia Fellow for a Teacher of English and Literacy. Copyright Agency’s CEO Adam Suckling says, ‘The Reading Australia Fellowship provides $15,000 to a leading English and literacy teacher to develop a career-enhancing research project which can be shared […]
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National Reconciliation Week is held every year from 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the journey to reconciliation – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision. The aim of Reconciliation Week is to raise awareness of the issues Indigenous people face, celebrate Indigenous cultures and histories, and recognise the achievements […]
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World Refugee Day (20 June), a United Nation’s initiative, is a chance to raise awareness of the plight of the 68 million people who are currently refugees or displaced peoples. The treatment of refugees has been a contentious issue in Australian politics for decades, particularly since the imprisonment of men, women and children on Nauru […]
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We were blown away by all of the amazing poems we received throughout March – students experimented with form, genre, rhyming schemes, even their choice of muse (teachers, you are an inspiring bunch!). Thank you to the 550+ students who crafted such wonderful poems for us to read, and to the teachers who provided the guidance […]
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The aim of the Reading Australia initiative is to connect teachers with quality Australian literature. This month we’re highlighting one of the website’s features designed to make it easier for you to find titles and resources relevant to you and your students. Overview of the ‘search’ function You can make a simple search from the […]
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In commemoration of World Poetry Day on 21 March, we are running a poetry competition for primary and secondary students with two fabulous books to win in each category! World Poetry Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999, celebrates the reading, writing and performance of poetry. How do my students enter? Challenge your students to write […]
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World Poetry Day, celebrated on 21 March every year, recognises the unique ability of poetry to capture what it means to be human. In every culture there are poets who feed the soul of their nation and advocate for the arts; today we are featuring the diversity and brilliance of our Australian poets, contemporary and […]
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Reading Australia is saddened to hear of the passing of Andrew McGahan, the Miles Franklin Literary Award-winning author of The White Earth. He was born in Dalby, Queensland, but lived and worked mostly in Brisbane. His first novel Praise (1992) was winner of The Australian/Vogel Literary Award. His second novel was the prequel 1988 (1995), and his third novel Last Drinks (2000) was […]
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We asked students to redesign the cover of any book on Reading Australia, and they rose to the challenge with enthusiasm, sending in entries that demonstrated both creativity and keen understanding of their chosen books. We selected the best five entries as our prizewinners – scroll down to see the winning entries below. Each student […]
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It’s time to get creative! We are challenging students to design a new book cover for any title on the Reading Australia website. This challenge marks our third and last round of our competition run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association. Students are to choose any book from the Reading Australia list and […]
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The first year of Morris Gleitzman’s two-year term as the Australian Children’s Laureate is drawing to a close, and we are commemorating the occasion with a competition! What’s the prize? One lucky school will receive a book prize pack valued at over $580! It includes all thirty-three books on this fabulous poster, celebrating the books […]
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We challenged the students of Australia to send us their best haiku inspired by a book on Reading Australia, and we received more than 900 entries! This competition was run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and was shared by librarians around the country. Each entry demonstrated the creativity and beauty […]
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The Copyright Agency is offering a $15,000 Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy to support an experienced teacher in undertaking professional skills development. This is an exciting career-enhancing opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge through a research project, which may be undertaken overseas. The deadline for applications is 1pm EST on […]
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Eight hundred students from seventy-eight different schools from around the country entered our NAIDOC Week competition to win a set of books written and illustrated by Indigenous creators! To enter each student coloured in an illustration created exclusively for Reading Australia by artist Grace Fielding, the illustrator of The Lizard Gang, written by Kirra Somerville. […]
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We are days away from finding out which author will become the 2018 winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award! Since the Copyright Agency supports the Miles Franklin shortlist by providing each shortlisted author with a $5000 cash prize, naturally, all of our water-cooler chats are dominated by Miles Franklin speculation. The Reading Australia team are […]
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What is AustLit? AustLit is a fantastic resource that makes the lives of researchers, students of literature and especially teachers easier. It’s the first of its kind – no other country has attempted to compile such a comprehensive record of a nation’s creative writing and associated critical works. Simply, AustLit is an online database that […]
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Reading Australia is a few months away from turning five, so today we are looking back at which books have been the most popular since we first launched the Reading Australia initiative in 2013. Below you will find the top ten secondary and top ten primary titles; to view the full units of work, simply […]
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Last term we gave away ten $100 Booktopia vouchers, and this term we’re offering the same prize, but with a different challenge! We will give five $100 Booktopia vouchers to students and another five to their school libraries. This competition is run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association and is designed to […]
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Thank you to all the teachers and students who entered the Reading Australia 10-word challenge competition. This competition was run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and was shared by librarians around the country. Over 1300 students took up the challenge to describe their favourite Reading Australia book in ten words […]
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We already know what books teachers keep reaching for, but what do students love to read? This week we are stepping aside and letting Portia Simon, a Year 10 student from Sydney, give us her book recommendations! We were delighted to have Portia spend some of her work experience week with the Reading Australia team, […]
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The Copyright Agency has today announced the first-ever Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy worth $15,000. The announcement was made at the premier English and literacy teachers’ conference in Perth, the AATE/ALEA National conference, sponsored by Copyright Agency. Copyright Agency CEO, Adam Suckling, says, “It is incredibly important we support the professional […]
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Leanne Heanly is the Teaching and Learning Librarian at Trinity Grammar School. In early 2018 she organised a school-based campaign inspired by the Copyright Agency’s This Book Changed My Life campaign. 1. Why did you want to get your students involved in the This Book Changed My Life campaign? We wanted to start the conversation […]
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More than 40 students and staff members from Trinity Grammar School in Sydney have shared the books that mean the most to them in videos to support the Copyright Agency’s This Book Changed My Life social media campaign. The social media campaign, created by the Copyright Agency highlights the important role that copyright plays in […]
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While Reading Australia is committed to celebrating Indigenous writers and illustrators all year long, NAIDOC Week is a wonderful opportunity to double our efforts in connecting teachers and their students with more Indigenous stories. More than 60 titles on the Reading Australia list were written and/or illustrated by Indigenous creators. Of these, 30 have resources […]
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To celebrate NAIDOC Week we are giving two primary students in Australia the opportunity to win a stack of books written and illustrated by Indigenous creators! The Lizard Gang will introduce your students to Zed, Boo, Eliza and Zoro – a spirited gang of monitor lizards who are constantly trying to outdo each other. They live deep in […]
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EDIT: THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. We are giving away ten $100 Booktopia vouchers in total – five to students and another five to their school libraries! This competition is run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association and is designed to encourage students to explore Australian books. Who can enter? The competition is […]
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On 27 March, 2018, Wendy Bean presented at the CBCA NSW annual conference on the ways teachers can connect Geography and Literacy in their teaching. The theme of the conference was Connecting Geography and Literacy: finding the treasure in story. This is an edited version of Wendy’s presentation. The Australian Curriculum: Geography aims to ensure students develop: […]
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Reading Australia presents this Graeme Base podcast, with permission from The Garret Podcast. Graeme Base is a legendary British-Australian writer and illustrator. Generations of children have grown up enthralled by his creations, including Animalia (awarded the Children Book Council’s Picture Book of the Year Honour Book in 1987) and The Eleventh Hour (awarded the same prize in 1989). His other […]
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How many times have you read a treasured book and wished you could jump right in and join the characters in their adventures? Or dreamed that you could be your favourite character’s best friend or even second cousin? Below are the five families from Australian books that we, at Reading Australia, wish we could be […]
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On Anzac Day, we reflect on the lives of the Australian men and women who have served and lost their lives in war. Through storytelling, we make sure that their lives and our history are not forgotten. Below we have curated a list of six Australian books that explore experiences of war. If you’re looking […]
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We are thrilled that well-loved children’s writer, and Reading Australia author, Morris Gleitzman will be the new Australian Children’s Laureate for 2018–19. He will dedicate the next two years to advocating for the importance of ‘stories and everything stories can offer.’ He is the author of the award-winning novel, Once (2005), which has Reading Australia […]
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We are pleased to announce that in 2018 we will be publishing 20 new resources to support teachers in teaching Australian texts. As reported last year, this will be in addition to 8 secondary-level resources for texts by Indigenous authors and illustrators, that will be published this year in partnership with Magabala Books. The texts […]
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Reading Australia presents this Hannie Rayson podcast, with permission from The Garret Podcast. Hannie Rayson is one of Australia’s most recognised playwrights and screenwriters and has also worked as a freelance journalist and editor. She is the co-founder of the community theatre group, Theatreworks, and has been writer-in-residence at Geelong’s Mill Theatre, Playbox Theatre, La Trobe […]
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Alex Miller is twice winner of Australia’s premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Literary Award. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and a recipient of the Centenary Medal for an outstanding contribution to Australian cultural life. His books and awards include: The Ancestor Game, awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Prize […]
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Alison Lester is an Australian author and illustrator who has published around 30 children’s picture books. Her first book, Clive Eats Alligators, was commended in the Australian Picture Book of the Year Awards in 1986. Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo was shortlisted in 2000 for the same award and her picture book, The Journey Home, […]
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For teachers, the summer holidays means finally having the time to read all those books you’ve been wanting to get stuck into for months (or years…). We’ve compiled a list of must-read books for lovers of literature to make picking your holiday read as easy as possible. 1. Black Rock White City by A. S. […]
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Being a teenager can be exhilarating, harrowing, passionate and confusing all at the same time. They face hurdles like academic stresses, parental expectations, peer pressure and body image issues. Sometimes they must come to terms with more serious problems, like illness, addiction, poverty and death. Young people can find comfort and guidance in books that explore […]
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Thank you to all the teachers and students who entered our Leigh Hobbs colouring competition. We received over 1200 entries from students all across the country! Congratulations to the winners, who each won a book prize pack. They were: Madalina, Year 2, Airdale Primary School, SA Gabrielle, Year 5, St Francis Xavier’s Primary School, NSW […]
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In 2018 Reading Australia will publish eight new resources for secondary teachers to assist in teaching books by Indigenous authors and illustrators, in partnership with Magabala Books. This follows the success of Reading Australia’s previous collaboration with Magabala Books in which 15 resources for primary school teachers were developed and published. Magabala Books is a publishing house […]
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Being a pre-service or early career primary school teacher can be a daunting time. Your tasks go far beyond giving your students an enriching and inspiring education, an already complex and demanding challenge. Reading Australia creates resources that make teaching literacy easy for primary teachers. But there are other areas you might need support in: today […]
Keep ReadingThe online hub for teachers, Reading Australia, has decided to add Ellen Van Neerven’s award-winning short story collection, Heat and Light, to the Reading Australia book list. More importantly, the Reading Australia Selection Committee agreed to create teacher resources for the book, so that it could be taught in classrooms around the country and enjoyed […]
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What is the Australian Children’s Laureate? The Australian Children’s Laureate initiative was developed by the not-for-profit Australian Children’s Literature Alliance (ACLA). Through the initiative, a children’s or young adult writer who has made a significant contribution to Australian children’s literature is selected to spend two years travelling around the country to promote the importance of literacy […]
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In a few short months, it will be time to bid farewell to the 2016/17 Children’s Laureate, Mr Leigh Hobbs. He delights young readers and adults alike with his unique style of illustration and ironic manner of writing. Leigh has spent his two years as the Laureate travelling the country ‘to champion creative opportunities for children, and to highlight the […]
Keep ReadingCall for English teachers Are you an English teacher? Are you interested in sharing your views about teaching English? Contribute to important national research by completing a short survey about your experience as an English teacher for the Investigating Literary Knowledge in the Making of English Teachers project. The researchers are interested in learning how […]
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What does ‘sustainability’ mean? Sustainability refers to patterns of living that protect the Earth and shape the quality of life that the Earth is able to give. A sustainable world requires individual and collective action in both local and global communities. There are three systems in which attention to sustainability is necessary: environmental, social and economic. Why […]
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As champions of great Aussie writers, the Reading Australia team are counting down the days until we discover which author will be crowned the 2017 winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award! On 7 September, one of these five dazzling finalists will be presented with the prize: An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire (Pan Macmillan Australia) The […]
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Magabala Books, Australia’s oldest independent Indigenous publisher, is celebrating its 30th anniversary next month. Reading Australia is proud to have partnered with Magabala to create teaching resources for books by Indigenous creators. Click here or on the thumbnail below to access the full feature on Magabala in the Weekend Australian by Rosemarie Milsom. […]
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Thank you to all the teachers and students who entered our Mad Magpie colouring competition during Reconciliation Week. We received over 550 entries from students all across the country! Congratulations to the winners, who each won a book prize pack. They were: Fellishia, Year 2, Nulsen Primary School, WA Jacob, Year 4, Northfield Primary School, SA […]
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What do you look for when selecting print texts for your high school students to teach them about visual literacy? Appropriate themes, complexity of ideas, rich and beautiful illustrations, evidence of depth and layers of meaning, a variety of text type. The books in the list below meet each of those requirements with the added bonus […]
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Libby Gleeson, author of books such as Amy and Louis, Mahtab’s Story and The Great Bear, delivered the address at Reading Australia’s Third Birthday Party, published below. Catch Libby this July in Hobart at the AATE/ALEA Conference. As introduced, I am a writer. A writer largely of picture books and longer fiction for young people […]
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Reading Asia: Asia’s place in the curriculum Asia, the largest continent, is home to two thirds of the world’s population. The peoples it contains are diverse in ethnicity, culture, language and religion. Its ancient civilisations have had immense influence on the world, and the countries of modern-day Asia continue to play a major global role. […]
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Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s foremost authors of YA fiction and children’s literature. In 2017, she is the ACT Writer-in-Residence at the ACT Writers Centre. She began writing The Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still at high school. The first book, Obernewtyn, was short-listed for the Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Award […]
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Morris was born in England and emigrated to Australia in 1969. He started his career as writer for the TV comedy The Norman Gunston Show. He then wrote his first children’s novel, The Other Facts of Life, in 1985. Morris adapted The Other Facts of Life into a screenplay, which won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original […]
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Christos Tsiolkas is the author of five novels, most of which have been adapted for the screen. Christos’s novels are: Loaded (1995), which became the movie Head On in 1998 The Jesus Man (1999) Dead Europe (2005), which won the 2006 Age Fiction Prize and the 2006 Melbourne Best Writing Award, and was adapted […]
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Don Watson began his literary career an academic historian, but soon moved on to political satire and speechwriting. He wrote political satire for the comedian Max Gillies, and then became speechwriter for Prime Minister Paul Keating. Since 2003 Don has been documenting the viral spread of management-speak and the decline of public language on weaselwords.com.au. He is […]
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Rosie Scott was a critically-acclaimed writer, a passionate human rights activist, a creative writing mentor, a wife, mother and grandmother. Born in 1948 in Wellington, New Zealand, her childhood was spent freely roaming the crashing, wild ‘edge of the world’ with her siblings. She began writing as a child, her curiosity and imagination likely inspired […]
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There are two key weeks dedicated to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, and raising awareness about the issues faced today by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Reconciliation Week is celebrated from 27 May to 3 June and NAIDOC Week is celebrated 3–9 July. This year the 27th of May has extra […]
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Reading Australia has partnered with Magabala Books to create 15 resources for books, over the course of 2017, by Indigenous authors and illustrators. Magabala Books is a publishing house that focuses on bringing Indigenous voices and talent to the forefront. The project was inspired by the many teachers who reached out to Reading Australia to ask […]
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We are thrilled to introduce you to the winner of our ‘Win a trip to the AATE/ALEA Conference’ competition! Name: Deborah Peters School: Georges Hall PS This year is teaching: Kindergarten Fun fact: has been a part of the Salvation Army since childhood. Deborah’s winning entry was a unit of work that integrated activities from the […]
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To celebrate Reconciliation Week AND the first release of our Indigenous resources created in partnership with Magabala Books, we are giving two primary students in Australia the opportunity to win a stack of books published by Magabala! In Mad Magpie, written and illustrated by Gregg Dreise, Guluu is an angry magpie who is being teased by a gang of […]
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The team at Reading Australia are passionate about supporting teachers of English in their abilities to pass on a love and appreciation for books by Australian writers to new generations. We want to make it easy for teachers to choose Australian books to expose their students to, and so we create resources to make this […]
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These 15 resources are the most popular resources in the history of Reading Australia! Because you love these resources so much, we thought we’d make it easy for you and put them all in the same place. There’s a wonderful mix of classic and contemporary, novels and novellas, graphic novels and picture books, plays and […]
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Anzac Day is a time to remember the stories of all the Australian men and women who have served and died in war. First-hand memories can fade, but their triumphs and sacrifices are preserved in the books that tell their stories. We have curated a list of 8 Australian books that explore experiences of war with sensitivity and purpose. Ranging […]
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Applications are now open for the 2017 NSW Premier’s Copyright Agency Creativity and Innovation Scholarship for Teachers. This $15,000 prize is awarded for a study in any curriculum area related to creativity and innovation. Matt Scott, Head Teacher of STEM at Canobolas Rural Technology High School, won the 2016 Creativity and Innovation Scholarship. His proposal was […]
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In celebration of World Poetry Day on 21 March, we decided to spend the entire month featuring the diversity and brilliance of our Australian poets, contemporary and classic. Whether you’re not fully comfortable teaching poetry or whether you’re just looking for some tips to jazz up your next poetry class, we’ve got the resources for […]
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A. S. Patric is a writer and bookseller. In 2016, his novel Black Rock White City won the Miles Franklin Prize. The novel was also listed by the Australian Book Review as one of the best novels of 2015, and was Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2016. Atlantic Black will be published in […]
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John Marsden is an Australian writer and teacher. He has been writing YA literature for three decades and has made an indelible mark on generations of readers and writers in Australia. John’s first book, So Much to Tell You, was published in 1987. Since then, he has written or edited over 40 books and has sold over 5 million […]
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Leigh Hobbs is the 2016-2017 Australian Children’s Laureate. The theme for Hobbs’s term as Children’s Laureate is ‘to champion creative opportunities for children, and to highlight the essential role libraries play in nurturing our creative lives’. Leigh has been shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award (for Mr Chicken Goes to Paris, Horrible Harriet and […]
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Dr Anita Heiss writes non-fiction, commercial women’s fiction, children’s literature and poetry. She is a fierce advocate and is known for her social commentary. A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central NSW, Anita is also a Lifetime Ambassador of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, an Advocate for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, an Ambassador of […]
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Andy Griffiths and Jill Griffiths are a unique writing partnership. Along with illustrator Terry Denton, they are the team behind some of the most successful children’s literature in Australia. They are best known for the Treehouse and Just! series, but their entire body of work is truly impressive. Andy’s first published work was Just Tricking! […]
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Because books can be life-changing, the Copyright Agency has launched a campaign, This Book Changed My Life. You and your students are invited to take part by posting about a book – or other creative work – that has had a major impact on you – and you can also make a pledge via social media […]
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As Australian students and teachers begin the school year, one of the remotest publishing houses in the world, Magabala Books in Broome (WA) is gearing up to bring new Aboriginal perspectives to primary school classrooms all over the country. With a grant of $33,550 from the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, Magabala Books will soon deliver […]
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Reading Australia is welcoming in the new school year with 10 brand new resources! In response to your feedback about the range of resources available, the selection below is a mix of classic and contemporary Australian books with a focus on visual texts and resources aimed at Junior Secondary. Click on the book titles below to […]
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WIN a trip to attend the AATE/ALEA National Conference 2017 6–9 July in Hobart Tasmania! Entering is easy! Tell us how you use Reading Australia to bring Australian literature to life in your classroom for your chance to win 5 days and 5 nights in Hobart, Tasmania, to attend the AATE/ALEA National Conference 6–9 July […]
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Illustrator Ann James has illustrated colouring sheets exclusively for Reading Australia, available here as free downloads for teachers and students. Duck and Pig are characters created by Ann James who spend their days gardening, playing on swings and chatting by the river. Students can join in their adventures by colouring in the drawings! Ann has left […]
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We are excited to announce the winners of the 2016 Ann James Colouring Competition! We selected two winners, one from lower primary and one from upper primary. Illustrator Ann James was one of the judges and she was so impressed with the entries that she offered to donate additional prizes, so we selected a further […]
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There are over 24 million people living in Australia. We are a collection of every nationality, religion, gender and creed, and are spread out across this vast landscape. The challenge, then, is to learn about those whose lives are so different from ours. How does a non-Indigenous person comprehend what it’s like to be Indigenous and […]
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Georgia Blain, author of Births Deaths Marriages, and her mother Anne Deveson, who penned Tell Me I’m Here, have passed away within days of each other. Georgia was diagnosed with brain cancer at the end of last year and had been recording her life with illness in a column in the Saturday Paper called ‘The […]
Keep ReadingNew texts and Approaches to Australian literature In this workshop, English teacher participants will be introduced to new Australian texts and short stories, particularly by Indigenous and migrant writers. Presenters will offer different approaches to teaching these texts, aligning these with the Victorian Curriculum and VCE Units 1 and 2 English and Literature. Texts covered […]
Keep ReadingThese exercises are designed to illustrate a progression in learning, supporting the development of a student’s capacity to respond to both analytical and creative outcomes. A three-step trajectory is implied within the exercises relevant to creative writing – firstly, the generation of creative response; secondly, the development of skills; and finally, the integration of skills […]
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By Dr. Catherine Noske, Editor, Westerly Magazine Essentials: Creative Progression Encouraging an instinctive creative response – A generative engagement with material, an understanding of the importance of creative effect. Developing creative skills – Confidence in language technique and the ability to craft language in ways distinct from other disciplines. Building practice, the capacity for flexibility […]
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Below is an example of how to edit a creative writing assessment. Great for teachers, great for sharing with students to demonstrate the editing process. Download the printable PDF version here. This article was reproduced with permission from Westerly. To learn more about Westerly visit our partners’ page.
Keep ReadingTextbooks: Julia Casterton, Creative Writing, A Practical Guide, 3rd ed., Palgrave McMillan, 2005 Jon Ford and Marjorie Ford, ed. A Web of Stories: An Introduction to Short Fiction, London: Prentice Hall, 1997 John Singleton, Mary Luckhurst, The Creative Writing Handbook 3rd edition, Palgrave McMillan, 2001 Useful Short Stories: Carmel Bird, ed. The Penguin […]
Keep Reading1. IDENTIFY your point of response. 2. CLARIFY your response. 3. HOW will you respond? 4. WHICH techniques and conventions might you use? Is there A CHOICE OF TEXTS to respond to? If yes – pick one. What is it? image photograph artwork passage of writing a quote a statement a personal memory or reflection […]
Keep ReadingBy Robyn English The ultimate aim of all teaching of literature should be to instil in children a love of stories and reading. Sadly, many students will claim that this love has been destroyed by the insistence of teachers that they ‘study’ the book. This activity is a strategy that can be used to generate and […]
Keep ReadingBy Robyn Ewing (University of Sydney) and Marguerite Maher (Notre Dame University) Controversies about the most effective ways to help children’s literacy learning have raged throughout our careers as literacy educators. This is partly because of misconceptions of what ‘literacy’ means. The Australian Curriculum (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014) defines literacy as encompassing: […]
Keep ReadingBy Sue Heyson Welcome to the Dolphins Class (Transition/Year 1) at Warruwi School in the Northern Territory. We are buzzing with excitement in our class because the students love to read. But firstly, here is a little bit about our school and community contexts. Our school is on a remote island located in Western Arnhem […]
Keep ReadingBy Susan Hill Oral language and written language are different linguistic modes and both are important in their own right. This article briefly describes oral language from linguistic, social interactionist and cognitive development viewpoints as each view highlights different aspects of oral language. An example of a play based developed oral language program is provided […]
Keep ReadingReading has great benefits for children, but with the rise of educational games, apps and YouTube, fewer kids are reading in their spare time. Education writer Marianne Stenger suggests how you can encourage children to read more. A recent survey from the National Literacy Trust found that secondary school students, and boys in particular, are […]
Keep ReadingParents and carers can have a big impact on their children’s education. By providing learning opportunities and support at home you can help encourage learning from an early age, right through to high school. Here are some fantastic literacy tips and inspiring ways parents and carers can be more involved in children’s learning. 1. Make […]
Keep ReadingBy Georgina Barton Reflecting back on my teacher training in English there was limited information presented on how to interpret modes other than language, such as image and sound. I do recall one course or subject on media literacy where we would discuss fervently a range of advertising materials – our lecturer always saying that ‘sex’ […]
Keep ReadingABC Education has a whole bunch of English resources that explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Learn about language conventions while discovering various Australian Indigenous languages and cultures. Here are the ten most popular resources, as decided by teachers, parents and students! 1. Learn some of the Noongar language Watch this video and learn […]
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We are so excited to reveal the winners of the My Two Blankets colouring competition! Check out the winning entries below then browse through the entire gallery of entries. Laguna Street Public School (Year 6) Woollahara Public School (Year 4) Foundation Christian College (Year 3)
Keep ReadingIt’s our 3rd Birthday and we’re celebrating by giving you the chance to win a print by Australian illustrator Ann James! Ann James, the well-loved Australian illustrator who has brought to life books such as The Midnight Gang, The Butterfly and Lucy Goosey, has designed a series of special colouring sheets just for Reading Australia’s 3rd birthday. For […]
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We ran a My Two Blankets colouring competition during National Literacy Week and received over 250 entries from students across the country! Browse our gallery below to see all the creative, colourful and unique artworks inspired by Freya Blackwood’s award-winning illustrations. Click on the images to enlarge them. The winners will be announced next week in […]
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How did Reading Australia celebrate National Literacy Week? Through literacy-themed knitting! The Copyright Agency’s inaugural Knitting Group has been meeting every Wednesday for the last two months, clicking and clacking their knitting needles, and combining their efforts to produce this beautiful woollen blanket. The design was inspired by My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya […]
Keep ReadingTo make your 2017 teaching year the most organised, stress-free and fulfilling year yet we have done the hard work for you. Below you will find lists of resources curated around key dates, themes and year levels. We’ve even created lists to help you target cross-curriculum priorities. Plus you get a sneak-peek into future resources, so you […]
Keep ReadingFreya Blackwood is an award-winning illustrator of over 25 children’s books currently living in Orange with her daughter Ivy and their various pets. She’s won numerous awards for her work, including the Kate Greenaway Medal. Most recently My Two Blankets won the 2015 CBCA Picture Book of the Year. To celebrate the selection of My Two […]
Keep ReadingWe are just over two weeks away from the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Miles was one of our most influential novelists and the author of My Brilliant Career. The winner will be announced on 26 August and be selected from a shortlist that includes the Reading Australia novel, The Natural Way of Things, by Charlotte […]
Keep ReadingJoin Reading Australia’s Colouring Competition during National Literacy Week! My Two Blankets, written by Irena Kobald and illustrated by Freya Blackwood, has been selected for this year’s National Literacy and Numeracy Week as the ‘Read for Australia’ book. ‘Read for Australia’ is a national simultaneous reading event, where students and teachers, parents and children, across […]
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Do you live in or near Byron Bay? Do you love writers? Also festivals? One lucky person will receive TWO passes to the Byron Writers’ Festival. The prize includes two three-day passes, complimentary parking and VIP access to sessions sponsored by the Copyright Agency. To enter, simply go to our Facebook page, find the top […]
Keep ReadingBy Jenni Connor Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) was distributed to early childhood education and care services in 2009. The EYLF is Australia’s first national curriculum statement for educators working with children from birth to age five. On December 8, 2010, the Australian Curriculum for Schools Phase 1 was […]
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This week the Reading Australia team brainstormed a list of our favourite books by our overseas friends then expertly matched them to books written by Australian authors. Whether you’re into romance, Young Adult, memoir, true crime, or completely made up crime – there’s a book on this list for you. So, open up Goodreads, slightly […]
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Friendship – it’s a beautiful thing. From the books listed below you’ll discover that friendships come in all shapes, sizes and genres; that brand new friends can develop into lifelong ones; that loyalty and trust are important; and that friendship with cats rule. To celebrate International Friendship Day on July 30 we’ve found five primary and five secondary […]
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The theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week is ‘Our History, Our Story, Our Future’, reflecting the essential part storytelling plays in the journey towards reconciliation. Reading Australia supports learning about Indigenous culture through more than 20 teacher resources created for books by Indigenous writers and illustrators, or featuring Indigenous characters. As well, the Copyright […]
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Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most significant national events. On this day we remember, not just the Australian and New Zealand troops that landed in Gallipoli but, all the men and women who have fought in war on behalf of Australia. It is also a time to reflect on how society’s attitudes to war […]
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The 2017 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) is Friday 17 March. This annual event promotes the creation of safe and happy learning environments for students across Australia. It focuses on the importance of schools developing a trusted support network within the community that provides students with avenues to report bullying. One in four students […]
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International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March. It is a day for promoting the empowerment of women and recognising that gender equality has not yet been achieved. This gender disparity extends into the literary world. Women win less literary prizes than their male counterparts and their work is featured less in the […]
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Make the new Australian Children’s Laureate, Leigh Hobbs, feel welcome this Thursday by asking him your questions! Join the live-stream event this Thursday, 25 February, at 2pm (AEST) where the Reading Australia author and illustrator will be answering questions sent in by viewers. This wonderful opportunity is being hosted by ABC Splash in partnership with […]
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Attention all English teachers: Professional authors to visit schools With the support of Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has launched an exciting new program, Reading Australia BookPros (RA BookPros). This program places professional authors in the classroom to conduct writing workshops and to introduce teachers to the resources of Reading […]
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Reading Australia ambassador Leigh Hobbs has been selected as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2016/17. He is the best-selling author of 20 books including The Big Book of Old Tom, which has a Reading Australia teacher resource, and he was one of the ten authors and illustrators interviewed by Tom Tilley as part of the Reading Australia/ABC […]
Keep ReadingAs school gears up again, it can be a challenging time of transition. From children arriving at school for the very first time, to juniors moving from lower primary to upper primary; Year 6 kids heading into high school for the first time, and seniors cartwheeling towards the final exams of their school lives. Here […]
Keep ReadingJanuary 26 is a day to remember Australia’s history – the experiences of our Indigenous people and of the immigrants who chose Australia as their home – and to celebrate what it means to be an Australian in all its diversity. We’ve put together a list of primary and secondary Reading Australia books perfect for […]
Keep ReadingWe mourn the passing of the driving force behind Reading Australia, Brian Johns AO. Brian saw the potential of the internet and sought to use it to address concerns about a scarcity of Australian titles being taught in schools and universities. As Chair of the Copyright Agency Board and Cultural Fund Committee, he ensured sufficient […]
Keep ReadingEveryone knows you never judge a book by its cover, but what about judging a book by its length? Maybe you’re a teacher searching for a book short enough to appeal to your students or you need a novella to suggest for next month’s book club. Perhaps you’re just looking for an enjoyable read you can […]
Keep ReadingTell us about yourself! I’m a lawyer who started work at Copyright Agency 13 years ago focusing on copyright policy and advocating for laws and conditions that will support Australia’s authors and publishers – especially in the digital marketplace. In 2009 I was appointed the Manager of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund which allocates around […]
Keep ReadingTell us about yourself I am the Education and Marketing Manager at HarperCollins Publishers, I manage our education list, conduct research, liaise with teachers and educational organisations and look after the marketing of education titles across the business. I completed a Master’s in Education focusing in learning and development. My area of interest is middle […]
Keep ReadingTell us about yourself! Hello! I’m the Head of Digital Education at the ABC where I work with a very talented team to bring audiences ABC Splash – an education service that creates resources for Australian teachers and students. What has been your involvement with Reading Australia? In partnership with Reading Australia, we created a […]
Keep ReadingTell us about yourself! Since 2010 I have been the AATE (Australian Association for the Teaching of English) Treasurer; I also undertake the same role for my local Tasmanian association (TATE) of which I am a Life Member. Participating actively in my professional teaching associations since 1980, and a now retired English teacher and high […]
Keep ReadingTell us about yourself! I am a writer of fiction for children and young adults. What has been your involvement with Reading Australia? I was a Board Director of Copyright Agency, representing the Australian Society of Authors, when the idea of Reading Australia was put forward by the director and former chair, Brian Johns. I […]
Keep ReadingWhat has been your involvement with Reading Australia? I first became aware of Reading Australia working as a consultant in schools. I was excited about the goal of celebrating our Australian authors and illustrators. As the titles have been added I know the teachers I work with have been thrilled to explore this resource. Later […]
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BY PHIL PAGE I had never read Janette Turner Hospital before. In fact, I’d only vaguely heard of her. I might never have discovered her had her Collected Stories not been selected for the new website for lovers of literature, Reading Australia, and then brought back into print. And thank goodness for that! Reading her […]
Keep ReadingReading Australia turns two this month and we want you to help us celebrate! Reading Australia and your industry associations, AATE and ALEA, appreciate just how busy teachers are, and have created resources to make your working life a little easier. There are now over 100 teacher resources and 70 essays available to every teacher […]
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Last year Richard Flanagan joined the handful of Australian writers who have won the prestigious Man Booker Prize. While this year there are no Australians in the running, we can enjoy the last day of Flanagan’s literary reign and remember Australia’s other winners and almost winners. 1. The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Richard Flanagan (2014 winner) Tasmanian-born Richard […]
Keep ReadingTo commemorate World Mental Health Day we’ve put together a list of titles that explore different perspectives of mental illness. Visit the Mental Health Australia website or the official World Mental Health Day website for more information on World Mental Health Day. 1. Tell Me I’m Here, Anne Deveson Seventeen-year-old Jonathan developed schizophrenia at a […]
Keep ReadingWe have been busy adding new titles to the Reading Australia list, along with useful new lesson plans for classroom teachers, and fascinating essays of real interest to secondary/tertiary teachers and avid readers too. We have expanded our Children’s Books category by adding 31 new books to the site. The first 10 titles on this list have been selected to be accompanied by helpful […]
Keep ReadingEvery year, Australia dedicates the first week of October to Be Kind to Animals Week, a time to be active in improving the lives of all creatures. Reading books to children is a fantastic way to teach them about having compassion and empathy for animals. Choose one (or all!) of these seven books and be swept […]
Keep ReadingABC Splash author interviews with Reading Australia ABC Splash author interviews are commencing. The Copyright Agency’s Reading Australia initiative has collaborated with ABC’s ‘Splash’ online education portal, to present interviews with ten of the best Australian writers and illustrators who feature in Reading Australia’s list. Designed by the Reading Australia team, the ABC Splash author interviews provide […]
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Literary icon David Malouf invited teachers and students to discover Australian stories when he launched Reading Australia at the country’s premier event for English educators, the AATE/ALEA Conference in Canberra today. Reading Australia, set up by not-for-profit rights organisation, the Copyright Agency, provides teaching resources for books, plays and poetry from top Aussie authors such […]
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The multi-award winning book ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ by Richard Flanagan should be on the compulsory reading list of all senior secondary school students, says Copyright Agency board director, Kim Williams. Ahead of both ANZAC Day and World Book and Copyright Day (April 23) next week, the not-for-profit Copyright Agency has just […]
Keep ReadingAustralian stories are being brought back to life through Reading Australia. In a first for Australian schools, teachers can now source dedicated teaching resources for Australian stories, from Kindergarten to Year 12. The Reading Australia website, set up by the not-for-profit rights organisation, the Copyright Agency, provides teaching resources for books, plays and poetry anthologies from top […]
Keep ReadingAustralian teachers should support Australian literature in schools. As the country’s teachers dive into Term 3, the not-for-profit Copyright Agency is calling on 60,000-plus Australian teachers of English and Media to back Australian stories and authors in the classroom. “Term 3 is traditionally the time for Australian teachers to choose the novels and other texts […]
Keep ReadingExpanded resources for Reading Australia thanks to the Copyright Agency’s board. Ahead of UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, Copyright Agency’s Board has committed half a million dollars from the agency’s Cultural Fund to develop even more resources for teachers to bring Australian literature into the classroom. Copyright Agency’s Reading Australia website […]
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200 of Australia’s top literary works will be linked to a range of related material online as part of a new project, Reading Australia. Literary works will be linked to a range of related material such as videos and online resources, newspaper articles, biographies and photos as part of a ground-breaking project to make it easier […]
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