There has always been a passion inside of me when it comes to children and education. As a child I would “play school” with my imaginary classmates. In my school, I would collect leaves that had fallen from the trees – studying their shape and their colour – marvelling at how different they looked when actually in my hands. Feeling the...

You will remember the pain I felt about sending Lucy off to childcare a couple of weeks ago. She is going to childcare one day a week (yes, just ONE day), and yet I felt like someone was ripping my heart out as I walked out the door! I don’t know if it’s because she’s my baby or because she’s so little, but it just felt like it was such a huge...

Dear Childcare Educator, Tomorrow I am bringing Lucy into your classroom for her first day at childcare. I don’t think she quite understands what’s going to happen. We talk about “school”, and about having fun. She has packed her own bag, and she has practiced wheeling her bag behind her. She knows she is starting school, but I don’t...

There are moments in our life that forever stay in our hearts and memories. Starting school is undoubtedly one of those times – not just for the new student, but also for the Mums and Dads who are entrusting their children’s education into the care of others for possibly the first time. It can often feel a little overwhelming, and there are so many things...

Last week, I was so excited to have the chance to go and listen to the famous Australian children’s author, Mem Fox. She presented a session at the Queensland State Library about Reading aloud to children. I have been a huge fan of Mem Fox for as long as I can remember. Long before I started having children, I was buying children’s books for my future...

Last week I attended a Prep Information night, and backed it up the following morning with a Prep Orientation session which Fred attended with me. I came home from the Parent’s Information night with a few misgivings. I couldn’t put my finger on what I was feeling. After tossing and turning most of the night, I put it down to “New School...

I have the utmost respect for teachers. I think they are one of the most under-valued groups in our society, and I am forever grateful for the incredible teachers that my children have already been blessed with. So this Friday 28th October, it is our chance to say thank you. For loving, protecting, guiding, inspiring and nurturing our children. For the late nights...

Each year, at this time, there seems to be energetic and emotional debate all over the country about the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) which tests students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across the country. We tend to hear the bizarre and extreme stories such as schools requesting certain children to be absent from school on the day of...

How exciting is the first day of school?!?!?!? And the kids just love it too! Children One, Two and Three all began back at school this week – in Year 1, Kindy and Childcare respectively. They have been looking forward to this day for weeks, and we have been busy planning for the big day. I must admit to being a little overwhelmed by the number of books that...