Thanks, Nick. It was an invaluable break, but I’m really happy to be back doing what I do best.

@montesyrie.bsky.social @marksonnemann.bsky.social
@mariana-morales.bsky.social
@szerminska.bsky.social
@pmgmcgee.bsky.social
@dms6.bsky.social
@katiebudrow.bsky.social

After four years, I’m back doing the thing. It’s my first blog in a while, so I just wanted to reconnect:

@irasocol.bsky.social @pammoran1.bsky.social @mcnuttedu.bsky.social @covingtonedu.bsky.social @achiaravalli.bsky.social @juliafliss.bsky.social
@awf1.bsky.social @skylarprimm.bsky.social

Coming Back Inside: A case story about play, dispositions, and the conditions for powerful learning

I just published Coming Back Inside: medium.com/p/coming-bac...

The linked article is the best I’ve read on the “science of reading” and best literacy practices. Part of the challenge of teaching reading is that reading is a complex process and different students struggle with different parts of that process, so what works for most will not work for all.

Take my money. Thanks for sharing, Bevan. I’m excited to read this.

BODIES OF LEARNING

My friend Guy Claxton has this book coming out on 26 May.

It's a book that challenges "the assumption that mind and body are separate, revealing the interconnectedness of the ‘bodymind’ and drawing on research in embodied cognition to rethink intelligence, learning and teaching."

Kids first, curriculum a distant second. Everything else is just noise.

Thanks for sharing, Robert. But the link is broken. I found B2N on Fawn’s substack.

Much as I love a changing the world kinda day, I too know what’s on the other side of that hill 🤣 I fear WTF is coming for me tomorrow!

“Curiosity is the engine of learning”

‘School is strange… they remove the curiosity engine and wonder why the car isn’t moving.’

It’s Time to Rip Off the Velcro! Rethinking Paraprofessional Support When a paraprofessional shadows one student all day, good intentions can backfire. A fluid support model delivers better outcomes.

Good read here from @leeannjung.bsky.social.

I’m back! I hope you and yours are well, Monte.

I slipped back into the classroom this week after 4 years. I was worried if I would still have the skills, patience, and where withal to be the teacher these kids need.

But it was so enjoyable, like I never left. As much as kids have changed, kids haven’t changed.

Happy teacher this week.

youtu.be/DlIoGnkv03k?...

Bleak, but no lies detected. Pushing back against the standardisation of education.

@covingtonedu.bsky.social @pammoran1.bsky.social @mcnuttedu.bsky.social @irasocol.bsky.social

Is Tighter Prescription the Answer? - World Class Learning Systems Discover the role of scripted lessons in education and whether they truly enhance learning and student achievement.

Excellent piece from Geoff Masters on the growing push toward standardisation and scripted curriculum across Aus, UK & the US.

It appears tighter prescription isn't the answer. The strongest systems invest in deep prof expertise and trusting Ts to exercise judgement in practice. Worth a read.

Here is the Open Letter signed by education leaders from across Australia that the News Corp Australia rejected. Stop ranking Australian schools using NAPLAN scores because NAPLAN was not designed to measure the quality of schools.

Unfolding with I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of. I use the "I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of" prompt everywhere. Why is it so powerful? How and why does it transform the way you see and think? I was invited to join the Here We Are project to reflect on being present in this wild and precious life. I hope you enjoy this audio deep dive into INIWIRMO! What is the thought behind these three prompts? Listen now

Unfolding with I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of.

I use the "I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of" prompt everywhere. Why is it so powerful? How and why does it transform the way you see and think? I was invited to join the Here We Are project to reflect on being present in this wild and…

A rainy day in Belair National Park. A photo featuring Abe.

This was my last week at Nature Play SA after four great years.

I’m taking an extended summer holiday break before heading back to the classroom in 2026. Absolutely loved my time at NPSA, we did meaningful work & the role came along at a great time post-Covid, but I’m ready to get back to teaching.

Time spent playing outdoors has declined 50% in a generation.
That’s half the joy, half the adventures, half the memories.
Play isn't just fun, it is essential for healthy child development 💚

Illustration of a person's hands holding an oak leaf and drawing the leaf in a nature journal. They've also described the leaf: "round, wave-like edges, stem widens." On the opposite page is a sketch of a different leaf, with descriptions: "jagged edges, transmits nutrients?"

Nature journaling, the research suggests, can deliver excellent benefits across grade levels.

Not only can it teach critical thinking skills, but it improves focus and connects students to the outdoors. 🌳

🧵1/11

a baseball player for the blue jays celebrates his home run Alt: a baseball player for the blue jays celebrates his home run

Oh my goodness. Have yourself a day, Bluejays #WantItAll

This past week was really challenging at times in the classroom—but at the same time, I kept reminding myself to not give into that challenge with my own actions.

Something that helped? Having some "uplift moves" in the tool belt as a teacher.

Here are four of my favorites:

Asking questions is brave—especially for kids in a world of AI, bias, and peer pressure. In this post, I share 7 play-based ways to help students practice curiosity, take risks, and feel safe wondering, experimenting, and learning together.

a picture of a tornado and the words everything is fine Alt: a picture of a tornado and the words everything is fine

Adelaide hit by two fast-moving tornadoes this morning. Didn’t have that on my Friday bingo card…

a cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words me today below it . Alt: a cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words me today below it .

Somehow, I’ve managed to work four weeks in the past two weeks.

I think that might be a new record.

Stickman book and clay character.

A clay koala.

Student lighting a fire with flint and steel.

“I’m Stickman, I’m Stickman, I’m Stickman, that’s me…”

Lots of fun working with clay and fire.

A student makes a clay character Stickman from the popular children’s book.

Anyone recognise this guy?

Love working with Ss from SA’s new Technical College which helps year 10-12 Ss to fast-track qualifications into early years education.

These Ss have a noticeably different relationship with nature compared to past generations. Trying to bridge that nature connection.

From Cognitive Debt to Purposeful Learning: Reimagining Education with Prof. Martin Westwell S9E8 (128) — The Learning Future 🔥 What if our obsession with achievement is actually limiting our students’ potential to become adaptive, purpose-driven learners? 🔥 What would education look like if we genuinely trusted teach...

SA public education is undergoing a transformational systems change led by CEO, Prof. Martin Westwell.

Good for anyone looking for a good news story, about how a shared focus on knowledge, dispositions and capabilities can create meaningful learning.

www.thelearningfuture.com/the-learning...

Ahh, knowledge rich. Bc nothing grows a love of learning like being told exactly what, when, and how to think.