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Quotes
Play-Based and Personalised Learning for Preschool to Year 8
The Walker Learning Approach is the first major Australian based total and holistic pedagogy (Preschool to Year 8) to be designed and implemented.
The WLA is based upon decades of research about play-based and personalised learning and social constructivism. It is not a program or an inquiry model sitting discreetly or separately from other curriculum areas. It is a total approach to teaching and learning which combines the need for children to be active participants in their learning (through hands-on and creative exploration and investigation) which sits along side formal instruction. There is explicit teaching and development of not only literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge, but also the range of vital social, emotional and life skills.
The Walker Learning Approach is the first pedagogy to be designed for Australian schools, successfully providing teaching and
learning which:
- personalises and engages students in active learning alongside explicit and formalised
instruction.
- is culturally and developmentally appropriate across all demographic regions of the country
including remote indigenous communities of Arnhem land to elite independent
schools.
News
2013 National Tour Bookings Now Open
Our National Tour professional development sessions are now available online through our 2013 Bookings page. (Internal Bookings | National Tour) The below cities & dates have now been confirmed. Venue details will be confirmed in the next few weeks. National Tour Professional Development Sessions include...
Walker Learning - Preschool to Year 2 Introduction Professional Development Session: Want to find out more about the Walker Learning Approach? The Walker Learning Approach (WLA) provides developmentally and culturally appropriate personalised learning for children from Preschool to Year 8. The WLA is an evidence-based pedagogy with 15 years of research validating its success at engaging children in real, relevant and meaningful learning. This session will provide a wonderful mix of the theoretical underpinnings of the approach alongside the key elements of practical application in the classroom from Preschool to Year 2. This session will include video and photo footage from schools using the WLA across the country. This session will be held in whole day and half day sessions - please check details for the session in your state.
Early Childhood - Want Your Life Back Professional Development Session: This professional development session will look at documentation and planning that doesn’t take your weekend away or interrupt your interactions with children! How did we arrive at a point where we are so busy taking photos and writing up stories and descriptions of children’s learning that it actually takes us away from our interactions, our scaffolding and our time with the children? This session presents a realistic and practical range of strategies to document and record information that links to the NQF expectations and is useful to share with parents and children but does not require huge amounts of time, ink, photos and writing!
Early Childhood - Intentional Teaching Through Play Professional Development Session: This professional development session provides practical ideas on how to plan and implement a program that reminds us that we are educators who promote skills and learning for children through a play-based curriculum using ‘intentional’ open-ended experiences. We don’t start planning from the children’s interests for the sake of it. We plan with intention and utilise children’s unique contexts, culture and interest as means to teaching and learning.
Cost of the National Tour professional development sessions: Walker Learning, Whole Day Introduction = $195 including morning and afternoon tea, Walker Learning, Half Day Introduction =$155 including morning/afternoon tea, Early Childhood, Half Day/Afternoon = $135 including afternoon tea. Information regarding exact venue locations will be confirmed soon. For more information or questions, please contact our National Tour Coordinator, Rachel Fox, at rachel@earlylife.com.au Please download the attached outline of sessions.
Early Life & Walker Learning Conference - Special Study Tour & Cocktail Party
We are looking forward to our special Study Tour & Cocktail Party on Friday, October 18 for Early Life Foundations 2013 Conference Registrants! The aim of the Walker Learning Approach Study Tour is to provide teachers with an exciting opportunity to visit best practice in early childhood and primary years (P-6) with a mix of the theory and practical application of personalised learning that enhances student engagement and provides a seamless transition from preschool to early years and primary education. The program will include observation of learning spaces in action with Focus Students, Investigations, Tuning In, Reflection, Class Meetings, Communication Boards and Education Research Projects. Teachers demonstrating the pedagogy will speak to the group about their learning journey and answer questions. The leadership teams will also speak from their perspectives about leading and implementing change. The group will visit the new Early Life Foundations Centre, the Zart Showroom and the Walker Learning Approach Demonstration Unit. The Cocktail Party will offer drinks, h’orderves and the opportunity to relax, listen to music and connect with teachers and leaders from across Australia. For more details, please give us a ring. To book in, please go to our 2013 Bookings page. Study Tour Cost: $275 per person (includes Cocktail Party). Please download the attached flyer for more details.
New Newsletter Available to Download
Early Life Foundations & the Walker Learning Approach publishes 4 free newsletters each year. The newsletter is available electronically and in hard copy; it can be downloaded by all subscribers at no cost. The newsletter is for professionals and parents across early childhood and primary years and provides a variety of different topics, issues and handy hints. The newsletter contains information including parent supports, current issues and information on the Walker Learning Approach. Please download our latest newsletter through the "Our Newsletters" page at www.earlylife.com.au
WLA 2013 National Tour
Kathy Walker and Shona Bass, Directors of Early Life Foundations & the Walker Learning Approach, work nationally and internationally inspiring and engaging teachers and parents with their knowledge and strategies and are the authors of a range of best selling books and DVDs. Both Kathy and Shona have a university academic background and speak with current evidence based information in user friendly and accessible ways that resonate with people across the world. Kathy and Shona will be presenting to parents, early childhood educators and primary/secondary educators across Australia in the second half of 2013 as part of their National Tour. They will be speaking on a range of issues including, effective parenting, self esteem and resilience, personalising learning, the importance of play, and allowing children a childhood. To register your interest and to receive updates on our sessions, venues and booking details for Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales, please email our National Tour Coordinator, Rachel Fox at rachel@earlylife.com.au