I am just so inspired by all these wonderful spaces! I am convincing my Principal to become an accredited Walker Learning School and implement the play-based approach from Prep - Year 2 (Fortunately I'm in a leadership position to do this). To prove how wonderful it is, I am implementing the approach in the foundation learning environment at my school to the best of my ability. I have gained so much knowledge from buying the book, downloading the podcasts and getting ideas for the learning centres from these amazing pictures. I am happy to say that the foundation learning environment which is an open learning environment looks pretty fantastic with nearly 20 learning centres. A lot of the resources I have collected over the years from op shops and putting a note out to parents requesting for resources has helped greatly. Our collage area is one of their favourites as to is the writer's workshop because they love to make books. Our construction area has now been turned into a prep shed after I got the idea from the pictures from FTG North PS. We have a jungle explorers area with vines and this has been redesigned over the holidays so I can't wait to see the looks on the kids faces next week! Thank you for your inspiration and this wonderful approach to learning. It's made me a better teacher and hopefully I will win over my Principal! Thanks, Elyce B

Hi! I just had to write you a note to say I am now officially obsessed with Walker Learning. I first heard about it when doing a tour of the Junior school at Scotch College in Adelaide recently. I like what I heard so I started following your site and Facebook page. I am interested as a parent of children but also as a final year (mature age) Bachelor of Education student. I am intrigued by WLA because in contrast to what I've seen in my daughter's classroom and whilst on practicum experience WLA actually supports what we learn about in class in terms of inquiry learning and constructivism. Is there any sort of training that I could do as a student teacher for my own professional development or do I already need to be associated with a school using this system? Congratulations on developing an amazing system :) Kind regards, Tammy

Hi Kathy, Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed (as always) listening to your Keynote presentation at the Conference last Saturday. You are always so passionate about your work but Kristin and I both thought you displayed "a fire in your belly" (for want of a better expression) that neither of us had heard before. It seemed to us that maybe you were feeling a bit frustrated by the 'nay sayers' hence the passion with which you sought to dispel the myths. I thought it was powerful. Kathy, your comments about your experiences working with WLA in indigenous communities also really resonated with me. Three years ago I spent some time at the school in Mutitjulu, the indigenous community near Uluru. I was shocked at how culturally inappropriate their approach to teaching and learning was. All the kids would be happily playing in the playground before school but when the bell rang most of them would leave. Some didn't return but others would drift in and out as they pleased. This continued day after day. It didn't take me long to work out why- nothing to engage them! Also no correlation between their first language, their culture and their learning. When I queried this the teacher told me that they were classed as an ESL school so everything had to be in English but if they were classed as a bilingual school connections could be made to their first language. It disturbed me greatly. I also felt so sad for the teachers who were working really hard but getting nowhere. I think it's wonderful that at least some schools in indigenous communities are being given a chance to make a difference! This is longer than intended but as your presentation got me thinking on many levels I just felt moved to share my thoughts with you. Thank you! Virginia