Literacy in the early years encompasses much more than reading, drawing and writing. Leonie Arthur explores early childhood educators’ critical role in supporting and extending children’s literacy learning. Contemporary definitions of literacy encompass viewing and creating visual and multimodal texts as well as the more traditional skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In an […]
Has anyone recently asked you to look at things from a different point of view? Maybe you’ve been invited to think outside the box? How about turning your frown upside down? It’s occasionally unsettling, but more often refreshing and engaging, to change the way you view everyday activities. Even more so when you can apply […]
As we move steadily past winter’s halfway mark, in many parts of Australia the days are not only longer but also sunnier and much more inviting for outdoor activities. In previous articles, Amplify has looked at different aspects of winter for early childhood education. This story gathers inspiration and resources for an artform that, while […]
Darren Brisbane is the author of many inspiring and insightful Amplify stories, often sharing lessons learned at the expense of his own preconceptions. This story about how he took a complete turnaround on templates for children’s art activities is another example of his candid style. While Darren works with school-aged children, this article will appeal […]
“She started drawing in the wet sand, placing her found items in just the right way. As she began, I walked away. This was not my experience, it was hers and it’s not my right to interpret what she is doing.” New Amplify guest writer Linda Tandy is a nature based educator with Inspired Family […]
Early childhood and early primary years educators are quite possibly the most active poetry readers in Australia. Don’t laugh: it’s true! Regardless of whether you have sonnets by your bedside, or you don’t know your iambic from your pentameter, chances are that you read aloud from a book of poetry nearly every day at work. Poetry […]
17-23 March 2019 Almost 50% of all Australians were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas, a fact that the organisers of Harmony Week 2019 are keen to share this year. That’s right: Harmony Week. This year is the first time organisers (currently the Australian Department of Home Affairs) have extended […]
If the idea of Valentines Day makes you want to hurl a box of pink chocolates at an overpriced bunch of roses, you’re not alone – but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the occasion special with a different kind of love…
Welcome back to Amplify in 2019. We’re starting the year in traditional style, looking forward and back. Looking ahead, there’s a story tapping into the New Year resolutions many of you are making to improve your own and the children’s physical activity and guess what? Research is saying that improving educator and parent activity is […]
Bring back the rhyme Think back to your earliest years of memory – at home, in preschool or in school. There’s a good chance that one of your most enduring memories will be in song. It might be a song your mother, grandfather, or bus driver sang, or a song from the end of year […]
