Research and Practice Library
The articles and resources in our Research and Practice Library form a contemporary evidence base for the teaching and learning of reading and viewing; writing and representing; speaking and listening.
Click on the tabs below to filter the collection via Category. You can also use the Tag Cloud below to explore the collection via keywords.
Explore articles and resources from the collection with a Curriculum focus:
Transition to school: children’s perspectives of the literacy experiences on offer as they move from pre-school to the first year of normal schooling
Cronin, L., Kervin, L. & Mantei, J. (2022) in Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, a journal from the Australian Literacy Educators' Association This article reports on the perspectives of two children, firstly in their preschool and then in the first...
Kids can learn more from guided play than from direct instruction, report finds
Jackie Mader The Hechinger Report March 24, 2022 This article provides a brief synopsis of the seventeen studies that reviewed play. The full study can be accessed via a link on the “Hechinger Report’ site online. It is very interesting to note that the studies of...
A failure at 6? Data-driven assessment isn’t helping young children
The Conversation 24 November 2021 by Martina Tassone This article cites the author’s doctoral research that found “datafication” defined early years schooling and puts a spotlight on the consequences of the expectations on teachers to undertake regular formal...
Making a Difference in Learning Through Arts and Pedagogy
Ewing, R. 2018 Australian Council for Educational Research Conference This brief article highlights the role drama can play in enhancing learners’ social and emotional well-being as well as English and literacy outcomes. Making art through drama and literature enables...
Why make-believe play is an important part of childhood development
April 6, 2016 The Conversation by Tracy Gleason Research has found a relationship between pretend play and a child’s developing creativity, understanding of others and social competence with peers. Article here
How the Science of Learning and Development Can Transform Education
May 2020 Initial Findings of the SoLD ( Science of Learning & Development) Alliance. This paper proposes that all children can thrive and learn when the ways in which they are educated and developed are transformed. As well as providing some important...
Explore articles and resources from the collection with a Policy focus:
How one school turned professional learning into culture
The Educator by Brett Henebery 29 October, 2025 School teachers and leaders across Australia are under more pressure than ever as longer hours, heavier workloads and rising expectations take their toll. In a UNSW study published in August, more than two-thirds (68.8%)...
New research: Key factors in school belonging for young learners
SchoolNews 22 October 2025 Time for play, connection to teachers or friends, and comforting spaces like book corners are among the key factors helping Australian children develop a sense of belonging in their first year of school, according to new research from Monash...
I want to tell them we are not like that here (and the very good news on joy)
Exploring the presence—and perception—of joy in early childhood education. Stories from Early Childhood educators of a sector in crisis, but stories about the deep joy that working with young children can bring. Karaolis, O. I want to tell them we are not like that...
Indigenous students want to finish Year 12. They need equal support and resources from schools to do this
The Conversation 19 August 2025 by Maryanne Macdonald, Eyal Gringart, Renae Issacs-Guthridge, Terry (Ngarritjan) Kessaris Statistics showing Indigenous school students in a negative light are regularly reported in the Australian media and policy debates. We often hear...
Why teaching is a team sport and every school needs a playbook
Smartbrief 22 October, 2025 by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey Teaching is often called a noble profession, but it can also be a lonely one. Unlike most workplaces where adults collaborate daily with colleagues, many teachers spend the majority of their time in...
AI tool to roll out to all public South Australian high schools
SchoolNews October 2025 An innovative AI tool developed by the Department for Education in partnership with global tech giant Microsoft will be rolled out to all public secondary students from Term 4. South Australia was the only jurisdiction in Australia not to ban...
Explore articles and resources from the collection with a Pedagogy focus:
READING part five: Why teachers must have more than this year’s model of literacy.
"Noella Mackenzie and Martina Tassone explore structured literacy, whole language and balanced literacy. This is the fifth post on reading to celebrate Book Week." In this article, penultimate in this series, the authors examine the differences between...
Understanding Evidence-Based Teaching: A Conversation with Misty Adoniou
Misty Adoniou, a renowned literacy expert, joins the discussion to shed light on evidence-based teaching. Reference: Misty Adoniou, The Teachers Toolkit for Literacy Podcast Link:...
“Science of Reading” Playing Numbers Games Not Supported by Science
February 15, 2024 Dr P. L. Thomas The SOR numbers games are essentially lies and distractions. Regretfully, we certainly need to address reading proficiency in students, especially for marginalized and minoritized students. But the real problems and achievable...
Evidence-based Teaching, What is It? (Part 2)
In this podcast, Part 2, Misty Adoniou discusses evidence-based teaching, emphasising that teachers are not time-poor because of lesson planning, but due to administrative tasks. She highlights the importance of understanding learning theories and criticises the...
Explicit teaching mandate – a pushback now is critical
Jill Brown argues against NSW's mandate for a system-wide focus on explicit teaching, warning that no single pedagogy suits all students and that teachers should retain professional judgment to blend approaches based on discipline and context. The piece sparked mixed...
Evidence-based Teaching: what is it
In this enlightening podcast (Part 1), Misty Adoniou, an Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TESOL, delves into evidence-based teaching. Misty explores the role of educators as frontline researchers, challenges misconceptions, and celebrates the complexity...
Explore articles and resources from the collection with a Reading focus:
Synthetic Phonics: An Analysis with Definitions
The Reading Instruction Show's Substack by Dr Andy Johnson Nov 4, 2025 Recently, somebody cited the National Reading Panel Report as clearly “proving” that synthetic phonics instruction should be used with all beginning and struggling readers. If you’re going to run...
News from our Australian Children’s Laureate
November is a very special month for the Laureate Program, but also one tinged with sadness as we prepare to farewell our current Australian Children's Laureate Sally Rippin.But mostly it is a celebration – and we will be sharing lots of precious memories,...
Why book browsing may be the hidden barrier to more Australians reading
Australia Reads In our Understanding Australian Readers research report, behavioural scientists at Monash University broke down the act of reading into a series of behaviours: from finding and choosing books, to actually starting and continuing to read, to reflecting...
Can the new Children’s Booker Prize help the decline in reading for pleasure?
SMH November 12, 2025 Jane Sullivan Of course there are already many awards for children’s books, but none carry quite the same prestige or attract the same hype as the Booker. This new prize, to be launched in 2026 and awarded every year from 2027, will offer £50,000...
15 top takeaways from the Understanding Australian readers report
Understanding Australian readers is the first major report in Australia to examine recreational reading from a behavioural science point of view. The report is a collaboration between Australia Reads and Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia, and seeks to...
Understanding Australian Readers
Australia Reads website How do we get more people reading? What are the best ways to reach those who rarely read? And what can we practically do to influence reading habits? Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading is a new...
Explore articles and resources from the collection with a Writing focus:
Reading and Writing for Pleasure: A Framework for Practice
The Mercer's Company 2023 Research reveals that the habit of reading in childhood is associated with academic, social and emotional outcomes and can mitigate educational disadvantages associated with gender and socio-economic status (OECD, 2021; Torppa et al., 2020)....
From drawing to writing: What happens when you shift teaching priorities in the first six months of school?
Most young children love to draw and they all need to learn to write. However, despite the research over the past 30 years which identifies a strong relationship between emergent writing and drawing, in some classrooms young children are being obliged to see drawing...
Finding out what children ‘know and can do’ with DTWS
Mackenzie Noella M. 2022 Draw, Talk, Write and Share (DTWS) is a pedagogical approach resulting from research conducted by the author Noella Mackenzie. In this article however, she describes how DTWS can also be used as a powerful observation process, allowing...
Position Statement on Writing Instruction in School
National Council for the Teaching of English (NCTE) August 2022 This position paper is the latest update by NCTE. This position statement is directed primarily toward the audience of school executives and curriculum writers. It provides and overview of what...
Donald Graves Address: Reflecting Upon the Writing Revolution and the Need for Rejuvenation
Alan J Wright Presentation given at the ALEA/AATE National Conference Darwin July 8 2022 The invitational plenary Donald Graves Address began shortly after the passing of Donald Graves in late 2010. ALEA decided that in honour of the legacy that Don left us, we would...
Drawing + Talk = Powerful insights for teachers of writing
Lisa Kervin and Jessica Mantei Turbill, J. Barton, G. & Brock, C. [eds] Teaching Writing in Today's Classrooms: Looking back to look forward, pp 87-103, 2015 published by ALEA This chapter explores the ‘marks’ that children make in order to revisit the important...
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