About the Author
Amy McQuire is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Amy is a freelance writer and journalist, and is currently completing a PhD at the University of Queensland into media representations of violence against Aboriginal women. Amy began her career straight out of high school, completing a cadetship at the National Indigenous Times (NIT) newspaper. She later became editor of NIT, and for a short time political correspondent for NITV News. Amy has also worked at Tracker Magazine, New Matilda, Brisbane’s 98.9 FM – where she presented the ‘Lets Talk’ current affairs show – and more recently BuzzFeed News Australia. Over the past four years, Amy has co-hosted the investigative podcast ‘Curtain’ with human rights lawyer Martin Hodgson. The podcast puts forth the case for innocence for Aboriginal man Kevin Henry, who was wrongfully convicted in 1992.
Amy has a strong interest in writing about justice, culture and heritage and feminism.
About the Illustrator
Matt Chun is an artist and writer, currently based on unceded Tsleil-Waututh land / Vancouver, Canada. Living, travelling and creating with his 9-year-old son, Matt’s work spans text, drawing, sculptural installation, children’s books and comics. Matt is the current Children’s Literature Fellow at the State Library of Victoria in Naarm / Melbourne. He is also the current 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art’s Emerging Writer. Matt’s first picture book – Australian Birds – was released in 2018 and is a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book. Matt’s essays have appeared in Overland Literary Journal, Meanjin Quarterly and Runway Journal. He is currently writing texts for Art Monthly Australasia and Liminal Magazine.
About the author – Victoria Petriella
Victoria has over 17 years’ experience working alongside children in long day care and outside school hours care programs, and has also held leadership roles centred on supporting educators strive towards quality and research-based pedagogical approaches.
In addition to working in a variety of education and care services with children, Victoria has been a mentor and learning facilitator for face-to-face workshops, accredited training and online professional learning programs.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will:
- understand the importance of communication skills in a professional context
- recognise common causes of communication breakdown
- identify strengths and weaknesses of the three methods of communication
- determine which method of communication is best suited to a situation
- identify common barriers to effective communication.
Starting school is an important milestone for both parents and children. It’s a child’s foray into the education system and the first time that many of them will be spending most of their time away from home and their parents. It can be an exciting as well as a challenging transition, so it’s important to be prepared.
Getting to school on the first day is not the start point of this journey; there are many things to consider further in advance. First Year at School is an essential guidebook that will help parents understand the challenges and expectations of starting school—from the preparation that is required a year before school starts, to picking the right school and developing relationships with teachers. The book also supports children and families throughout the entire first year of school—covering topics such as the curriculum, making friends and working in partnership with the school on any concerns.
Organised in a simple-to-read format, the chapters break down comprehensive issues—such as building dispositions for learning and social skills, getting to know the curriculum, dealing with technology, understanding the practical matters at school and managing children’s friendships and school-related worries—in a step-by-step manner. Through its real-world advice and a positive approach, this book will equip parents with the necessary information they need to help their child thrive in the first year of school.
Written by early childhood experts, and full of contemporary and inclusive case studies, this new edition covers new topics such as navigating technology and natural disasters.
The first year sets the foundation for lifelong learning and development of skills needed to succeed in life. For parents whose children are about to start school, this is a vital resource.
About the author
Emily Gravett was born in Brighton, England, the second daughter of a printmaker and an art teacher. She left school at 16 and travelled the UK for eight years, living in a big green bus with her partner and their daughter. After returning to Brighton to take up an art degree, Emily sprang into the limelight with the ground-breaking Wolves in 2005, which won her the Macmillan Prize for Illustration, followed by a book deal and the first of her Kate Greenaway Medals. Wolves was followed by such brilliant modern classics as Orange Pear Apple Bear, Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears, Again! and the exquisite Tidy. Each book is unique and different from the last – and each features endearing, beautifully drawn characters that touch the heart and tickle the funny bone. Emily now lives in Brighton with her family.
