Associate Professor Christine Howitt discusses the importance of integrating STEM into Early Childhood settings.
Young children and STEM
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Planning with and for children
Dr Claire Warden shares the reason she started planning with and for children through Floorbooks 35 years ago and provides a taste of what they are today through answering questions that people have asked her.
Marie Clay titles are now available from Essential Resources
We are delighted to announce that Essential Resources are the new distributors of the Marie Clay list throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The magic of reading aloud with Jill Eggleton
What could be more simple and enjoyable than reading aloud to children? And yet, I fear, that often this most vital approach is not given the time or place it so richly deserves.
In discussion: When did you decide to become a teacher?
We asked in-house teacher and marketing guru Bridget Higham, to tell us about her time in the classroom. What she loved, what was has changed and ways to keep that work-life balance in check.
Tales of teaching with Story Seekers
Not too long ago Courtney had a chat with Tania Withers, head of ESOL at St Joseph's Catholic School, Upper Hutt. We knew Story Seekers was a hit with her students, as she kindly reached out to sing its praises. We were keen to gain an understanding of how our...
Awesome ideas for learning at home: Part 3
Kia ora Welcome back to my blog series where you will find special tips and tricks to help make learning at home the best it can be. Here’s a great range of Science tools for online learning, check out these websites: Ministry of Education Science Curriculum Resources...
Introducing iUgo Teachables
iUgo Teachables is the brainchild of Nicola Smith, Managing Director and co-founder of Essential Resources. In 2000, Nicola and Geraldine Sloane launched Essential Resources, Teachables parent brand, when they saw a gap in education for teaching resources that were...
Awesome ideas for learning at home: Part 2
Kia ora Welcome back to my blog series where you will find special tips and tricks to help make learning at home the best it can be. Here are some brilliant Reading ideas for online learning: Storytime Curated by Radio NZ, the books are read by well-known New...
Awesome ideas for learning at home: Part 1
Kia ora Over the next few weeks I am delighted to share my special tips and tricks with parents and teachers, to help make learning at home the best it can possibly be. Here are some brilliant Technology ideas for online learning: For computational and design thinking...
Why mathematical problem solving matters
The term problem solving originated in the United States in the 1970s to shift mathematical skills from an emphasis on back-to-basics towards using them to solve non-routine practical problems. In the content-based curriculum of earlier decades, the teacher worked...
Creating digital stories develops digital fluency
Over the last decade, the need for a new dimension to the conventional learning areas and the pedagogy around teaching has become increasingly obvious. This dimension will have a forward focus on major issues such as sustainability, citizenship, enterprise and...
Building an understanding and appreciation of poetry with Vaughan Rapatahana
Why is poetry important? Poetry is important for so many meaningful reasons. Among the most significant are that it helps students to appreciate different ways of writing and word use, learn about settings and customs other than those they are used to, and –...
How to explore thinking skills while studying film
Acclaimed English teacher and author Yvette Krohn describes The Matrix as the best film ever made. “I was first introduced to philosophy in an authentic context when I watched The Matrix in 1999. I had little to no knowledge of formal philosophy, but the ideas...
Essential Resources breaks into the United States
Essential Resources breaks into the United States market place producing teaching resources for USA’s largest education publishing company. Essential Resources managing director, Nicola Smith said “It is wonderful to have our New Zealand expertise recognised by...