School formals can increase body image anxiety for some teens. Here’s how parents can help
Yta23/Getty Images Formal is one of the most exciting events on the school calendar for many senior students. Young people can spend months choosing outfits, planning a hairstyle and trialling different makeup looks. For some teens, it may even be their first time wearing a suit or a more “dressy” dress. But while formals make […]
School rarely goes to plan. Here are 9 ways students can deal with setbacks and change
Mary Taylor/ Pexels School life isn’t always easy. A student may receive a disappointing mark, struggle with a tough assignment, face numerous deadlines, or be anxious about an exam. At other times, a student may start at a new school, begin a new subject, work with unfamiliar classmates, encounter a new teacher, or be asked […]
Three common study myths busted by a learning expert – and better strategies to use instead
Sean Anthony Eddy/Getty Images As high school and university students approach the exam period, study sessions often increase and intensify. But even when students are “trying hard” to study they can still fall into some common study traps that hinder, rather than help, their learning. I research how the human mind learns. Here are three […]
Research shows ethics education teaches kids right from wrong. Why can so few students access it?
RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels How important is it that kids learn to tell right from wrong? Businessman and former university chancellor David Gonski recently called for ethics classes to be rolled out in all Australian schools to boost social cohesion. At the moment, ethics does not get dedicated time in the school curriculum. Some might […]
Is history a school subject in crisis? New research shows it isn’t, at least not yet
Grafissimo/Getty Images History educators around the world have expressed concerns about the decline of history enrolments in schools and universities over the past few decades. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom and United States, some experts and commentators have even gone as far to describe it as a subject “in crisis”. History educators […]
41% of surveyed Australian teens now get their news from AI: new research
Towfiqu Barbhuiya/ Pexels The way Australians consume news has been changing for the past 30 years, ever since internet use became widespread. Long gone are the days when families routinely shared bits of the newspaper over breakfast, or crowded around the 6 o’clock television news at night. Since 2017, we have been tracking young people’s […]
Wear It Purple Day is about more than a T-shirt. Here’s how schools can really include gender and sexuality diverse youth
FG Trade/Getty Images Today is Wear it Purple Day – when students and staff across high schools and universities are invited to wear purple items of clothing to recognise and celebrate gender and sexuality diverse (GSD) young people. Workplaces are also encouraged to take part. The initiative began in 2010 to better support GSD youth […]
Beyond Harry Potter: five books you can enjoy together as a whole family
Most adults are well aware of the benefits that come with reading with children. Storytime with kids can improve their literacy and develop their communication skills. Research also shows children love being read to even up until young adulthood. Beyond well-known classics such as Harry Potter, it can be challenging to find stories that everyone […]
Parents are increasingly abusive towards teachers and principals. How can schools respond?
RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels Some private schools have begun asking parents to sign a code of conduct to try and stop abusive behaviour towards teachers. In media reports, some principals have called out parents for a sense of entitlement, bullying of staff and refusing to admit when their child has misbehaved. Public schools are also […]
Talking to your children about consent and sexual violence can be hard. Here’s how to start the conversation
Georgijevic/Getty Images There have been multiple high-profile alleged incidents of sexual violence against women and girls in news headlines this month. Some of them involve teenage boys. Families might find themselves having – or thinking they need to have – discussions with their children about consent and sexual violence. We know parents have an important […]