“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
John Dewey
To celebrate the role of education in promoting peace and development, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the 24th of January as the International Day of Education. It’s a timely celebration for educators and schoolchildren, as in the coming weeks many thousands of Australian children will begin the great journey in our schools. What they learn there will set them up to shape the future of our community, our nation and our humanity.
At Booktopia, we like to celebrate education every day. We have a strong belief in the power of education to change lives for the better, and we enjoy working closely with schools, libraries and other educational institutions, as well as being proud supporters of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We also know that starting school can be an exciting and challenging time for every child and their family, so today I’m taking a closer look at five essential books that examine school life from a few different angles.
Read on!
Starting School
by Jane Godwin & Anna Walker (Illustrator)
One of our favourite picture books, Starting School is the engaging story of five children who are each preparing to become students for the first time, learning what that may mean and coping with nerves. Each child has different sensibilities and strengths, but in school they come together to form a class of diverse friends. This beautiful and positive story with its wonderful illustrations is a gentle reassuring hug of a book, concentrating on the excitement and joy of the first day.
Recommended for up to 5 years old.
Buy it here
Dear Parents
by Gabbie Stroud
School has changed a lot since our days, and it keeps on changing. Parents have a different role to play now, one that takes some adjusting to. In her new book, Dear Parents, Gabbie Stroud (the bestselling author of Teacher), reveals what parents are not seeing about this new relationship. This is a plea to consider all the implications of the actions on both sides and see how they can affect your child. Your child’s education is not just another purchase and your child’s teacher cannot always be frank. This book is challenging and sure to be controversial, but it is honest and passionate. I think it should be compulsory reading for all parents.
Buy it here (signed copies available while stocks last)
12 Ways Your Child Can Get The Best Out Of School
by Adrian Piccoli
In this popular guide, Professor Adrian Piccoli (Director of the Gonski Institute for Education and former NSW Education Minister) methodically summarises the opportunities and pitfalls of modern Australian schooling, proposing plans to maximise the benefits. He emphasises a cooperative approach where parents and teachers alike take on educational responsibility, with shared goals and realistic expectations. This book moves beyond common sense, with practical tips on incentives, honest assessment and feedback that acknowledges and rewards progress. It is a series of clear strategies ready for use in encouraging the best in your child.
Buy it now
Raising Readers
by Megan Daley
A lifelong passion for learning starts with the smallest spark. With Raising Readers, passionate teacher-librarian Megan Daley has plotted a pathway for young readers, creating a brilliant resource for stressed parents and educators alike. She shows how to engage readers early, reward them and coax them forward. From toddler days through to adolescence, the terrible teen years and beyond, it is all here: what to do with reluctant readers, negotiating Book Week costume choices, avoiding narrow genre dead ends and more. Clever, calm and clear, this book is a delightful companion from a gifted expert.
Buy it here
Surviving Year 12
by Michael Carr-Gregg and Elly Robinson
Renowned children’s psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg has fully revised his classic book, Surviving Year 12, and in doing so has provided an invaluable resource for those suffering that most stressful school year. Unrealistic pressure can undo the best candidate, but there are strategies available to keep students calm, focus and applied. As a leading expert on adolescent psychology, Carr-Gregg knows about the bewildering changes that teens face at this stage of life, even outside of the pervasive life-or-death pressure of the final exams, and uses this book to strip away the fear. For those who wish to help their Year 12 child, this book offers encouraging advice and a helping hand. Survival is possible. Keep calm and carry on.
Buy it here
Check out our Starting School collection for more books for new students!
About the Contributor
Robert O'Hearn
Robert O'Hearn is the non-fiction specialist at Booktopia HQ. He has been a bookseller for over three decades and can't seem to stop. He is an aspiring apiarist and likes playing Joy Division songs on mandolin. He is generally harmless.
Follow Robert: Twitter
Comments
No comments