New publications

Shine is the monthly publication of Victoria's Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The magazine is distributed to all government school teachers and principals; non-teaching staff; school council members; Catholic and independent schools; early childhood professionals, including kindergarten teachers and child care workers; and maternal and child health centres. The magazine has a circulation of more than 75,000 every month. With practical tips and advice, the latest research, training opportunities, regular columnists and in-depth feature stories, Shine is of vital importance to both the school and early childhood communities. Shine replaces the Education Times as the Department's official flagship publication.

This text integrates a constructivist/emergent literacy perspective with instructional practices that have proved successful in supporting children’s reading, writing and speaking development. The book covers the development and teaching of both oral and written language from preschool through the elementary grades. At the preschool and kindergarten levels, the authors advocate a combination of meaningful engagements with print and age-appropriate instruction on core literacy skills. At the elementary grade level, the authors support a balanced approach to reading instruction that focuses on both decoding and comprehension. Adapted from publisher's description.

Mathematics Illuminated is a 13-part series created by Annenberg Media for high school teachers and adult learners. The series explores major themes in the field of mathematics, from humankind's earliest study of prime numbers to the cutting-edge mathematics used to reveal the shape of the universe. Units include Game Theory, Other Dimensions and Geometries Beyond Euclid. Each unit comprises a relevant video segment (free registration required), a video transcript and a different interactive feature designed to complement the material within. Visitors can take advantage of a glossary and a 'Math Family Tree' which highlights major mathematical discoveries from the year 25,000 BCE right up until the present day.

This text advocates the use of culturally specific pedagogy to enhance the mathematics instruction of diverse students. It links research and practice and offers lesson templates that teachers can use with ethnically and culturally diverse students. Culturally Specific Pedagogy in the Mathematics Classroom features a model of culturally specific mathematics instruction that is grounded in Critical Race Theory; uses analyses of both qualitative and quantitative data to make the case that culturally specific pedagogy enhances student achievement; presents cultural representations in problem solving and problem posing; and interweaves case studies, vignettes and specific examples to help teachers to visualise what culturally specific pedagogy is and how to use it. Adapted from publisher's description.

Teaching Writing in the Inclusive Classroom provides advice to teachers of Years 6–12 on how to help all students develop basic writing skills, relate writing to real-life tasks, and explore writing as a creative and enjoyable practice. The book offers strategies based on the proven TIP Writing Process, which is designed to individualise the writing process by focusing on the specific needs of each student in the classroom. Adapted from publisher's description.

Jenny Moon explores and clarifies the nature of critical thinking and proposes ways to improve student learning and support the teaching process. Key themes include different views of, and practical approaches to, critical thinking in the classroom; links between learning, thinking and writing; the place of critical thinking alongside other academic activities such as reflective learning and argument; critical thinking and assessment; class environments; and staff knowledge and development. The book also contains writing tasks and oral tasks. Adapted from publisher's description.