CAPITALISING ON CURIOSITY ‘ninggi warrguu’– look and ask why Nurturing Inquiring Minds AATE & ALEA Joint National Conference § English Literacy Conference Canberra 3–6 July 2015 ‘Ngunna Yarabi Yengue…you are welcome to leave your footprints on our land’ Invite a famous Australian author into your classroom. Welcome to Reading Australia – an exciting online and secondary schools across the country. There initiative from the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. are over 200 books listed on the site, with many also It makes the very best of Australian literature more having informative essays and valuable teaching available for teachers and librarians in primary schools resources that align to the Australian Curriculum. Head to readingaustralia.com.au Visit us at Stand-19 for the chance to Subscribe to monthly eNews now at: WIN an iPad! Table of Contents Convenors’ Welcome 2 AATE President’s Welcome 3 ALEA National President’s Welcome 4 Artist Statement: Leah Brideson 5 General Information 6 Social Media 9 Program Overview 11 Social Program 30 Conference Keynotes 32 Garth Boomer Address 32 Donald Graves Address 34 Opening & Closing Plenary Addresses 36 Conference Keynotes: Biographies 37 Awards 41 Authors, Illustrators and Book Signings 46 Saturday 4 July: Abstracts and Biographies 49 Sunday 5 July: Abstracts and Biographies 69 Monday 6 July: Abstracts and Biographies 97 2015 Conference Convenors & Committee 121 Call for Presentations for the 2016 Conference 122 Sponsors & Exhibitors 123 Exhibition Hall Floor Plan 124 Map of National Convention Centre 125 Capitalising on Curiosity § Canberra 3–6 July 2015 1 Convenors’ Welcome Welcome to Canberra and the National Convention Centre for the AATE/ALEA Joint National conference, Capitalising on Curiosity: Ninggi Warrguu – look and ask why; nurturing inquiring minds. We know you will enjoy following the many pathways of inquiry and curiosity that Canberra has to offer: from its traditional custodians and cultures, the Ngunnawal people, to its cultural institutions that archive the nation’s memories and provoke us to examine our national identity. We first identified ‘curiosity’ as a key theme because Canberra is far more than just a political town – it’s a city that nurtures creativity and inspires intellectual pursuits. A few years on from the introduction of the Australian Curriculum: English, its review and many iterations, we pause to take stock. Have we become slaves to meeting outcomes and improving standardised test results at the expense of creativity and inspiration in the classroom? Author, educator and literacy consultant Stephanie Harvey suggests that curiosity is a key skill for the 21st century; and, judging by the range of keynotes and workshops offered in this year’s conference, passion, curiosity and inquiry are alive and well in our nation’s classrooms! We believe there is something for everyone at this conference, with acclaimed international and national speakers, revered authors and passionate educators sharing their practice under the three strands: nurturing curiosity in practice; nurturing inquiry through research and nurturing creativity in curriculum. Curiosity is key as we open our classrooms to a global context of continual social and cultural change with new communication technologies. Curiosity is central in guiding learners to imagine new possibilities. In order to nurture and inspire learners in the classroom, we must connect with them personally, connect with their families, and connect with the community in which they live. This year’s conference is grounded in community, starting with the artwork by local Aboriginal artist and Education student Leah Brideson and the support from the United Ngunnawal Elders’ Council, who approved our use of some words and phrases from Ngunnawal language. We’re also proud to showcase local performers providing entertainment throughout the conference and we invite our school communities on Saturday to meet Gary Crew and Graeme Base. Associations like the Australian Association for the Teaching of English and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association exist to nurture and inspire members through professional dialogue and sharing of best practice. We sincerely thank all those who have contributed to this National Conference: our speakers and workshop presenters, association members who have worked on organising committees for several years, our volunteer guides, our sponsors and conference partner, ACT Education and Training Directorate, the tireless workers in ALEA and AATE National offices, and of course, the schools and delegates who have supported the conference by registering. We hope you will leave feeling nurtured and inspired to be curious, inquiring educators, and we look forward to meeting again in Adelaide, 2016. From the Conference Convenors: Debbie Martens, Principal, Charnwood-Dunlop School ACT State Director, ALEA Michelle Morthorpe, Deputy Principal, Gold Creek School President, ACT Association for the Teaching of English (ACTATE) 2 Capitalising on Curiosity § Canberra 3–6 July 2015 AATE President’s Welcome AATE President’s welcome for 2015 Canberra conference program We’ve curiously come to Canberra for a feast of professional learning; Since Darwin a full year ago, it’s for this we have been yearning. I am pleased to have this opportunity to join with my counterpart at ALEA, Professor Robyn Ewing AM, in issuing a warm welcome to all participants in this year’s AATE/ALEA joint national conference. AATE is the national umbrella organisation unifying the autonomous English teacher associations that exist in each of the states and territories. With AATE now embarked on its second 50 years, we are again delighted to be involved in this joint national conference endeavour with the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA). Associations like AATE and ALEA are largely about providing opportunities for professional sharing and this conference is a prime platform for such sharing in face to face mode. The two national associations get to have their brands associated with this event as it moves around the country and valuable support is rendered by Wendy Rush and her staff at the national office. However, the conference is only possible through the hard work of members of the local embodiments of the two organisations. On behalf of all those who will benefit from the conference, I wish to pay tribute to the efforts of all members of the organising committee ably led by the co-convenors, Michelle Morthorpe from ACTATE, the ACT arm of AATE, and Debbie Martens from ALEA. If we fully embrace the invitation to capitalise on our curiosity about English and literacy teaching, I am sure that we will all enjoy a pleasant and professionally productive conference. Garry Collins President Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) Capitalising on Curiosity § Canberra 3–6 July 2015 3 ALEA National President’s Welcome Welcome conference delegates! It’s wonderful that you’ve been able to postpone your holiday break to attend the 2015 AATE/ALEA Capitalising on Curiosity conference. I’m sure you’ll agree that the program looks exciting from both professional and social perspectives. This year we’re also celebrating ALEA’s 40th birthday so it seems highly appropriate that we’ll be focusing on curiosity and creativity – so essential for English and literacy educators in such a rapidly changing world. At the same time there’ll be opportunities to learn from the wisdom of those who have worked so hard for the language and literacy development of children and young people in this country. So let’s be ready to challenge each other, ask the big questions and engage in rich professional conversations so we’ll feel renewed and refreshed to continue our important work over the coming year. Such an impressive program only happens through years of planning and consistent hard work. Our warmest congratulations and deep appreciation to co-convenors Debbie Martens and Michelle Morthorpe and their committed and enthusiastic conference team. We hope you have an opportunity to really enjoy the conference too. With best wishes on behalf of ALEA National Council. Professor Robyn Ewing AM National President of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) 4 Capitalising on Curiosity § Canberra 3–6 July 2015 Artist Statement: Leah Brideson The central circles represent the child. In addition, they are a symbol of Canberra’s meaning, ‘meeting place’ (Ngunnawal), and subtly embody the parliamentary triangle; looking at what is right under our feet and using the land and our first custodians as a tool for learning. The white dots (outer circle) represent dreaming, thinking, doing. The pathways are a two way street: 1. Nurturing – pathways to the child’s mind through different avenues, awakening interests and opportunities to channel their curiosity. Providing different ways of learning/viewing the world through all the dimensions of learning. Supporting their learning in every direction and providing guidance. Personalising learning by knowing the child. 2. Curiosity – the child taking the steps, in charge of their learning, their interests, different options in all directions. Wondering what could be down each pathway and using their curiosity and inquiry skills to take them on the journey in any direction they choose to go. The two way street provides a safe area for the children to ‘look’ and ‘ask’. The outer square shape is ‘stepping outside of the square’, taking curiosity into the unknown, taking risks in learning and inquiring about what is next. The black pathways are open ended. Artist’s Biography Leah Brideson is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer at Ngunnawal Primary School in Canberra, ACT. She is a Kamilaroi woman with links to family in Gunnedah, NSW and has lived in Canberra most of her life. Leah is currently completing her primary teaching degree and would ultimately like to complete further study in the arts and specialise in teaching Indigenous art. Capitalising on Curiosity § Canberra 3–6 July 2015 5 General Information Conference venue The conference is being held at the National Convention Centre on Constitution Avenue.