For parents, guardians, carers or teachers: A note from the author
School was incredibly challenging for me as a child and I had many limiting beliefs about my learning abilities. For example, I decided that because I failed many spelling tests, there was no way I would ever, ever learn how to spell. And guess what? Because I thought I would fail, I did. My challenges have inspired a deep desire to equip children with empowering tools and strategies that I wish I had as a child.
One evening, when I was in my twenties, I was playing billiards with a colleague after work and he said, 'You know, if they told me at school, that learning geometry could make me a better billiard player, I would've paid more attention at school.' Now, still teaching into my fifties, these words have stuck with
me. Whenever I am learning or teaching something new, I ask myself, 'How is this skill going to improve our lives and bring out the best in us?'
Here are some conversation starters to facilitate expansive conversations with our children as we explore what it means to be a life-long learner using open-ended questions. It is important to notice ways we can explore the world, while sprinkling our uniqueness into everything we do.
Discuss what you notice about the:
• Teacher?
• Students?
• School of boring?
• Illustrations?
About school:
• Why do people go to school?
• What is important for students to know about learning and teaching?
• What is important for a teacher to know about learning and teaching?
About you:
• What are your strengths?
• How do you make learning fun?
• What have you learnt to do with confidence?
• How would you teach someone to do what you can do?
• How could you include the things you enjoy into your learning style?
• What are some ways that help you remember things that are important to you?
It is a privilege to witness and contribute to a child's learning in any way. It is important to encourage and nurture a child's unique skills, intuition, unique abilities and personalities to help empower them to be their best.
Sandra Harwood has a Bachelor of Education, Diploma in Early Childhood, and is a qualified Personal Trainer, Life Coach, Angelic Reiki and Access Bars Practitioner. Sandra is currently the Mindfulness Specialist at a Primary School in Melbourne Australia. In her 30 years of teaching, Sandra has taught in all areas of the curriculum from Foundation to Grade Six, including roles such as Art Specialist and Reading Recovery Specialist. Sandra has facilitated Mindfulness and Well-Being Workshops for principals, leaders, staff and parents. She is on the Mercy Hospital for Women's Advisory Committee and has assisted in facilitating family workshops for VARTA (Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority). Her passion for mindfulness comes from having faced and overcome adversities, and a desire to enhance our perceptions and abilities towards enjoying all that life has to offer. Sandra's first book, Creating Mindful Moments, was published by Busybird Publishing in 2017. Sandra's first children's book, Each Moment, was published by Busybird in 2018.
Audrey Buttigieg Cardona was born in Malta and has a Bachelor of Education. She migrated with her family to live in Caroline Springs in 2007. An artist who focuses on drawing, her work has been featured at the Brunswick Art Gallery, Open Studios in the West, Art in Public Places organised by Hobsons Bay Council, a solo exhibition at Hunts Club Community Arts Centre, Deer Park and another solo exhibition at CS Gallery, Caroline Springs. In addition to creating her own artwork, Audrey teaches Visual Arts to students at Christ the Priest Primary School, Caroline Springs. This is the first book that Audrey has had the pleasure to illustrate. Mother to two boisterous boys, Audrey believes that everyone can overcome their obstacles through passion and hard work.
