TA TALK
Issue 48
October 2019
Welcome to the October edition of TA Talk.
Earlier this month, we welcomed Claire Raip, our new team member and Customer Service Specialist. Claire brings to the team a plethora of skills, and a depth of experience in customer service, a skill we value highly at ATA. We have farewelled our Customer Service Liaison Officer, Brian, as he goes on to pursue a career in banking. We wish him all the very best in this field.
This week we started a series of interviews with the winner, and our state finalists of the 2019 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year. We will be publishing these incredible stories on our website soon. We have called the series, Australian Teacher Aide Stories. Keep an eye out for them. We are sure you will be inspired by listening to the amazing work these superstars do everyday!
We have been working on increasing our library of resource previews. If you are not yet an ATA member and would like to 'road test' our resources, head over to the Professional Development library. You will find preview videos on Literacy, Digital Skills and ICT, and Learning and Wellbeing.
We have just 2 live web events left for this year. Make sure you check them out and register asap to reserve your place. See you then!
Warm regards
Stella and Mandy
Does ATA professional development align with the Australian Curriculum?
Yes. All our professional development resources address the knowledge, skills, and understanding described in the eight Learning Areas in the Australian Curriculum, as well as the General Capabilities.
Does ATA professional development use evidence-based practices?
Yes. All our professional development resources reflect evidence-based research, as well as contemporary teaching and learning practices.
What is Executive Functioning?
This tutorial explores the life skills students need in a digital world to think flexibly, and manage their thoughts, actions and emotions. In this tutorial you will learn:
- The importance of executive functioning
- How executive functioning impacts students at school
- Strategies to help students develop executive functioning skills
- Why executive functioning skills are necessary in a digital world
MEMBER WEBINAR: Creativity and Learning
- Tuesday 12th November 2019 @ 4:15pm AEST
In this tutorial we explore a creative approach to learning in a digital world. You will be able to participate in some light-hearted activities that promote creativity and learning such as drawing, design thinking and movement.
This event starts at 4:15 pm AEST. Remember to check your time zone, especially with daylight saving.
We hope you can join us for the last member event of the year!
COMMUNITY WEBINAR: Teacher Aides around the Globe: What we can learn from other countries
- Tuesday 19th November 2019 @ 4:15pm AEST
Sheree Chevalier was awarded a 2018 VET International Practitioner Fellowship from the Department of Education and Training in Victoria and the International Specialised Skills Institute, to research education support issues globally.
Following a world wind tour, Sheree returns to share what she learned about: • TA qualifications • How TAs are supported to manage student behaviour • How teachers and TAs work together • TA professional development (PD) opportunities
Member Webinar Challenge
This month's competition tested our participant's visual memory. At the beginning of the tutorial, we showed a picture with a number of objects for 10 seconds; just long enough for a visual snapshot of the image. At the end of the tutorial, we showed the picture again, but something was different.
Congratulations go to Corrinne Carr, our winner of the October Member Webinar Challenge. Corrinne won a monogrammed ATA polo shirt for correctly identifying that it was the banner image on the laptop screen that had changed.
WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE
26,639 views
1,564 reactions, comments and shares
This message resonated with our community. We must remember that teacher aides are human, despite their super powers, and on a challenging day, they might sometimes struggle with their 'why'. This reminder was very timely for some of you.
If you ever wonder why you do what you do, look into the eyes of a student who needs you ... it is there you will be reacquainted with your 'why'.
When schools enable teacher aides to be fully prepared for their role in the classroom, EVERYONE wins!
14,618 views 898 reactions, comments and shares
Effective Teacher Aide Practices for Schools (eTAPS) - there is no program like it! Has your school got it?
If not, NOW is the time to talk to leadership about a school membership with ATA. eTAPS won't always be an included resource in the current member plans. Once Module 4 is published, new schools joining ATA will need to upgrade to a higher plan to access our signature program.
DOES YOUR SCHOOL HAVE A PD PLAN FOR YOUR TA TEAM?
LET THE EXPERTS COME TO YOU!
We have resources across many topic areas including Additional Needs, Behaviour, Disability, Digital Technology, Effective Teacher Aide Practices in Schools (eTAPS), Inclusive Education, Learning and Wellbeing, Literacy, Numeracy and more.
Why use ATA professional development?
- It's online, so it's accessible no matter where you are in Australia
- It's designed specifically for the education support role
- You get access to interactive live web events every month, and
- 24/7 access to over 80 comprehensive video tutorials for 12 months from date of joining
PLUS, you can link an unlimited number of staff to your school membership account.
Not sure if our professional development options are right for your team? Easy! If, within the first 30 days of school membership, you decide that our professional development does not meet your needs, send us your feedback and we will give you a full refund.
Leaders in Professional Learning for Teacher Aides
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