Teaching Middle Years

Donna Pendergast AM is Director, Engagement in the Arts, Education and Law Group and former Dean and Head of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, Australia (2009–2023). She is a leading international scholar in the field of middle years education. She leads educational transformation, including the shift of Year 7 to secondary schools around the nation. In 2024 Professor Pendergast was invested as a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant contribution to tertiary education. Katherine Main is an internationally recognised researcher in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, Australia. Her work focuses on middle years learners’ wellbeing and the development of social and emotional competencies. She has also led national and international projects working with school leadership teams around different aspects of wellbeing within their individual school contexts. Nan Bahr is Emeritus Professor of Southern Cross University, Australia. She has a broad profile in the field of adolescent development and responsive education. She has significant experience as teacher, teacher educator, and university executive. A career highlight has been nomination for Australian of the Year (2020) for service to education.

Part 1: The Middle Years 1. Middle years education 2. The middle years learner 3. Indigenous knowledges and learners 4. Promoting wellbeing 5. Student engagement 6. Quality teaching and learning 7. Inclusive practices 8. Transition Part 2: Curriculum practices in the middle years 9. Literacy 10. Numeracy 11. Physical activity 12. The Arts 13. Histories and sustainable futures 14. Technologies Part 3: Pedagogical practices in the middle years 15. Collaborative learning 16. Critical thinking 17. Positive classroom environments 18. Relational teaching 19. Parent and community engagement Part 4: Assessment practices in the middle years 20. Assessment Part 5: Middle years in action 21. Transforming middle years education