In this Issue

VALBEC opportunities

1. VALBEC 2015 Conference - Call for presentations extended to March 6

2. Wanton Shillelaghs at the VALBEC Conference

3. Fine Print

Resources

4. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas

5. New literacy resource - 5 free copies to be given away

6. Free numeracy resources

Conferences

7. ACFEB LLN Flagship Project Information Workshop

8. AWPN Pre-Conference Forum

9. AWPN National Conference

Stay connected

10. VALBEC membership invoices

11. Help us find you

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VALBEC opportunities

1. VALBEC 2015 Conference - Call for presentations extended to March 6

'Streams of potential: what lies beneath'

Friday May 15, 2015

The theme of the 2015 VALBEC conference, Streams of potential: what lies beneath, seeks to encourage exploration of the sometimes hidden elements that inform delivery of language, literacy and numeracy in a wide a range of contexts: community, workplace, accredited and pre-accredited programs.

• How are the new voices in analysing the goals and processes of language, literacy and numeracy delivery reframing the professional persona of the LLN teacher?

• How are teachers designing courses in ever changing contexts and conditions?

• How are teachers and programs recruiting, retaining and reconnecting students from diverse backgrounds?

• How are teachers negotiating with the differing needs of students while maintaining the standards of funding requirements?

• How can the Language, Literacy and Numeracy field continue to tap into the potential of its workforce to bring to the surface learning that is transformative?

Submit a proposal

More conference details

2. Wanton Shillelaghs at the VALBEC Conference

Musical entertainment is art of the long tradition of the VALBEC Conference and this year we'll be welcoming the Wanton Shillelaghs. The Wanton Shillelaghs are united by a love of Celtic music and a shared exile to Melbourne's outer east. Their repertoire combines traditional tunes and songs with the work of some of the greats of modern Celtic music, and the occasional spot of dancing. Performances have been described as a 'refreshing contemporary spin' on traditional tunes, while striving to maintain the rich rhythms and melodies that typify the genre.

Members: Eamon Coughlan (Irish Bouzouki), Jarrad Whitaker (Double Bass), Naomi Matthyssen (Flute & Whistle) Tammy Matthyssen (Violin), Rumesh Gnanaseelan (Bodhrán)

Facebook page with videos

3. Fine Print

Edition #1 is taking shape and readers can look forward to some engaging and interesting feature articles along with the regular sections.

• In her article, Elizabeth Gunn ponders the question 'what role can students' first (or second or third) languages play in their English literacy development?'

• While Kate Nonesuch reflects on the difference between what you see and what you get when you look at good teaching.

• Peter Newnham looks at pedagogy and praxis to consider what level of agency ESL students have when it comes to deciding what and how they will learn.

• There are some tips for using technology in the classroom and some excellent new resources.

Contribute to Fine Print

Fine Print Archive

Resources

4. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas

VALBEC is observing 2015 as the International Year of Light (and light based technologies). Each month a VALBEC committee member will provide some resources, inspired by the Year of Light, for the classroom or of general interest to students to use as a springboard for thinking, researching, talking or writing.

This month Ann Haynes invites us examine the 'Use of Light in Art'

5. New literacy resource - 5 free copies to be given away

'10 Radical Ideas for reluctant writers'

This new book, 10 Radical Ideas for reluctant writers, comprises ten immediate, accessible and inspiring writing activities for students that may not always feel comfortable getting their ideas down on paper. Literacy teachers will find the activities engage students and address the learning outcomes.

Published by Multifangled, the activities encourage students to dive straight into writing without fear of failure. There are notes for teachers that explain the features of different text types, where to find examples and ideas for classroom activities.

The activities in 10 Radical Ideas for reluctant writers are supported by free online materials that include infographics, videos, links, maps and game source files that students can use to gain a deeper understanding of each text.

Cost: $15.00 (+ postage and handling) hard copy and $12.00 digital download.

Order a copy

Win a copy

Multifangled has offered five copies to be given to VALBEC members (yes, must be financial VALBEC members).

Click here to enter a draw to win one of five copies. You must enter by March 10.

6. Free numeracy resources

'Building Strength in Numeracy' revises and improves on the iconic numeracy resources 'Strength in Numbers' and 'Breaking the Maths Barrier', and other 'tried and true' numeracy teaching resources developed by Beth Marr and other experienced numeracy teachers.

The resource is a collection of activities that builds on and updates elements of the previous resources, as well as including many new, previously unpublished ideas, activities and student practice exercises. The resource is accessible online for teachers to use in a range of settings and includes

• Building Positive Attitudes to Numeracy

• Exploring Numbers

• In the Head Calculations

• Fractions

• Percentages

Free download

Conferences

7. ACFEB LLN Flagship Project Information Workshop

Tuesday March 17 2015, CAE Melbourne 253 Flinders Lane

Presenters: Dr Veronica Volkoff and Rosemary Sharman

Starting out with business and industry – steps for finding new learners and establishing new business relationships with local industries

Starting out with business and industry – steps for finding new learners and establishing new business relationships with local industries

This workshop for Learn Local Managers and LLN Co-ordinators will take participants through the findings of the 2014 ACFE Board Flagship project when eight Learn Local organisations took a step by step approach to engaging with business and industry to build their pre-accredited training businesses.

Find out what worked and what didn’t work from their experiences, how they approached businesses, what they offered and what they will do differently in future.

Get some great tips for your Learn Local on what you need to think about before you start, and some approaches that you might take, to find new learners in the businesses and industries in your area.

Register

8. AWPN Pre-Conference Forum

18th March 2015,, 1pm-5pm, Jasper Hotel, Melbourne

The Australian Workplace Practitioners' Network (AWPN) invites you to the AWPN Pre-Conference Forum to find out the latest developments on Australian government policies, programs and projects relevant to strengthening foundation skills in the workplace.

More

9. AWPN National Conference

19-20 March 2015, Jasper Hotel, Melbourne

The Australian Workplace Practitioners' Network (AWPN) invites you to attend the 2015 AWPN National Conference. The theme for the conference is Refresh Rebrand Re-engage: Foundation Skills at Work

The conference will focus on how policy makers, VET professionals and industry can work together to build the highly skilled and innovative workforce needed to compete in global markets. What are the new Australian Government policies and programs and how do they work? How can we work together to ensure industry has the skilled and productive workforce it needs? How can we best support an industry-led, sophisticated and flexible VET system?

More

Stay connected

10. VALBEC membership invoices

Watch your mailbox for your 2015 membership invoice.

11. Help us find you

Add our email address info@valbec.org.au to your address book. That tells your spam filter you like us and want to receive emails from that address.