Overview of STEPS Professional Development Courses and Resource Books

Mathematics (Years K-7) 

First Steps in Mathematics

Helping teachers to identify and correct students’ misconceptions about mathematics.

Based on cutting-edge research, First Steps in Mathematics develops and expands teachers’ understanding of mathematics and how children learn mathematics. First Steps in Mathematics enables teachers to successfully diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate their students’ learning experiences in four strands - Number, Measurement, Space, and Chance and Data. Diagnostic Tasks and Diagnostic Maps within each strand help teachers to identify students’ misconceptions about mathematics. Sample lessons and learning activities provide teachers with practical and simple ideas to support students’ development.
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Elementary Literacy (Years K-7) 

First Steps Literacy 2nd Edition

Helping teachers address current literacy challenges in reading, writing, and speaking & listening.

First Steps Literacy 2nd Edition builds on the original First Steps by drawing upon contemporary research to help teachers address current literacy challenges. It provides teachers with comprehensive Maps of Development that help them assess and monitor student needs and also provides explicit links to purposeful teaching and learning experiences. First Steps Literacy 2nd Edition includes detailed support material that will enhance learning and help teachers build effective literacy classrooms.
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Secondary Literacy (Years 6-12) 

Tactical Teaching

Enhancing success in the learning areas by improving literacy.

Tactical Teaching is a series of three non-sequential, intensive, highly practical workshops of 2 hours duration, either in Speaking and Listening or Thinking. These are intended to help learning area teachers in middle and high school settings maximise the use of speaking and listening, or thinking in the teaching and learning of curriculum material. The resource is based on the belief that teachers need to make decisions about what to teach (the learning area), to whom (which students), and how (the most effective way) to teach. The heart of Tactical Teaching: Speaking and Listening is about the most powerful ways of helping students construct their understandings through effective speaking and listening.
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VETsteps

Supporting Workplace Literacies

VETsteps highlights methods for assisting students tackle the literacy demands encountered within Units of Competency from across all industries, and within all workplace environments. It delivers skills and understandings through a series of ‘hands on’ approaches, processes and strategies. The resource is designed specifically for teachers of VET, Careers Education and Structured Workplace Learning; teachers of SAS Communication in Years 11/12 and Certificate II in work practices-as well as RTOS, TAFE and university lecturers, workplace trainers, and teachers training special needs adolescent learners for the workplace
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Stepping Out

Improving the literacy and learning of middle and high school students.

Stepping Out provides middle and high school teachers with a selection of powerful teaching ideas and tools that help secondary students build a repertoire of reading and writing strategies. Using these strategies students meet the reading and writing demands and learn content in all learning areas. The resource, which acknowledges the long-term nature of literacy improvement, provides a conduit for developing successful whole school and learning area approaches that impact positively on student learning outcomes.
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Physical Education (Years K-3) 

Fundamental Movement Skills

Supporting students’ development of proficient Fundamental Movement Skills to promote an active and healthy lifestyle.

Fundamental Movement Skills deepens teachers’ understandings of how to effectively assess, plan, and teach physical activity. Twenty-two Fundamental Movement Skills are included with details on how to break down each skill for assessment and teaching purposes. The resource also provides practical teaching activities that assist teachers to plan and deliver effective learning experiences that enhance students’ development of proficient Fundamental Movement Skills.
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Classroom Management (Years PreK-12) 

Practice Effective Guidance Strategies (PEGS)

Developing the skills teachers need to help ALL students actively participate in classroom activities.

PEGS is a scientifically-based professional development program. Interactive simulations help teachers across all subject areas gain the skills needed to help ALL students actively participate in classroom activities, especially those students that have social, emotional or behavioural problems. PEGS:

• Improves student participation
• Reduces disruptive behavior
• Promotes achievement of students who often struggle