Editorial comment.
Mantel, Jessica ; Kervin, Lisa ; Latham, Gloria 等
Dear Readers:
Welcome to 2012 and our February edition of Practically Primary. In
this edition, we continue to focus on the Australian Curriculum: English
(ACE) and specifically on Language. We are proud to present the stories
of many teachers and teacher/researchers--some of whom you will see at
our National ALEA Conference in Sydney in July ... don't forget to
register!
2012 is the Year of Reading and you can read more about the
exciting events being held throughout the year designed to entice
children to read. The theme, Are We There Yet? comes from Alison
Lester's magnificent text of the same name. Alison is interviewed
in this edition and explains her connection with her own literature and
her desire to support budding readers and writers.
February 2012 is our last edition as Editors of Practically
Primary. Lisa Kervin, Gloria Latham and I have worked together to bring
you 3 editions each year since 2008. It has been a privilege to entice,
invite, prompt and even nag a whole range of people holding onto
wonderful stories to share them with you. Gathering these stories
provided a window into learning environments beyond our own and a mirror
as we recognised the commitment to teaching and love of learning evident
within each one.
There are many people to thank for supporting us in this voluntary
role--Michael Deves (endlessly patient), Lucy Carberry, Wendy Rush and
Marion Meiers. Thank you to Karen Argus whose creative artworks we enjoy
on the cover of each journal. We also thank our contributors. Without
you, there is no journal and there is no conversation. Our contributors
have been teachers, researchers, colleagues, parents, neighbours,
relatives and friends, and many have had the call to write on more than
one occasion. Stories have come from the northern most tip of Australia
to the furthest south and everywhere in between, and we are all richer
for the experience.
And so we hand over to a new team headed up by Margaret Zeegers
from the University of Ballarat. Margaret comes with editorial
experience and a commitment to continue to honour the purpose of
Practically Primary--to make space for teachers' voices to be
heard. Margaret's first edition continues the focus on the
Australian Curriculum English, moving now to Indigenous Australian
perspectives and possibilities. We know you will show Margaret the same
generosity in sharing your stories with her.
With thanks,
Jessica, Lisa and Gloria
