Get started with Aboriginal Perspectives in 2024
And just like that 2024 is here! I love the start of a new year and the potential it holds. The fresh start, an opportune time to establish a new approach or focus, and the calm to put the learnings of the previous year into action.
For teachers, there is a lot to get done in January. Long before the school term starts, most teachers are planning, organising and setting up: classrooms, activities, lessons, resources… the list is extensive, and that’s before even thinking about getting to know the new class!
As tempting as it is to skip the prep, experienced teachers know that planning is key to making life easier when things invariably get busier, and this is certainly true when it comes to Aboriginal perspectives. Now more than ever, we need teachers to be committed to including Aboriginal perspectives in their classrooms. We need content inclusions that support students to develop a real understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture, peoples and histories so that future decision makers are better equipped to work in real partnership with communities and bring about the change we have been working towards for decades.
We all play a role in this, and every contribution, every inclusion and every effort counts - the important thing is to start somewhere.
Three things you can do today to set yourself up for 2024:
Have a plan for when and how you are going to bring Aboriginal perspectives into your classroom.
This ensures important inclusions don’t get overlooked or lost in the busy day-to-day of the classroom. Time spent at the beginning of the year identifying what and how you will include will set you up for success. Take the time to identify a perspective for each of your units - or check out our free calendar (included at the bottom of this blog) of key First Nations dates to identify opportunities for inclusions. You mights also like to check out our A2 wall planner which has plenty more dates and ideas. Embracing an inquiry approach to local perspectives will help with engaging with local knowledge (check out our 3 Focus Framework to help with this). Plus our award-winning platform Wingaru Kids has hundreds of lessons and resources to support you throughout the year - book into one of our webinars to explore how we can help you.
Make Aboriginal perspectives visual in your classroom.
Including Aboriginal art, books and resources in your classroom is a great way to create an inclusive space and ensure that your inclusions are front of mind. Choose resources that provoke curiosity and encourage conversations and exchanges of ideas.
If you are a subscriber, be sure to check out the additional resources section of your dashboard to access our collection of printable classroom décor. The collection is growing and contains posters, birthday calendars, labels, bunting, classroom signs, and number lines, just to name a few.
We have a range of resources in the Wingaru store to make classroom set up easy - planners, posters, flashcards and other resources.
Head over to Riley Callie Resources to find an amazing selection of books for all ages.
Make connecting with local community a priority and plan to attend local events and Aboriginal education network meetings throughout the year so you can meet and connect with your local community. Having strong relationships with local Aboriginal people means you can seek support when you need it and invite appropriate mob to be part of your school community. Theses connections don’t happen instantly: you need to take the time to get to know people and for them to get to know you. Get the dates of events into your calendar now and make a commitment to show up. It is the starting point for ongoing, long-term reciprocal relationships.