Ready for a little reading, roaming and Rosella Rock?
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| This week, your students could put their own question to Andy Griffiths, hop aboard our supersonic jetliner for an audio excursion to Spain and set themselves a reading challenge for August. Then we’ll finish with a seven-year-old songwriter, one colourful parrot—and a chorus your class may still be singing at home time. |
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A huge thank you!
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| A huge thank you to all the teachers who have already completed our annual survey. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us what you love, what you’d like more of, where we could improve, and even what we could do a little less of! |
| Your feedback plays a big part in shaping what Squiz Kids creates next, so if you haven’t had your say yet, there’s still time. The survey will remain open for one more week, and we’d love to hear from you. |
| Did I mention you can go into the draw to win a $250 voucher to The Iconic? And for a limited time, for every response we receive (up to 6001… we want to beat our record from last year…) we’ll donate a dollar to the Red Cross. |
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Put your class’ questions to Andy Griffiths… HURRY!
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| There’s still time for your students to put a question to one of Australia’s funniest and most-loved children’s authors: Andy Griffiths! |
| Andy – author of the Treehouse books and the brand-new You & Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead – will be joining us for a special Squiz Kids Q+A. And, as always, the kids are in charge of the interview. |
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| You can submit a question from every student, collect a few favourites from around the classroom, or turn it into a class activity and work together to create one cracker of a question. |
| If we choose yours, we’ll be in touch in the next few days to organise a recording of your student or class asking it. Then we’ll put that recording directly to Andy during the interview! |
| So, what does your class want to know? Get curious, get creative, and send us your best questions before submissions close this Friday, July 31. |
| Email them to [email protected] |
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This Tuesday: Pack your bags – we’re off to Spain!
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| What do World Cup champions, dinners served at bedtime and a smiling wooden log that poos presents (yes, I’m serious) have in common? They’re all waiting for your students in our new Squiz the World goes to… Spain! |
| This audio excursion helps your kids explore Spain’s extraordinary geography, discover how the Spanish language spread around the globe, and learn why different regions have their own languages, traditions and strong local identities. |
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| There’s plenty to spark classroom conversations across geography, history, languages and culture, and quite a few facts your students will be racing home to share. |
| In your podcast feed on Tuesday. |
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I only meant to look at the website…
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| The long- running (since 1978) MS Readathon is on throughout August, so I popped onto the website to gather a few details for this newsletter… and somehow ended up signing up myself. |
| I remember doing the MS Readathon as a kid, and, yes, it turns out big people can participate too! |
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| The idea is simple: choose your own reading goal, ask friends and family to support you, and raise money for Australian families impacted by multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, and other neurological conditions. MS affects the brain and spinal cord, disrupting the messages travelling between the brain and the rest of the body. |
| Your goal can be whatever motivates you. |
- Read for 30 minutes a day.
- Rediscover a childhood favourite.
- Finally tackle the book that has been gathering dust beside your bed.
- Read a classic.
- Explore a new genre,
- Or simply read as many books as you can.
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| And, of course, your students can get involved too. Teachers can create a team for their class, or even their whole school, and set a shared goal for August. |
| I’ve signed up. Who’s joining me? |
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Fun Finish: Eastern rosellas… an internet sensation
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| This week’s Fun Finish comes with a warning: once you introduce Eastern Rosellas to your classroom, you may never get it out of your head. |
| The song was created by seven-year-old Miles Phillips after a holiday encounter with some eastern rosellas… the brilliantly coloured native parrot that stood out among all the other birds visiting his grandparents’ veranda. |
| Miles came up with the chorus, then he and his dad Joel helped him turn it into a song. A full-band version followed, and more than 1.5 million views rolled in. |
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| It’s joyful, wonderfully kid-made and a terrific little classroom launchpad. After watching, you could ask your students: what ordinary thing in their own world deserves a song, story, poem or picture? Miles started with one bird, and ended up with people around the country and some around the world singing along. |
| You can watch the song and a delightful interview with Miles and his dad below. Good luck with the earworm. (Apparently chewing gum may help… but maybe don’t tell the kids I said that.) |
| READ THE FULL STORY AND WATCH AN INTERVIEW |
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What’s on this week?
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| Here’s what’s happening around the country and the world: |
MS Readathon August 1 -31
Pawgust – For Guide Dogs Australia August 1 – 31Monday, July 27 – AusAlert Test 2 pm AEST
Tuesday, July 28 – Parents’ Day
Wednesday, July 29 – NASA was established in 1958
– Rain Day
Thursday, July 30 – International Day of Friendship
– National Cheesecake Day (USA)
Friday, July, 31 – Harry Potter’s Birthday (& JK Rowling’s)
– Strive to be Kind Day
Saturday, August 1 – Tour de France Femmes begins
– Birthday for all Aussie horses
Sunday, August 2 – Ice Cream Sandwich Day |
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Know a teacher who’d love this? Pass it on.
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| Know a colleague who’d enjoy this newsletter? Drop it into the staffroom group chat or pass it along. The best classroom ideas usually spread teacher to teacher. |
| That’s it from me this week. I’m off to choose my first MS Readathon book, and attempt to remove Eastern Rosellas from my brain. |
Now get out there, and have a most excellent day!
Over and out. |
| – Christie Kijurina, Squiz Kids Educator |
Eastern Rosellas 
Song by Miles Phillips (and Dad)
