Planuva Blog
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The ideas that unlock a subject
In every subject, a small number of concepts do more work than everything else combined. Most programs do not identify them explicitly, and students pay the price.
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Why worked examples are underrated
Most teaching sequences move from explanation to independent practice too quickly. Research on worked examples suggests a more effective approach, and it is simpler than it sounds.
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The problem with rubrics
Rubrics are one of the most widely used tools in Australian schools. Most of them describe performance without explaining it. That distinction matters more than it appears.
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Why a leaner curriculum is not enough on its own
There are encouraging signs that Australian curriculum is moving toward less content, not more. That is worth welcoming. But it only helps if schools use the space well.
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When students check out
Disengagement is usually treated as a student problem. The research suggests curriculum has more to do with it than most schools acknowledge.
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Asking better questions
Most teacher questions do not reveal what students understand. They reveal who is willing to answer.
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Teaching students to monitor their own learning
The difference between students who learn efficiently and those who struggle is often less about ability than about metacognition.
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Less marking, better outcomes
Teachers spend more time on marking than almost any other task. But marking and feedback are not the same thing.
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How to sequence learning so it actually builds
Most teaching sequences are built around content logic or time logic. Neither is the same as learning logic.
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Why students can pass your test and still not understand
Passing an assessment and genuinely understanding are not the same thing. Here is what the research says about the gap between them.
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The difference between coverage and learning
One of the biggest tensions in teaching is balancing curriculum coverage with deep learning.
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What does "high-quality" curriculum actually mean?
If a curriculum is high-quality, what does that actually look like?
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In Term 1, measure foundations not finish lines
At this point in the year, what should we actually be measuring for long term success with our students?
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Protecting your energy for what matters most
Teacher burnout is a problem that has yet to be resolved in Australian schools. So what can we do ourselves to help prevent it?
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Term 1 2026 release - What's new in Planuva
Launching for the start of the new school year, Term 1 2026 brings a lot of exciting improvements and additions to Planuva.
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Choosing the right assessment for Term 1
Effective evaluation is the one of the most overlooked ways of becoming a better teacher.
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What really matters in the first few weeks of school
The most important thing in the first few weeks of a new school year is to lay solid foundations for success.
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A calm way to start the year
The start of the school year does not need to be perfect to be effective.
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Bringing the curriculum to life
Curriculum improves when schools can see not just what’s planned, but how learning is actually experienced by students.
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Why visibility (not just funding) improves student outcomes
Boosting school budgets can make a meaningful impact to the lives of our young people, but it's not the only solution to improving outcomes.
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How collaboration can help close the gap for regional and rural schools
The more rural and regional schools collaborate, the more consistent, high-quality learning becomes available for students and teachers.
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Why did Queensland schools teach the wrong content?
Recent news about schools in Queensland teaching the wrong content to Year 12 schools is merely a sympton of a larger problem.
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The science of student attention
Ever noticed that some days, you just can't catch the attention of even your best students? here's some tips on how you can help them reset and refresh.
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Don't coast to Christmas, cruise with purpose
With the HSC exams wrapping up in NSW, many schools will start to fall into the familiar end of year drift. But this time of year can be some of the most rewarding, with the right approach.
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Why teachers should steal from colleagues
You may be surprised, but the best teachers in your school are typically the biggest thieves. And that is a great thing!
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How to use faculty meetings to drive real improvement
For many staffrooms, the faculty meeting is the biggest missed opportunity for collaboration and improvement.
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Making the most of planning days
Having a planning day together with our colleagues is a rare opportunity, and we should be making the most of it.
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The simple strategy that stops learning from fading
Have you ever taught something, and taught it well only for the class to forget soon after?
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The power of retrieval - building memory into every lesson
Discover how retrieval practice helps students remember more, and explore easy, classroom-ready techniques to make it part of everyday teaching.
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Start with the end - programming by assessment first
It's all too common to start programming by thinking 'what am I doing in week 1?' and slogging through a unit. There is a better way you should try next time.
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Teachers, take back your time!
The latest Australian Teacher Workforce Survey clearly lays out the true extent of the administrative burden on teachers.
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Better programming for primary schools
Primary school programming can feel like wrestling an octopus. Secondary teacher's don't know how good they have it.
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Is NSW's plan to slash admin working?
Policy makers in NSW have been talking a big game on teacher admin for years - have they delivered?
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Why you should evaluate every lesson
Great teaching isn't achieved by pursuing perfection, but by continously applying small improvements in every lesson.
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Hook students in the first week
Are you fired up and excited about what you are teaching next term? you should be, and so should your students.
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Creating clear success criteria
Are you using success criteria effectiely? creating clear success criteria can have a profound impact on student achievement.
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Get ahead for next term
As we get closer to the holidays, taking action now can protect your break.
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Letting go of overplanning
Planning every second of a lesson might make us feel good, but does it actually help?
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How to evaluate your program
Effective evaluation is the one of the most overlooked ways of becoming a better teacher.
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Why formative assessment matters
We spend too much time worrying about the wrong assessments in our programs.
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The first 5 minutes of a lesson are the most important
More than anything, I always obsess over the first 5 minutes of any lesson
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Why most teaching programs don't really work
Many teachers make the mistake of designing programs to reflect the syllabus, and not for teaching.
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Is numeracy only a concern for Maths teachers?
We are told by the powers that be that numeracy must be integrated into our programs. But how do we do it?
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Five Literacy Strategies to Include in Your Next Program
We all know literacy is important, but how can we explicitly integrate it into our programs?
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What To Do About the Chaos In Our Classrooms?
All across Australia, teachers struggle with the behaviours they are finding in their classrooms. What can we do?
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Do Teachers Really Get Lots of Holidays?
It is a common myth amongst the public that teachers are always on holiday. Is is true?
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Does a 3,500 Page Curriculum Really Make Us Better Teachers?
A recent article about the Australian Curriculum has surprised many teachers with an uncomfortable question
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Why lesson planning is broken
For most teachers, lesson planning is broken. We want it to work for everyone.
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Why Planuva?
Learn the "why" behind Planuva