Topic 4: Building positive relationships

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Colourful Aboriginal artwork with interconnected circles and dots

This topic aims to strengthen your understanding of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and apply this knowledge to build relationships and better address the learning needs of Indigenous students in urban, rural and remote communities.

Explore the concepts, activities and assessment tasks below or use the Get Started button to work through the content in the suggested sequence.

Image: Aboriginal art, Flickr, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

A group of 3 children playing marbles

Interacting with others

We can position ourselves in ways that invite respect, curiosity and connection.

CONCEPTS

Aboriginal family

School, home and community partnerships

School, home and community partnerships and how this applies to the classroom.

CONCEPTS

Collaboration and reconciliation

A supportive classroom is one in which the values of reconciliation are lived every day.

CONCEPTS

Extract from cover of Working with Aboriginal People and Communities

Readings

Suggested readings for Topic 4: Building positive relationships

CONCEPTS

The word 'Sorry' written in the sky

The National Apology

Activity: Read the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

CONCEPTS

Students in University lecture

Developing strong relationships

Activity: Strategies for building stronger relationship with students and peers.

CONCEPTS

I Went Walking cover

Introduce your school community

Activity: Getting to know the children in your class and school involves getting to know the community.

CONCEPTS

Aboriginal art depiction of a turtle

Relationship building activities

Activity: Explore relationships and relationship building.

CONCEPTS

Teacher with 2 students

High expectations relationships

Activity: Reflect upon the kinds of relationships we want to develop with our students.

CONCEPTS

Extract from cover of John Hattie book 'Visible learning for teachers'

Know your students

Activity: Group presentations on getting to know students.

CONCEPTS

Early primary schoolchildren in class, sitting on floor

Reconciliation and young children

Activity: Explore reconciliation in early childhood practice

CONCEPTS

Head silhouettes in different colours

Collaborative classrooms

Activity: Explore the Community of Inquiry approach to learning.

CONCEPTS

Cover detail with Assessment caption

Professional experience

Assessment: Gather evidence on your relationships whilst you are on professional experience.

CONCEPTS

Sesame Street character with Assessment caption

What is culturally responsive teaching?

Assessment: What does culturally responsive teaching for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students involve?

CONCEPTS

Module 2 review

Topic review

Review the concepts, activities and assessment tasks in Topic 4.

CONCEPTS