Date and Time: 9am - 3pm, Tuesday 18 August 2026

Workshop presenters: Rachael Hill, Head of PL, PETAA;

Venue: Henry Parkes Equity Resource Centre, Mimika Avenue, Whalan NSW 2770

What is the workshop about?

This one-day workshop focuses on reading instruction from Years 2/3 through Year 6. The workshop will explore what high-quality teaching looks like in the middle and upper years, or for those readers who develop early fluency and independence. 

Across the day, participants will examine practices that explicitly support students to engage with a variety of more complex texts across English and other learning areas. The workshop offers opportunities to reflect on key reading models and consider how these translate into effective classroom practice, with clear, actionable takeaways for teachers.  Sessions will highlight the critical connections between knowledge, vocabulary, and reading, as well as the important role of purposeful talk in building meaning and deepening comprehension. 

We are pleased to bring this workshop to Sydney, following attendance in Brisbane, where teachers felt empowered to translate the learning into their own classrooms - 'Thank you PETAA. The team and I left buzzing in excitement with ideas and plans for how best move forward with this work at our school. The PD contained so much practical and highly relevant content, that I can't wait to unpack the learnings, including how to make meaning from rich texts.' (Curriculum Leader, McGregor State School)

Why participate?

Participants in this workshop will have the unique opportunity to:

• Examine reading models including Scarborough’s reading rope and Duke’s Active view of reading, to demonstrate the complexity that exists once early decoding is established
• Effectively building the field for background knowledge and vocabulary 
• Teaching readers to be strategic, applying strategies that deepen comprehension 
• Dialogic reading practices – including reciprocal teaching  
• Using novels in the classroom for rich reading, writing and talk opportunities.  

Who should participate?

• Teachers Years 2 - 6
• Literacy Leaders
• Stage Leaders
• Assistant Principals / Deputy Principals / Principals

About your workshop facilitator:

Rachael Hill is Head of Professional Learning at PETAA. Rachael has over 35 years experience teaching in primary schools and as a school curriculum leader with a focus on Literacy. With a passion for literature, Rachael was a Teacher Librarian for over 20 years in a number of P-6 primary schools. Most recently, in the role of Senior Advisor – Learning and Pedagogy (Literacy), Rachael worked with a large number of primary schools across the wider Brisbane and outer Brisbane area for Brisbane Catholic Education. Her role supported the building of effective literacy practices and school improvement, with both leadership teams and classroom teachers. A previous PETAA Board Director, Rachael works to promote the joy of rich literature and its place to engage, connect with and grow a readers’ experience of the world.

What else do I need to know?:

• Please ensure you bring a digital device/note taking materials.
• Bring along two texts, including one that may be used across the curriculum and one in English.
• Morning tea and lunch will be provided.
• Group Booking: School account holder must email us the names, job titles and email addresses of teachers they wish to enrol. An invoice will then be provided for payment and group discounts are available (4+).
• Cancellations without transfer of booking to alternative session received less than five working days before the workshop will incur a $50 cancellation fee per delegate. Cancellations received within 48 hours of the event will not be refunded. For the full list of Terms and Conditions, please visit our page here.
• This workshop will address standards 1.2.2, 1.5.2, 2.1.2, 2.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.