Learning at Home Series One: Years 1-8

Jackie Andrews is one of Essential Resources’ most successful authors, with many thousands of her books sold around the world. Her success is backed by her extensive teaching experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. That experience, combined with her assiduous approach to professional development and passion for supporting teachers, drives her to create resources that improve student outcomes and inform best teaching practice. Jackie currently has 75 titles in print, a number of which have been translated into other languages. Her wider range of mathematics and English publications reflect the diversity of her expertise throughout primary school, as well as her ability to respond to the specific needs of particular age groups and ability levels. Supporting teachers in their curriculum planning is another specialty area. Jackie’s Curriculum Planning Made Easy series has been immensely popular with teachers looking for practical and effective ways of planning classroom programmes. It also led to the creation of iUgo – a digital solution that is reshaping the landscape of classroom planning and resource management. Jackie has been a key player in developing the usability of iUgo and in training teachers to get the most out from it. Complementing her work in the publication sector Jackie continues to enjoy her time in the classroom. Many schools and teachers also seek out her advice on effective resourcing and teaching practice.

Frances Adlam, a highly experienced and creative educator and therapist, has 20 years of teaching experience, is considered a “gifted teacher” by many, and for over 15 years has been involved in teaching the arts, creativity, multiple intelligences and working with creatively gifted children. She has lectured in New Zealand and been an adviser for teachers in the aforementioned areas. She is also a published children’s author, a dancer and a playwright. She currently works as an educator and therapist for children in her private practice, Out of the Box, where she specialises in working with children who are on the spectra of dyslexia, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome and autism. Frances has written many resources for Essential Resources, some of which are under her former name, Frances Reed. You can find out more about Frances at www.outofthebox.net.nz.

Maria Gill writes full time from a seaside village north of Auckland, New Zealand. She has had 20 children’s books published for the retail market and another 35 educational books for the international market. Maria specialises in children’s non-fiction books. Seven of her books have been shortlisted for children’s book awards (New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and LIANZA Awards) and eight have been Storylines Notable Books. Her book ‘Anzac Heroes’ won the New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adult Non-fiction Award and the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award. ‘New Zealand Hall of Fame’ won the Children’s Choice in the non-fiction category. Previously she has been a primary school teacher and she also has a Graduate Diploma in Journalism Studies. Maria also reviews books on http://kidsbooksnz.blogspot.com . For more information about Maria please go to www.mariagill.co.nz