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Selective School and Scholarship Resource Update

In 2023, ACER announced a major reform of its scholarship and selective school entrance tests. This reform included changes to the format and content of the tests, as well as the way that scores are interpreted. As a result, many books have been updated to reflect the changes to include verbal reasoning, numerical/mathematical reasoning, and thinking skills (please note that verbal reasoning is part of GA).

Some of the books that have been updated include:

Selective School Placement Exam for Year 5 and Year 7 Entrance

Victorian Selective School Exam Pack for Year 9

Selective School and Scholarship Entrance for Year 9

Ultimate Thinking Skills Selective Test Preparation

Updated Excel Selective Schools and Scholarship Series

These resources provide students with additional practice for the ACER scholarship and selective school entrance tests, as well as practice questions and tips for preparing for the tests.

Other parts of ACER i.e. writing, reading comprehension, and maths remains. The following resources will help children do well prepare their tests,

Selective School and Scholarship Test

We will talk about another testing format in the next blog.

Why NAPLAN Test is important

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a standardized test used in Australia to assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. The scores from the NAPLAN tests are used to identify areas of strength and weakness in students, schools, and education systems, and to track their progress over time.

A high scorer on the NAPLAN tests is a student who receives a score that is significantly higher than the average score for their age group or for the entire population of students who took the test. The scores are reported on a scale, and the highest possible score is 500 for each of the five domains tested (reading, writing, language conventions, numeracy, and persuasive writing).

To become a high scorer on the NAPLAN tests, students need to demonstrate strong skills in literacy and numeracy, including proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, grammar and punctuation, and basic mathematical operations. They may also benefit from regular practice, studying and review of test-taking strategies, and a strong foundation in the core subjects.

Test dates: 15-27 March 2023.

Be prepared: NAPLAN TEST PREPARATION TITLS 30% off all stock titles at NAPLAN TITLES

Yoga Lovers, this is a must read book: The Esoteric Science of Restorative Yoga: Lost Technology of Consciousness

The Esoteric Science of Restorative Yoga: Lost Technology of Consciousness

The measure of an advanced civilisation is not technological progress but the level of consciousness present in society. The great Egyptian and Sumerian cultures did not view themselves as the pinnacle of human evolution, crediting their wisdom to an earlier epoch. Hidden within art, architecture, scriptures and ancient practices are traces of a golden age of consciousness.

Discover how quantum physics is now validating ancient understandings, passed down to us in scriptures, on the reality of our existence as energetic beings. Is the cyclical progression of ages elucidated by our ancestors more in line with recent archaeological discoveries. Does a lost technology of consciousness permeate every aspect of our existence?.

Is Restorative Yoga closer to how Yoga was practised in antiquity?.

This book presents a cohesive theory on how philosophy, physiology, psychology and science merge.

  • Learn how our biology and brain waves affect our experience.
  • Explore the body's energetic and physiological functions to enable healing and homeostasis.
  • With detailed descriptions and photographs of the poses, class sequences and breathing exercises for you to try at home.

About Author - Paul Archer

Originally from Ireland, Paul’s parents were involved with the Gurdjieff/Ouspensky philosophical school, and he was brought up on a diet of philosophy, mantras and meditation, his parents inspiring a lifelong spiritual journey that eventually led to Yoga.

He previously worked as a breakfast radio host on Kiss FM Melbourne, and has played as an international DJ all over the world, he still loves to make people laugh and always incorporates elements of humour and uplifting music to his classes, allowing us to escape the seriousness of our practice.

Always keen to share the clarity and serenity he has found through yoga, he loves to see people experience the transformative power that can be achieved through regular practice.

After 7 years of practising yoga he found a school that resonated with this healing approach, and began a year long training with SomaChi Yoga, he has also trained in Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra, Tai Chi, Mindfulness & Meditation.

An eternal student with a passion for research, he has been fascinated by philosophy, spirituality, science and ancient cultures for the past three decades.

Over the past few years, he has introduced Yin & Restorative Yoga to many of the prestigious studios around Melbourne, that were previously very Vinyasa or Hatha focused.

He currently runs regular Restorative & Yin Yoga teacher training programs at his YogaCita studio and at The Australian Yoga Academy in Melbourne, Australia.

The weak are strong

"The grass is not broken when the wind blows, and the weak are strong." It can withstand strong winds and rain and can withstand the burning of wildfires. Being like the grass is a kind of profound wisdom, and it is also a lifelong practice. When encountering hardships, do not give in; when going through lows, do not admit defeat. There are thousands of people in the world, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Their growth environment, social experience, working environment, cognition and favourite lifestyle are all different.

Benevolence and wealth

No goodness, no blessings are to be gained; virtue is not established, no wealth is to be built. As it says: a gentleman loves money and earns it in a proper way. The accumulation of wealth has never been achieved overnight. It requires patience, persistence, time, and good character. If you want to pursue material wealth, you must gain benevolence and morality first. In the process of developing your benevolence and morality, wealth will be following. To abandon virtue in the pursuit of wealth is to put the cart before the horse.

When the walls of empiricism are overturned, our world will be wider

Don't get entangled with the past, don't care about reality. Everything will pass. The world is like a book, whether it is brilliant or happy, whether it is failure or sadness, every page will be turned over. Don't dwell on the past, because it has passed; don't care about the reality, because you still have to live. Life experience and experience are important, but sometimes they can become a shackle, trapping oneself in the cage of prejudice. "Knowing your ignorance is the most reliable way to know the world." Seek knowledge with an empty cup mentality, and know the world with a growth mindset. When the walls of empiricism are overturned, our world will be wider.

Recommendations on Self-Improvement Books

Man's Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

The Happiness Hypothesis Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science

The Wisdom Of The Enneagram

Psycho-Cybernetics

Thinking, Fast And Slow

The Highly Sensitive Person How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You

Outliers: The Story of Success

Who Moved My Cheese: : An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life

If you want to change your life, you have to work hard!

Complaining about being in the dark is worse than walking with a lantern. "Those who are willing are led by fate. Those who do not want to be dragged by fate. "The moment you choose how to face life, it has actually decided the direction of your life. Troubles are often given by yourself. People who like to complain have a lot of worries, and people who like to complain have a hard life. No gain is easy. Yes, life is often like, if you want something, you have to seek it; if you don't accept your fate, you have to work hard.

Recommendations on the Most Life-Changing Books

The Alchemist

Rich Dad Poor Dad

How to Win Friends & Influence People

The 5 Essential People Skills:How to Assert Yourself,Listen to Others & Resolve Conflicts

Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind

Start With Why

Make your life what you want most...

“Everyone is their own best doctor” Life is in our own hands. If you are indulgent, your life will be a mess; if you take care of it, your life will become full and abundant. "The real greatness of a person is not to lead others, but to manage himself. . "A person's life is a practice of self-sculpting. If a person can't repair himself in time, then even the best opportunities will be in vain. Only by continuous diligence in the years can we firmly grasp the direction of life. , heading for a wider distance. In the days to come, I hope you and I can manage ourselves well and make life what I want most.

Recommendations on the Life Management Books

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How To Say No To Take Control Of Your Life

Don't waste a lot of time on the simplest things

Don't let tactical diligence overshadow strategic laziness. Do not repeat at a low level. Any task can be divided into two parts, the relatively easy part and the relatively difficult part. A reasonable schedule should be like this: Do the easy parts quickly, and put the time saved on the difficult parts. Don't waste a lot of time on the simplest things, spend 20% of your time solving easy problems, and spend 80% of your time thinking and researching difficult problems. Rather slow at a high level than repeat at a low level.

Recommendations on the Following Popular Books on <Time Management>

Getting Things Done: The art of stress-free productivity

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Expect Less from Yourself, Get More from Him, and Flourish at Work & Life

Finding Meaning in an Imperfect World

The essential qualities of a leader

Light wealth is enough to gather people, self-discipline is enough to convince people, generous enough to win people, and being first is enough to lead people. If a person wants to succeed, he must have his team. Learn to share interests, you can gather popularity. Learn to restrain your desires, and you can discipline your subordinates. Learning to tolerate mistakes can win people's hearts. Learn to lead the way and lead the team. Sharing, restraint, tolerance, and example are the essential qualities of a team leader.

Recommendations on the Best leadership books: the most impactful reads

Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Rising Strong

The Power of Meaning: The true route to happiness

Crucial Conversations 3E