Sydney teacher Julie Carrington has long been an advocate of the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) for its novel approach to measuring academic strengths and its ability to uncover potential and untapped talent within the classroom.
When it comes to spotting academic potential, it’s not always obvious from students’ examination results. Julie Carrington, teacher of Senior Chemistry and Junior Science at Sydney Technical High School, calls those who slip through the cracks in standard tests “gifted and talented underachievers.”
Did you know school competitions are more than just a helpful vehicle for teachers to highlight the talent and potential of participating students? The students themselves feel the benefits of academic competitions every bit as much. They’re great motivators, spurring …
Spotting a student’s gift for mathematics early on usually isn’t complicated. Children can be pretty young when they first display mathematical thinking – including recognising numeric patterns or showing interest in quantitative information in the world around them. “Perhaps it …
Among the most common questions we hear from parents when they sign up their child or children for ICAS is: How can I support them? What can I do to help them prepare? That makes total sense — because the …
We often hear from teachers who know all about the benefits of school competitions, but struggle with preparing for them. Your school has signed up for ICAS for the first time, and you want to set up your students for …
The ability to write effectively is a fundamental life skill. Irrespective of your purpose, profession or area of interest, it’s a skill that few of us can afford to lack. Writing has often been pigeonholed as one of the “creative …
The ICAS competition has been running for more than 40 years. If you’re reading this, it’s likely that it has in some way been a milestone for your schooling life, or for your children’s school life. For generations now, ICAS …
As educators who’ve faced seemingly endless obstacles in recent times, it’s a boost to have a reminder of the original purpose and joy behind teaching. That’s why we’ve put together a treat for you: the chance to hear it straight …
Every year, swathes of students around the world choose to participate in academic competitions such as spelling bees, Maths Olympiads and writing. Much like any extracurricular activity such as sports or music, taking part in competitions can take time, money …