<![CDATA[Andrell Education - Home of Big Write and VCOP - Latest News]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:29:29 +1000EditMySite<![CDATA[NEW Phonic Phones on the way]]>Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:49:49 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/new-phonic-phones-on-the-wayWe have a brand new style Phonic (Whisper) Phone on the way.
After 18 months of testing various designs and properties, having CAD designs drawn up, 3D printing multiple prototypes, and producing sample products for further testing, we can finally say THEY ARE ON THE WAY! ...Yes, our very own designed phonic (whisper) phone.

Our phonic phones are a light weight (approx 40g), injection moulded ABS plastic. Their soft rounded ergonomic design and size were created specifically to sit comfortably in a child's hand between the mouth and ear. Easy to clean and dishwasher tested to 65°.
​Originally designed as a reading comprehension and spelling support tool, these phones are ideal for writing and editing time as well. Students only need to speak in a very low voice to be able to clearly hear their responses. By bringing the voice from the mouth, straight back to the ear, they help correct omissions of words, tense, fluency, and punctuation in writing when they read out their work into the phone.
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]]><![CDATA[NEW Updated Website with Online Store]]>Sat, 10 Nov 2018 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/new-updated-website-with-online-storeAs you may have noticed, we have updated our website.
​The main feature of our new site is an ​online store, allowing you to now place your resource orders quickly and directly. You can even download digital products like the Cold Write Assessment Pack, Criterion Scales, or VCOP Poster Sets instantly.
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The new site also gives you a guide to the different courses available, lists our upcoming PD sessions, a calendar with public holidays and school term dates, a fantastic gallery with room set up ideas, and an interactive map with a list of other Big Write & VCOP schools across the country.]]><![CDATA[Big Talk for Pre-Writers]]>Sat, 30 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/big-talk-for-pre-writersAfter years of phone calls, emails, personal requests, and questions on how to implement Big Write & VCOP in the 'Early Years', we are pleased to formally announce the introduction of our latest professional development session... Big Talk for Pre-Writers.

After our enormously popular forum session in May, we received greatly valued feedback and have since worked tirelessly to put together a full day professional development session focused solely on supporting children who are not yet writing. (Early Childhood / Pre-School, early Primary School years, and intervention.)

'Click here' for more information about this exciting new PD session,
or 'Click here' or a list of the upcoming sessions in your area.]]><![CDATA[NEW... Australian Criterion Scale rev6.0]]>Sun, 28 Jan 2018 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/new-australian-criterion-scale-rev60The latest revision (6.0) of the Australian Criterion Scale, and Student Friendly Criterion Scale, have been finalised for release.

The revised Criterion Scale includes updates to Levels F-5, plus newly introduced Levels 6 & 7 covering through to End Year10. The similarly updated Student Friendly Scale now incorporates a pictorial referenced Foundation Level marking scale.
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Updates to the Criterion Scales and Cold Write Packs are available to 'Purchase Here'. 

To keep up to date on our latest news, events, special offers, and of course... Criterion Scale updates, click on the 'Subscribe Here' link to the right of page.]]><![CDATA[Just released... Two exciting new card games.]]>Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/two-exciting-new-card-games-releasedThe new 'Think Quick' and 'Up Level It!' card game packs have just arrived.

Think Quick is a quick response literacy card game designed to encourage the practise of: Parts of Speech, Word Families, Grammar, and General Knowledge.

And Up Level It is a fun and interactive way of building improved writing skills where, in this differentiated activity, children combine to convert basic and bland writing into outstanding text in just a few minutes.
]]><![CDATA[Think Quick... New literacy app available]]>Wed, 31 May 2017 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/new-cold-write-assessment-pack-20There's a great new literacy app avaliable for Apple and Android devices worth taking a looking at.

"Think Quick' is a rapid response litearcy game designed to encourage the practise of: Parts of Speech, Word Families, Grammar, and General Knowledge.
]]><![CDATA[Edupress closing its doors.]]>Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/edupress-closing-its-doorsA sad day for us here at Andrell Education with the announcement that Edupress will soon be closing its doors for the very last time. Edupress have some fantastic educational resources and games, and have supplied the bulk of our inventory these past 5 years.
However, on receiving this notice, we have decided to place an extremely large order to obtain the remainder of their stock. We are hoping this might see us through the next 2-3 years whilst we locate other suitable resources or produce our own.

If you're using, come across, or know of any resources that you think would be suitable to use alongside the Big Write & VCOP program, please let us know and will see if we can get them.
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]]><![CDATA[NEW Australian Criterion Scale rev5.0]]>Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/new-australian-criterion-scale-rev50The latest revision(5.0) of The Australian Criterion Scale, and also revision(4.0) of The Australian 'Student Friendly' Criterion Scale have been finalised for release.

These revised editions bring our scale's cross referencing charts in to line with the latest changes to the Australian Curriculum (v8.1) and the Victorian Curriculum F-10 (2016).

​Please check that you are using the most current releases. If not, click on the 'Subscribe Here' link to the right of page to sign up and receive updates on our latest news, events, special offers, and of course... Criterion Scale updates!]]><![CDATA[Andrell signs up with TeachMe PD]]>Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/andrell-signs-up-with-teachme-pdWe are thrilled to announce the signing of our new online booking course management over to the team at TeachMePD.com.au. With recent feedback about the lack of public awareness of upcoming nationally available PDs through existing channels, these guys couldn't have come along at a better time!

Incorporating features such as: a national teacher database, instant placement confirmations, online PD attendance certificates, and tracking of annual PD attendance hours for teacher's registration requirements... the team at TeachMePD.com.au look set to revolutionise the education Professional Development industry!

Keep an eye on their site for all our upcoming 2016 course listings! :)
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]]><![CDATA[Penny has arrived... (new resources)]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/penny-has-arrived-new-resources3 brand new resources have arrived to add to your classroom kit:

Our lovable little Penny has come to life in this 15cm tall hand-painted figurine. Donning her special green gi in a ready stance for your next 'Kung-Fu Punctuation' session.
(This makes a great class mascot or perhaps as a prize for your class's weekly 'Punctuation Master' to have on their table during your next Big Write session.)

Once again is our Penny, depicted on this 1m x 6cm vibrant green satin headband... ready for her next 'Kung-Fu Punctuation' session. And with 'Punctuation Master' printed in both lettering and characters on the front, this is an essential resource for any of your budding Kung-Fu Punctuation Masters.

​Also now available, is our 12cm Mini Bean Bag sets. This 4 piece poly filled canvas bean bag set comes in the 4 vibrant VCOP colours. They're an easy tactile aid for your kinaesthetic and early learners, and great for a multitude of literacy games and activities too.
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Check them out here
]]><![CDATA[Resource Price Rise for 2016]]>Sun, 04 Oct 2015 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.andrelleducation.com.au/latest-news/june-28th-2018It would've been close to this time in 2014 when we last ordered a shipment of resources from the USA... and even back then we felt the pinch of a declining Aussie dollar compared to previous years. But we made a stand at the time to look after our schools and teachers alike, and hold firm with our resource pricing.

Unfortunately since then the dollar has dropped significantly further again, add to that the rising costs in shipping, and it has forced us to do something that we've managed to hold off on for 4 years now... raise our resource pricing!
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As of 1st Jan 2016 all imported American items (Board Games, Classwords, Practice Cards, etc.) will raise by approx 10-15% (yet to be confirmed). We're deeply sorry for these price rises, so as a last ditched effort to win back your hearts, we're giving you the chance to place your 2016 orders now at the 2015 pricing! (This includes any backorders on currently out of stock items).
N.B. Any of Andrell's own branded items will remain unchanged at their current pricing! :)]]>