Focus

What's Happening

Classroom Actions

Term 1

(Feb-Apr)

Nominations

Students recommend books; Tina Strachan & Karen Foxlee sessions; nominations close 2 April

Create nomination boards; read widely; submit nominations before deadline

Term 2

(Apr-Jun)

Shortlist & Deep Reading

Shortlist released ~20 April; Tony Flowers, Jack Heath & Joel McKerrow sessions; read as many shortlisted titles as possible

First-impression dot vote; plot-rating walls; spoken word pitches; pre-vote rankings

Term 3

(Jul-Sep)

Rating & Responding

Dr Sarah Pye, Michael Wagner/Tom Jellett & Serena Geddes sessions; visual and collaborative responses; voting opens

Art galleries; cover design competitions; illustration analysis; narrow to top picks

Term 4

(Oct-Nov)

Voting & Celebration

Dee White session; YABBA Awards Ceremony 27 October; Carla Salmon celebration session November

Final vote; predict winner; ceremony preparation; Year in Reading reflection; class scrapbook

Date

Creator & Topic

YABBA Phase

Foundation-Year 2

Years 3-6

Years 7-9

Building the Vote

24 Feb

Tina Strachan

Story Sparks: Where Ideas Begin

Nominations Open

Draw story-spark pictures; create a class Idea Jar; begin YABBA nomination thinking

Story Seed Journal entry; map the week for story ideas; pitch book concepts; submit nomination (closes 2 Apr)

Explore creative constraint; reflect on the author's life vs text; debate the author's intention; draft nomination

Set up class nomination board; launch reading challenge

24 Mar

Karen Foxlee

The Quiet Power of Small Stories

Nominations Close 2 Apr

—

'Small moment' story; character close-up portrait; finalise YABBA nomination

Close read and annotate; 750-word short story; persuasive nomination paragraph

Finalise nominations; create 'anticipation wall' , seal predictions in envelopes

Date

Creator & Topic

YABBA Phase

Foundation-Year 2

Years 3-6

Years 7-9

Building the Vote

28 Apr

Tony Flowers

Darkness, Laughter & the In-Between

Shortlist Released ~20 Apr

Analyse funny passages; rewrite sentences in different tones; first-look shortlist covers

Tone sorting activity; write scene starting funny with surprise; rank shortlist blurbs

Analyse comic timing; write serious topic with warmth; research Australian humorous lit; reading plan

Unveil shortlist posters; first-impression dot vote; open sealed envelopes

12 May

Jack Heath

Plot Machines: Constructing Stories That Move

Reading Shortlist

—

Plot mapping; write gripping 150-word opening; identify twist clues; speed story challenge

Analyse structural techniques; 500-word 'misdirect' scene; compare two YABBA titles; genre research

Add plot-rating stars to voting wall; best-written vs most enjoyable debate; class reading thermometer

9 Jun

Joel McKerrow

Words Out Loud: The Power of Spoken Story

Reading Shortlist

—

Perform YABBA passage aloud; write and perform short poem; class soundscape

Analyse sonic devices; write spoken word piece on YABBA theme; record and reflect; performance vs page debate

60-second spoken word book pitch competition; pre-vote rankings in reading journal

Date

Creator & Topic

YABBA Phase

Foundation-Year 2

Years 3-6

Years 7-9

Building the Vote

4 Aug

Dr Sarah Pye

Pictures That Think: The Art of Illustration

Rating Period

Read pictures before words; draw favourite moment from YABBA title; compare art styles; class art gallery

Close-look illustration analysis; write from character's perspective; design new cover; find visual metaphor

Text vs image relationship analysis; research 30 years of Australian illustration; critical response; visual essay

Visual responses added to voting wall; discuss illustration advantage in vote; set final reading goal

25 Aug

Michael Wagner & Tom Jellett

Two Heads, One Book: The Joy of Collaboration

Rating Period

Paired picture book (write + draw + swap); improvised storytelling; contribute page to class story

Alternate-sentence collaborative writing; reflect on creative collaboration; research author-illustrator partnerships

—

Cover design competition (pairs); mini-awards vote; narrow to top 2-3 titles

15 Sep

Serena Geddes

Every Brushstroke Tells a Story

Voting Opens

Sketch character in three emotions; sketchbook challenge; illustrate a new YABBA scene; class gallery walk

Illustration composition labels; character design sheet; write illustration brief; compare two shortlisted styles

—

Book portrait displays; ranked lists with justifications; discuss what could change top choice; voting process prep

Date

Creator & Topic

YABBA Phase

Foundation-Year 2

Years 3-6

Years 7-9

Building the Vote

20 Oct

Dee White

The Truth Underneath: Writing About What Matters

Voting Period

—

Emotional resonance reading response; letter to a character; 'heart map' visual

Analyse emotional authenticity techniques; 500-word difficult-topic piece; 'too dark?' debate; YABBA final reflection

Finalize top two picks; peer explanation pairs; predict overall winner; design ceremony outfit

24 Nov

Carla Salmon

The Final Chapter: Celebrating Stories & Winners

Awards 27 Oct → Celebrate

Draw favourite shortlist book; make YABBA reading medal; act out favourite scene; write thank-you letter

'Year in Reading' reflection; illustrated program booklet; winner nomination speech; ceremony practice

Critical essay on worthy winner; program reflection essay; YABBA editorial for website; research past winners

Reveal class winner; celebrate all books; contribute to class 'Book of the Year' scrapbook