Dr Coral Swan
Nationally Awarded Early Years' Teacher
Celebrated Author and Inspirational Speaker
A dedicated professional, Coral knew as a child that teaching was her calling. Some three decades later, her energy and enthusiasm towards children's literacy and learning are more contagious than ever. Coral continues to break new ground as she constantly refines her ideas and considers new ways of doing things. Currently, she makes connections between brain research and her classroom work to bridge the gap between neuroscience and education.
Beneath the coals that fire Coral's passion to help children love reading and writing, burns a desire to nurture children as confident, independent learners, equipped to face life's challenges - to 'Give them Wings' - so that they can be better people in the long run.
Coral on children and learning:
'I see children as dynamic and powerful learners, co-creators of personal understandings, builders of individual knowledge and exciting, active participants in the merry-go-round of classroom life with their work and play as vibrant demonstrations of their interests, skills and understandings.'
An interactive learning environment...
Coral's core beliefs are that children learn:
- what they are interested in
- through meaningful interactions with interested others
- in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation
Nurturing competent, independent learners...
Coral's goals are:
- to help children become competent readers and writers
- to equip children to become confident, independent learners
Why does Coral do what she does?
Success and Happiness specialists like Andrew Matthews, Anthony Robbins and the late Jim Rohn tell us when you want to learn something, model an expert who has been working at it for thirty years. It is also said that one person caring about another is one of life's greatest values. In this spirit Coral has designed her website to share with as many people as possible what she has learned. Through her teaching, writing, speaking and website Coral continues to encourage children and teachers 'to reach for the stars.' It's her way of 'giving back' to those who have helped her grow over the years.
Degrees and Awards
Trained Infant Teachers' Certificate (T.I.T.C.) Ballarat Teachers' College, Victoria, Australia
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed., Early Childhood & Fine Arts) University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Graduate Diploma in Education - Literacy R.M.I.H.E. (now Charles Sturt University) Wagga-Wagga, NSW, Australia
Master of Education (M.Ed. Early Childhood & Curriculum) University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska, USA
Doctor of Education (Ed D.) James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Doctoral Thesis: Child-initiated literacy episodes: Sites of significant learning in early education.
National Excellence in Teaching Award (Australia)
Australian Award for Excellence in Literacy Teaching
"Dear Coral, thank-you for a fantastic year and giving Nicholas such a wonderful start to learning. It is said that for every child there is one teacher that will have a profound effect on what path they will ultimately take in life... Without a doubt you will be that teacher for Nic."
Robbie & Nikki Del Manso