What is Sharing Best Practice (SPB)?

SPB conferences offer affordable professional development for educators and allied health professionals that can be put into practice. 

Sharing Best Practice is a grassroots movement of educators and allied health professionals who, through conferences across Australia, and now New Zealand, share best practice pedagogies and current, scientifically-backed practices. Best practice is that which is both effective and draws on current findings from educational and psychological research, as well as craft knowledge from educators.  The goal is to improve student outcomes and enhance the quality of teaching and learning through sharing what works, based on the evidence.  

There were three Sharing Best Practice conferences held in New Zealand in 2023 (Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland). All three were sell out events (selling on within a matter of hours. The Auckland event had over 300 attendees). There is a real thirst for evidence-based, practical, high quality PLD opportunities such as this, especially in our smaller provincial towns that often miss out.

What is the focus of the conferences?

The overall theme for the conferences is: Combining the art of teaching with the science of learning. There will be a mixture of keynote presentations and more practical workshop sessions led by New Zealand school leaders, teachers, researchers and other teaching and allied health professionals. Topics will cover a range of curriculum areas and other aspects of teaching and leadership. There will be a big focus on structured literacy, structured approaches to maths, supporting social and emotional learning and behaviour curricula, building a knowledge rich curriculum and whole school curriculum planning.

Why should you attend?

These are not only valuable learning experiences for teachers, but also provide a much needed boost of inspiration and confidence, and a chance to make new personal and professional connections. And they offer incredible value for money.

Who should attend?

Classroom educators, Reading and Learning Specialists, Literacy Coordinators and Coaches, Speech-Language Pathologists, Psychologists and Neuropsychologists, Paraprofessionals, School Leaders, parents and caregivers, education professors, educational advocates, and anyone who cares about improving educational outcomes for all children.

Where and when are the conferences?

We are organising three events:

• Invercargill / Waihōpai: Saturday 7 September

• Whangārei: Saturday 14 September

• Palmerston North / Papaioea: Saturday 19 October

Conferences will be run from 8am to 1pm.

Who is sponsoring this event?

The events are being organised by Lifting Literacy Aotearoa, an advocacy and teacher support not-for-profit formed in 2020 to promote the adoption of evidence-based teaching approaches. We lobby the government for change; engage with the media to educate the general public on these issues; share information and resources to support teachers, parents and schools; and run sharing best practice events and webinars.

Marianne Brown Literacy is co-leading the Palmerston North event, and Abby Bates (St Patrick’s School, Invercargill) and Erin Palmer (Sunshine Speech) are helping organise the Invercargill event.

Keynote speakers and programme

You will hear from teachers and other professionals sharing their successes in the classroom or field of work. These people adopt evidence-informed practices into their teaching to accelerate and meet the needs of their learners.

Full programme for each location can be accessed here:

• Southland progamme

• Te Tai Tokerau programme

• Manawatū programme

How much does it cost to attend?

Tickets are $50 (+booking fee) including morning tea.

Where can I get tickets?

You can purchase tickets through Humanitix. Credit card payment or request an invoice.

You will need to have your workshop selections ready when booking.

Note refunds will only be granted on a case-by-case basis.