ABOUT US
Inclusive Arts Teaching to Reach & Engage with All Students
Meet Narelle Steffan, the driving force behind Shine Through Arts
Passion, experience and a commitment to support every child
Lifelong lover of the Arts. Hands-on Primary teacher. Tertiary lecturer.
Narelle Steffan, creator of the Shine Through Arts resources, uses her diverse and unique background to create Arts training resources which work. Her first degree was in Music Performance and led to a career as a piano teacher. A Masters of Teaching then enabled her to become a classroom teacher, supporting more children more widely across the curriculum. Her ability showed in results for her students and opportunities for her.
Her broad arts background (she’s been a performer, a choreographer and a choral conductor as well as a teacher, plus she has a deep interest in drama and art) made her an ideal choice to lecture at Tabor College in the Arts and Arts Education.
Both natural affinity and close family experience led to an interest in teaching children with diverse needs. Narelle’s third degree, a Masters in Education, was focused on inclusive education.
As a lecturer, Narelle was constantly looking for resources both she and student teachers could use.
Build confidence, creativity and love of learning
She drew on her own classroom experience, including stories and characters which had come out of creative activities, as a source for core stories, then developed and expanded learning activities in collaboration with her adult students. All this led to the teaching resources now available through Shine Through Arts. Narelle continues to teach primary children on a part-time basis, currently at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide. This keeps her on her toes, while still giving her the time and freedom to follow her own goals.
Her dream is to reach more children, across Australia and the world, with quality Arts education which allows them to express themselves, make meaning in the world, and be confident, happy learners. She hopes to achieve this via:
The teaching resources available on this site
Professional Development courses (in-person or online) which extend teachers’ capabilities and confidence in teaching the Arts
Professional Development with Narelle Steffan
Training confident teachers to use and adapt resources in the most effective ways for their students
Are you a school leader or a lecturer responsible for teacher training and professional development?
Narelle has a wealth of expertise to share, relevant to new and experienced teachers. She offers professional development courses of 3 hours duration. The courses cover:
An overview of primary school Arts education, including opportunities to integrate with both General Capabilities and other Australian Curriculum v9.0 subject areas
Exploration of effective ideas, activities and teaching techniques
A ‘deep dive’ into one of the Shine Through Arts resources, which takes teachers through the actual student experience
Explicit and detailed discussion of how to use specific activities for a specific age cohort and a specific curriculum target
The sessions are interactive and tailored, focusing on the areas and issues most relevant to attendees. They can be delivered:
​
-
In person at your school or educational institution
-
As part of a wider conference or learning event
-
Online to suit your convenience
For more information or to discuss your specific requirements, please contact Narelle
