NSW Department of Education and Communities:
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre

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Countdown

"... the magazine is my major literacy tool." (Gay, primary teacher, NSW)

"I absolutely love each edition of the School Mag and the accompanying Teaching Units." (Lindy, year 3 teacher, NSW)

"I can't wait until the next mag is here. The crosswords are so good." (Bailey)

"Thanks Yakka and Yip for the coolest magazine in the world." (Kyle)

Welcome to Countdown, The School Magazine title for kids reading at an 8–9 year old level. Countdown corresponds with Early Stage 2 in the NSW K–6 curriculum.

• Read a sample story from Countdown magazine: Yakka, Yip and the Yahoos by Geoffrey McSkimming, illustrated by Kerry Millard (from Countdown #1, 2009)

The Countdown mascots, Yakka (a sulphur-crested cockatoo), and her mate, Yip (a pygmy possum), are ready and waiting to guide newly independent readers through a wealth of stories, poems, plays and articles that kids love to read and teachers love to teach with.

The magazines are lavishly illustrated with specially comissioned artwork by leading Australian artists, which makes them both appealing for their readers, and a valuable tool when exploring visual literacy with students.

Special features in 2011 include:

• new episodes of the hugely popular serial comic Robot School by Veronica Rooke
• a brand new graphic novella in ten parts, Magic daze, by Veronica Rooke - a hilarious and enchanting tale of a boy and a genie

Teaching Units, written by experienced teachers and based on the NSW primary curriculum, are available for every issue to support the use of the magazine in the classroom.

To read the list of books to be featured in Bookshelf, our book review section, go here.

For subscription information, go here.

Authors wishing to submit material for consideration for publication in Countdown can read our Submission Guidelines here.

The School Magazine welcomes feedback from subscribers. Please send your comments and suggestions to: school.magazine@det.nsw.edu.au

© State of New South Wales through the Department of Education and Communities, 1999 - 2011. All rights reserved.

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