School Shorts

This week marks just the second year Women's Health Week has been marked - remarkable when you think we have been talking about Men's Health Week for years. In this episode we speak with Tend's Cecilia Robinson. A passionate advocate for both health and education. Here she combines those two interests to talk about the challenges that commonly face women that stem from unhealthy standards or lack...

Dyscalculia is likely to be not far behind dyslexia in the numbers of people it affects, but it is often called the 'learning difficulty no one talks about' because awareness and research are still decades behind. In this episode, Head of Maths Australia Esther White talks about the learning challenge that affects people's ability to understand numbers and perform mathematical tasks. She shares th...

To address a child's behavioural challenges, an adult must first understand their own behaviour according to relational neuroscience educator Jase Williams. Jase is a former Principal himself and speaks at schools about emotional regulation and how to redefine resilience. This episode the impact that covid 19 has had on emotional regulation of our students. Jase also gives his views on how to help...

This is a MUST watch for any family who is just beginning the reading journey with their child. If you missed the parent information session at your school or if you just want to review the information your school may have already given you about the learning going on in the classroom - this is the episode for you. It has all the basics of what you need to know about how teachers will be teaching...

The most common parenting challenges that psychologists are called in to help with in schools and among families. Jackie Riach from the Positive Parenting Program works with schools who ask for help with a range of challenges. Jackie and Melissa discuss various topics including the importance of friendships, the impact of bullying, the role of chores in fostering responsibility, and the significan...

From nurse to clinical nutritionist and Mum of 4, Gina Urlich has seen the importance of good nutrition from all sides. In this episode, Gina speaks about the challenges of navigating food labels and advocates for better food regulations. She shares the critical role of nutrition in early childhood development, particularly during the first thousand days. We also talk about the significance of gut...

Looking for some STEM inspiration for your weekends and school holidays? Motat's Education Lead Julie Baker joins us in this episode to discuss all the fun ways you can encourage your children to become more engaged in the subjects of science, technology and maths. Unfortunately enrolment in these subjects is in steady decline. Motat however is making it a mission to find the spark in more childre...

Simon Brown is worried about the impact of declining levels of literacy on girls and ethnic minorities. In this episode, Simon talks about the worrying stats that have lead to financial literacy becoming a 'key' part of a refreshed social sciences curriculum. Banqer has been working with some schools already to provide this education through schools. Simon discusses the feedback from students and...

If your handwriting flows with ease it gives you more space to think, remember what you've learnt and helps with reading and writing! All amazing reasons why handwriting is so important yet it has been largely ignored in many classrooms. Helen Walls is on a mission to change that through her work as 'The Writing Teacher'. She says the impact of handwriting in education is undervalued but it is cru...

In this inspiring episode, we talk with Felicity Powell—a brain tumour survivor, Harvard graduate, and now a rising star at a leading space agency. Felicity’s story is not just one of personal triumph, but also a passionate call to action. Having overcome immense challenges, she has become a powerful advocate for STEM education, especially for young women and underrepresented communities. Felicity...

Sir John Kirwan reveals his struggles with reading and how that contributed to his sense of self worth in his school years. We know him now for his remarkable achievements in sport and as a campaigner for mental health - but JK says there is much work to be done to raise awareness among our young people. Thanks to his organisation, Mitey, many schools are now incorporating mental health as part of...

It's the hot take that ignites debate among teachers and parents. One of the most respected names in literacy education says parents and educators often have muddled perceptions of their roles in teaching reading and writing. In this episode, Pam Snow explains what she believes is crucial to do at home to help your child read - and what is better left to those who are trained in the science of lit...

Want to think like some of the greatest geniuses of our time? Barbara Oakley is the expert to teach you how to unlock the secrets to learning. As the creator of one of the most popular online classes in the world 'Learning How to Learn', Barbara explains in this episode how you can overcome procrastination and start to think in ways you might never have known your brain was capable of. The convers...

Constable Brian Ward discusses the importance of child safety in schools and at home, addressing recent incidents of attempted abductions. He talks about the need to shift from teaching 'stranger danger' and instead help children to recognise tricky situations. The conversation covers practical safety strategies for parents, the role of police in school safety education, the challenges of online s...

New Zealand's Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, announces a new information tool for parents to help their children with reading, writing, maths and more. The Minister also reflects on the progress of the new structured literacy and maths curriculum - and reveals the one particular challenge that keeps her up at night. Minister Stanford hints at further announcements to come around extra fund...

Sir Graham Henry called him NZs best ever Principal. He's also been called New Zealand's coolest Principal too - so exactly what is it that has made Bruce Cunningham so popular with staff, students and parents alike? We catch up with him a week as he retires from 45 years in education. His latest role as School Principal at Belmont Primary. Broadcaster Toni Street is one of the school mums there a...

The truth about slushies! After seeing many alarming articles about the risk of slushy ice drinks to children especially under 8, Melissa decided to find out what all the panic was about. In this episode, she speaks with Grant Schofield - a Professor of Public Health at Auckland University of Technology. They look at the importance of whole foods and challenges of preparing healthy school lunches....

When Melissa's son came home from school talking about PMP she assumed it was like the PE lessons she knew growing up. There are many differences though and parents can unlock so many key literacy and maths skills for their children if they understand the best ways to help them learn through movement. In this episode, Gill Connell from Moving Smart explains Perceptual Motor Programming (PMP). This...

The Forgetting Curve is a useful tool in understanding how best to try and remember all the learning that goes on at school - or anywhere for that matter! Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, researcher and coach of great techniques to help children learn. In this episode he shares the importance of regular review instead of cramming for exams. The discussion also touches on strategies for supporting you...

Professor James Chapman has been advocating for a move to structured literacy since the early 1990s. Now that it is being brought into schools more widely, he discusses the mixed reviews as to how it is going so far. He also discusses his role in bringing in earlier 'checkpoints' to track students progress through assessments or tests. He cautions against 'false praise', saying feedback needs to b...

Is it true that boys are generally better than girls at maths? Can a teacher's maths anxiety rub off on their students? Daniel Ansari is a neuroscientist with a focus on how the brain learns maths. This episode explores common misconceptions when it comes to maths skills. The conversation looks at the need for early detection of learning difficulties like dyscalculia, and the use of some tools tha...

Helping kids to decode the sounds within words is one part of reading practice - the other important part is to read a wide variety of books with them to extend their vocabulary and understanding of words. In this episode we speak with Gemma McCaw. Many might know her for her achievements with the Black Sticks, but she is also a passionate advocate for reading. She talks about her approach to scre...

To mark World Sleep Day, Sleep Psychologist Dan Ford joins us from the Better Sleep Clinic. He explains the link between sleep and healthy brain development for our young learners. Just how much should they be getting each night? What surfaces are best to sleep on? and the impact of sleep-ins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reading has to be TAUGHT, it's not caught. In this episode, Dr Carolyn Strom explains the importance of building a 'reading brain', and the various areas of the brain that work together to make that happen. The conversation also covers the optimal age for teaching reading, the role of phonemic awareness, and great advice for introducing the foundations for learning to read and write in ways that a...

Carla and Liz provide practical tips for parents to support their child’s reading and writing journey. They explain the changes happening in classrooms around the world and the positive impact on teachers and students, while acknowledging the challenges of implementing these changes in schools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.