Edu-Kate

In today's short, Kate asks the question - does every piece of work have to be finished? What are we valuing: the learning or the task? What could we do instead and how do we encourage kids to see the value in balance? Old habits die hard but it is important to ask these questions to ensure we have the best learning environments for our children.

Today’s special guest is Pam Harris - founder of Math is Figure-Out-Able, teacher educator, author, speaker and podcast host. In this episode Pam teaches us how to open the door to math for more students and equip them with a map of mathematical relationships and connections rather than just giving them a list of directions to follow. Pam encourages us to move away from mimicking steps to complete...

In today's episode, Kate is joined by Monica Rollins to explore how yoga and mindfulness can support children’s wellbeing and help them develop the skills they need to regulate their emotions and behaviour. They talk about what this can look like in practice, and how simple strategies can be woven into the school day to help children feel calmer, more connected and ready to learn. Contact Moni...

Are we expecting too much from children, too soon? In this episode of the Edu-Kate Podcast, Kate is joined by internationally recognized early childhood education expert, author, and keynote speaker Rae Pica to explore whether the expectations we place on children actually match what we know about child development and how children learn. We discuss how often children are asked to sit still, focus...

In today's short solo episode, Kate shares three key areas that if you get right, you will have a successful school year. 1) Classroom Design 2) Routines 3) Community - creating a sense of belonging She uses advise from previous guests on the podcast to help get you set up for a great year ahead. You do not want to miss this one!

In this episode, Kate is joined by K.C. Hansen, a reading interventionist based in Seattle. They discuss what is important when trying to support kids learning to read. K.C. shares Lyon's research behind the science of reading and provides practical tips and advice in teaching and assessing how kids read. K.C also highlights common misconceptions amongst parents and educators and points out re...

As teachers head back to school and begin preparing their classrooms for a new group of learners, international educator and learning environment designer Carla Dabau Padrosa joins the Edu-Kate Podcast to explore how we can design classrooms with greater intention. Drawing on many years of teaching experience across Spain, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Switzerland, Carla shares practical ideas for...

In this solo episode, Kate explores the question of what is the perfect school? It is clear that this evokes more questions than answers, but it will definitely get you thinking about what it could look like for you and also remind you of why we need things to change. She looks at it from both perspectives of a mother and teacher. Listen in and join the conversation.

What does true inclusion really look like—and how do we build schools where every child genuinely belongs? In this episode of Edu-Kate , Kate is joined by Professor Sigamoney Manicka Naicker , an internationally respected educator, researcher, and advocate for inclusive education. For decades, Professor Naicker has worked to improve educational opportunities for children around the world. He has a...

In today’s episode I’m joined by early childhood education leader, speaker and author Amy Reyes-Hauff. We explore why it is vital that educators defend the value of play for our students. We discuss why nature matters, how technology is shaping childhood, and what educators and parents can do to help children thrive. Amy Reyes-Hauff is an early childhood education leader, speaker, and author with...

This episode is a rebroadcast. Today’s special guest is Dr Mariana Brussoni. She is a developmental psychologist and injury prevention researcher passionate about bringing risky play back to children's lives. Her research sits at the intersection between child development, injury prevention, and outdoor play.  We discuss her new book Embracing Risky Play at School (co-written by Dr. Megan Zeni...

Today’s guest is Trevor MacKenzie—an educator, author, keynote speaker, and inquiry consultant who partners with schools around the world. He is passionate about student agency, authentic assessment, and helping educators create inquiry-driven classrooms where curiosity and deep learning thrive.  In this episode, we discuss what meaningful, authentic assessment looks like in the PYP and how educat...

In this episode of the Edu-Kate Podcast, I’m joined by Steve Andrews, who leads anti-bullying workshops in schools and works closely with children, educators, and families to create safer and more supportive learning environments. Steve shares practical insights into what bullying really is, how to recognise the signs, and the best ways to respond. We also discuss how to equip children with the co...

Today’s special guest is Jon Madian. Jon is an educator, psychotherapist, and author whose work sits at the intersection of learning science, human development, and educational technology. His focus is on rethinking curriculum, assessment, and learning environments so that they better support curiosity, creativity, and the generative nature of human learning. LinkedIn: Jon Madian | LinkedIn https:...

In today's short I share with you five things that I have stopped doing to improve my own teaching and to better support the children in my class. Maybe you have some things that you need to quit doing too. Listen in to see if any of my changes apply to you to.

Today’s guest is Dr. Fabio D’Agostin, an Australian mathematics and physics educator with more than 40 years of teaching experience. In this episode, we discuss the important role emotions play in shaping students’ mathematical mindset, and how confidence, engagement, and emotional experiences influence learning in math classrooms. This episode will certainly get you thinking about how you teach m...

Teachers are often so busy caring about everyone else that they forget to take the time to look after themselves. In this episode, I share with you some of the simple things you do to create more balance and show up as the best teacher you can be.

Today I'm joined by Kirk Martin - founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast , where he supports parents and educators to respond to challenging behaviour with calm, connection, and practical strategies. Drawing on years of hands-on work with families, he focuses on reducing anxiety, defiance, and emotional overwhelm in children, helping adults create environments where s...

Today's special guest is Sophie Smith-Tong, an experienced primary educator, speaker, and advocate for teacher autonomy and wellbeing. With over 15 years in education, she focuses on empowering teachers to make meaningful classroom decisions that support student learning and creativity. She is the author of Teacher Autonomy: Where Has It Gone and Why We Need It Back , a powerful exploration of...

Today’s special guest is someone who’s built his career on a simple but powerful idea: movement changes lives. On today’s show we are going to talk about why movement is particularly important for kids, not only for their physical and mental wellbeing, but also to help them learn. Nick spent a decade as a teacher before going on to found Chi Education, a multi-award-winning organisation dedicated...

Meghan Stewart is a certified mindfulness coach based in Ottawa and founder of Mindfulness Meghan, focused on inclusive wellness and harm reduction through mindfulness. Meghan is dedicated to helping children and adults build connection and emotional resilience in their everyday lives. She shares practical, accessible mindfulness strategies that can be used in classrooms and homes, supporting well...

Today’s special guest is Dr Mariana Brussoni. She is a developmental psychologist and injury prevention researcher passionate about bringing risky play back to children's lives. Her research sits at the intersection between child development, injury prevention, and outdoor play.  We discuss her new book Embracing Risky Play at School (co-written by Dr. Megan Zeni). Mariana points out how today...

This is a rebroadcast. I recorded this episode with Dr. Chris Winter way back in April 2023. This was back when I started the podcast and put it on the back burner for a while while life happened! This year the podcast is up and running and here for the long haul! I wanted to rebroadcast this episode because I feel one of the most important things we can do to improve our own health and that of ou...

In this episode, I’m joined by Tammy McMorrow, a first-grade teacher from Kuna, Idaho with more than 30 years of experience in elementary education. Tammy is the creator and host of the podcast Little Minds Big Thinkers and the founder of the K–2 Building Thinking Classrooms Facebook group. Inspired by the work of Peter Liljedahl, Tammy shares practical strategies and real classroom experiences th...

Today’s special guest is Dr. Melanie Wong, a professor at University of British Columbia. She is an applied linguist and teacher educator widely recognized for her innovative work in digital literacies and teacher education, and for helping educators design more inclusive, future-ready classrooms. In this episode, we explore what AI looks like in elementary classrooms today. Whether we like it or...