Latest episode
10. Toni Street SURPRISES NZ’s ‘Coolest Principal’ After Retirement Announcement - Bruce Cunningham
21:20||Season 1, Ep. 10Sir 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 and has been vocal about just how amazing Bruce has been for the school - so we thought we would hear straight from her - but Bruce has no idea she is coming. So he gets quite a surprise when she walks in.
More episodes
View all episodes
9. Grant Schofeld: The Processed Food & Mental Health Crisis Facing Children
23:23||Season 1, Ep. 9The 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. They also discuss breakfast myths and challenges around youth mental health.
8. Gill Connell: The Power of PMP in Early Education (part one)
27:13||Season 1, Ep. 8When 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 is part one of this discussion and begins with a focus on the importance of directional language - how children develop essential motor skills and understanding through physical experiences.
7. Nathaniel Swain: Study tips to combat the 'forgetting curve'
21:10||Season 1, Ep. 7The 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 young learners, the role of cultural context in education, and the need for personalised learning approaches. This episode will be useful for people of all ages who want to remember things!
5. Prof James Chapman on Feedback: False Praise Doesn't Work
26:41||Season 1, Ep. 5Professor 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 be honest and specific to foster self-belief and motivation.
4. Daniel Ansari: The Danger of ‘Maths Anxiety’ for Kids - Neuroscience Expert
27:29||Season 1, Ep. 4Is 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 that teachers and parents are using to check a child's understanding.
3. Gemma McCaw: On Reading, The Danger of Online Bullying & Social Media for Kids
39:18||Season 1, Ep. 3Helping 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 screens and social media - and how her own approach was shaped by her personal experience of online bullying.