School Shorts

Marianne Brown, a literacy expert with 30 years of experience, talks about a lightbulb moment when a struggling reader helped her discover the playground tip that helps with reading. Using the analogy of a slide, Marianne helped the little girl go from not being able to read a single word, to fully reading within just 10 weeks. She discusses the science behind why some children struggle and how oral language, conversation, and the alphabetic code are key to supporting students. With lots of practical strategies for parents to use ..and an explanation of why patience and repetition are important in building literacy.

If your child has ever needed learning support or additional education needs you might be familiar with the terms SENCO and LSC, but for many families this is unfamiliar jargon for very important roles within a school. In this episode, Lizzie Bayliss talks about how educators in these roles support students. We also discuss her journey from founding a fashion company to becoming a deputy principal and setting up the Everyday Collective, a project aimed at inspiring educators through encouraging continuous learning and reflection.There is also advice here for parents on building strong home-school relationships. Lizzie encourages open communication with teachers and school staff to ensure children receive the support they need.

How to set confident, compassionate boundaries that actually deepen your connection with children and don't negatively impact your relationship. Obstetric social worker and renowned Parent Educator Gen Muir is the author of Why Kids Need Boundaries. Gen shares her own parenting struggles and says it's a myth that boundaries threaten attachment. However, we talk about the most effective way to set clear limits that also foster trust and reduce conflict. I first came across Gen when I discovered the High, Low, Buffalo conversation prompt for families. It has been a gamechanger in our house and I speak about how it has helped open up conversations and information from our kids that we might not have got otherwise.

Last time we spoke with AI consultant to schools, Bex Rose, the feedback was running hot! From people who wanted to know about the AI tutor she created for her daughter, to people interested in more information about how AI is being used in schools already ..and those who expressed very real concern about the impact digital technology has on brain development and learning and human relationships.In this episode, we discuss that feedback with Bex and we are also joined by Papamoa Primary Principal Matt Simeon to talk about how the school has been an early adopter of using AI with staff. It is another discussion which is sure to raise more debate around the merits and concerns around the best use of AI.

Cara Zelas is a U.S-based early childhood educator who speaks at conferences and in classrooms around the world about her work with 'Big World of Little Dude'. She shares how parents can build essential life skills at home, including resilience, manners, and emotional regulation. She also unpacks how technology is currently used in classrooms and why she believes digital apps should never replace face-to-face interaction. This is NOT a discussion to try and make parents feel guilty about screen-time or devices. No-one here is pretending we are perfect parents! What it IS is a discussion around bringing in human connection skills that set kids up for the world in which they will operate with artificial intelligence very much embedded in their lives.

Harry Scott believes a cornerstone of childhood fun and experience is at risk. He is the founder of Barefooted and teaches outdoor education by giving school students and hosting community events so that kids get to experience all the things they might usually learn on school camp on a more regular basis. Harry believes outdoor play is vital for childhood development and for reconnecting kids with nature in an increasingly digital world. He shares his ideas for parents about how to help with building confidence, safety skills and creativity with simple, and mostly completely free activities ..even when it's raining!

Hear from the Principal of Lemonwood Grove, among the biggest primary schools by roll in New Zealand. The area has had its fair share of major local traumas like the Christchurch earthquakes and mosque attacks as well as covid. These experiences reminded Blair Dravitski of just how important schools are as part of the community in managing anxiety not just for students but for their extended families too. On top of navigating those crises, the school has had explosive growth and has a wonderful diversity with families representing 47 different countries. Blair explains how he came to dislike the words 'difficult, challenging or hard' when it comes to communication. He expects staff to send direct, positive emails to families every week to build genuine relationships and communication. His insights are useful for any parent or educator wanting to help build positive relationships with the school and home.

Children starting school without the skills needed for learning, are more likely to start on the back foot when it comes to the reading, writing and other skills that are assessed in the curriculum. Andrea Ford and Carolynne Masson work with families and communities to strengthen all those foundation skills through Ready 4 Learning. With backgrounds in teaching and school leadership, they discuss their thoughts on learning through play and structured literacy expertise. Ande and Carlolynne have lots of tips for parents about the best ways to develop language, movement and emotional wellbeing. We also discuss the impact of Covid - did it cause or accelerate certain challenges? or were those challenges already apparent in early education?

Tami Harris is the CEO of Acorn Neurodiversity and a passionate advocate of better support for children and young people who are neurodivergent. This episode is especially useful if you are a parent overwhelmed or unsure of the diagnosis process, a teacher pondering strategies for diverse learners or anyone who wants to better understand the terms neurodiversity v neurodivergent thinking.Tami talks about why a multi-disciplinary approach is so often needed, combining speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural science, and mental health.The discussion covers specific strategies to advocate for your child, navigate long waitlists, and interpret early signs before school age.