School Shorts

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 significance of self-esteem in children's development.

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 health and the impact of nutrition on children's learning and behavior.

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 children - and has just won a major award as Exhibition of the Year at the Museum of the Year Awards in London. Find out more about the winning exhibit here.

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 gives some practical advice for parents on how to help discuss money at home.

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 crucial for overall learning.Helen talks about the role of parents in supporting handwriting and shares details about the Great New Zealand Handwriting Challenge - a project that is aiming to make New Zealand students the best in the world at handwriting.

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 especially advocates for neurodiverse students.

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 the curriculum. In this episode, JK talks about the role of teachers and parents, and the importance of vulnerability and open dialogue about feelings.

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 literacy.

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 conversation highlights how learning differences like ADHD and dyslexia can be superpowers and gives practical tips for parents and teachers.