School Shorts

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 safety, and the importance of open communication between parents and children. Constable Ward also talks about his advocacy for children's literacy and anti-bullying initiatives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 funding and additional changes to the curriculum in other subjects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. They also discuss breakfast myths and challenges around youth mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 be honest and specific to foster self-belief and motivation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 that teachers and parents are using to check a child's understanding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 screens and social media - and how her own approach was shaped by her personal experience of online bullying. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 are fun and interactive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Allow me to introduce School Shorts! It's so lovely to have you here. As a journalist and mum just trying to do the best I can to help my kids read, write and learn - I would love to connect with a community of likeminded families who are on the education journey too. Please subscribe and join me for helpful advice and fun amid the family juggle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.