School Shorts
Episodes
Ministry of Education: School Enrolment Policy
19 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any system of enrolling children at school that creates an equal footing? New Zealand has a 'rolling enrolment' system with flexibility withi...
The birth date disadvantage; new survey with Jo Knox
12 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last we spoke to Jo Knox on the podcast we looked at what birth month was best for academic success. There has not been a lot of specific research on ...
Reading Progress: Too Fast or Too Slow? with Louise Payne
05 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Not sure if your child's reading progress or the teaching they are getting is going too fast or too slow? This is a common discussion among parents at...
When the Support You Need Doesn't Exist: Karina McHardy on Autism, ASD
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Karina McHardy shares a personal story but one that will resonate with any parent who has had to advocate for their child's needs, whether it be addit...
Kids Need to Do THIS Before They Start School: with Kelly Seaburg and Lucy Naylor
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A study of school readiness found as many as 90 percent of primary schools surveyed said there was an increase in the number of new entrant students c...
Online Schools? How Crimson Global Education is Disrupting the Traditional Model
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Online Schools and Alpha Schools have had a massive spike in interest but who do they work for and is this a long-term disruptor in education? In this...
How to Help Struggling Writers with 'The Writing Teacher' Helen Walls
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How well do you remember what grammatical words like adverb, adjective, prepositions actually mean? There is a lot of discussion in the education worl...
Cambridge Exams: An Explainer for Parents
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Look, I'll admit it, I don't know much about the assessment system when it gets to High School. I know you can do NCEA (with potential changes on the ...
The Tattooed Skateboarding Principal; Hamish Brewer
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hamish Brewer throws out the rule book when it comes to what people expect a Principal to be. The tattooed skateboarding Principal from New Zealand no...
AI in School, How it's Being Used in Class with Bex Rose
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is already in classrooms. Bex Rose from AI Surge shares what that actually looks like for teachers, students and learning. Bex...
Top 10 School Safety Tips from a Police Officer
07 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Follow these top 10 school safety tips from Police Officer Constable Bryan Ward and empower your kids and students to have the confidence to navigate ...
More than Phonics: Fluency and Comprehension with Natalie Wexler
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to read isn’t just about sounding out words even though the biggest part of reading instruction that gets spoken about publicly is phonics....
Was it a Miracle? The Reading Revolution in Mississippi with Kymyona Burk
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As countries around the world look to a structured approach to literacy to try and lift achievement results, what can educators learn from the experie...
Risky Play and Why it Matters with Gill Connell
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How to encourage risky play and why it matters. Gill Connell from Moving Smart explains the importance of allowing kids to step outside their comfort ...
Family Adventures Unplugged with Roam's Renata Wiles
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Counting down the most popular activities on the Roam with Kids app with Renata Wiles. If you are looking for activities that appeal to the whole fami...
Holiday Play Ideas for Reading Practice with the 'Sound Slam Mums'
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is a great episode if you are looking for ways to keep up some reading and writing practise at home while school is on break. Primary school teac...
Mental and Physical Health for Children: The HIGHLIGHTS from 2025
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How well a child does at school is often linked to how they feel there. That can depend on so many factors. We know that academic achivement is one of...
Best Reading and Writing Advice from 2025; The Highlights!
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of "School Shorts," I look back on a year of conversations with some of the most influential people in education across New Ze...
AI in Education ft Michael Johnston
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The fascinating world of AI in education with Michael Johnston who has authored a report titled Opportunities and Risks of Generative Artificial Intel...
Get Wise! Teaching Kids About Money
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How kids are being introduced to the world of financial literacy with the help of ASB's GetWise program. Joined by guests Hamish Russell and Lucinda H...
Numicon: Simple Steps to Loving MATHS ft Catherine Huxford
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Numicon is a maths teaching tool is a maths teaching tool that is used across the world and through thousands of schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. Cath...
Managing Tech: Tips from Psychologist Dr Emma Woodward
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How technology impacts kid's dopamine, attention span and language development with Dr Emma Woodward. As a Mum to four boys, Dr Woodward finds each of...
"Our kids and teens are not really OK": Outward Bound CEO Malindi Maclean
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Malindi Maclean shares stories and research that highlight the profound impact on brain development from connecting with nature, not just for kids, bu...
Girl Boss: What inspiring young women want YOU to know
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What young women want you to know about the challenges they are facing and the social issues they are trying to address, such as the impact of social ...
Support for ADHD in school and the workplace: ADHD Coach Jenny Turner
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jenny Turner is an adhd coach with Human Fabric. Diagnosed later in life with adhd herself and mum to two children diagnosed with two different types ...
Sex and Relationships Education with Jo Robertson
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to know about how to have some of these conversations with your kids yourself, Jo gives some practical advice about what to say (and what ...
Dyslexia: A Father and Son's story of the power of dyslexic thinking ft Arvid and Mattias Eriksen
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A deeply personal account of life with dyslexia and the journey of finding out as a child but also as an adult. Father and Son, Arvid and Mattias Erik...
Raising Confident Speakers with Ashleigh Gulliver
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your child dread the school speech competition? or feel nervous about speaking in front of their peers? Drama teacher and Oral Language Coach, As...
Dyslexia: How to Identify Challenges and Support Your Child ft Carla McNeil and Casey Simson
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode for Dyslexia Awareness Month, we’re diving into the real experiences of parents and educators who are supporting children with dysle...
Is Your Child Twice Exceptional? Rhonda Filmer on 2E
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An expert in the field of gifted students, Rhonda Filmer explains that some students are 2e. That means twice exceptional - those who are gifted and h...
BONUS: Daylight Savings Sleep Tips with Victoria Newport
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your family routine go completely out of the window when it comes to daylight savings? All of a sudden the kids are grumpy and harder to get to s...
Independent Schools: What does that really mean? with Guy Pascoe
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are a range of different school types from state, state integrated and independent - but what do all of these things mean? Guy Pascoe from Indep...
Critical Skills for Spelling: Literacy Expert Lorraine Hammond
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Literacy expert Lorraine Hammond explains the difference between the skills of reading and spelling. If your child is able to read a word and/or sente...
The Pre-School Secret to Success: Oral Language with Elaine Reese
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a child in an early learning centre, there is a chance they will be taking part in the ENRICH oral language programme created by Elaine Re...
World-Leading Neuroscientist: How 'Executive Function' Helps Us Plan and Achieve Goals
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adele Diamond is one of the world-leading neuroscientists in the field of executive functions. Executive functions are often discussed in relation to ...
Best Birth Month for Academic Success, Dr Jo Knox
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever wondered whether the month you were born in impacts your educational achievement, there is now evidence to say yes it can have an impac...
Gill Connell: Midlines (PMP part 2)
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gill Connell from Moving Smart returns with part 2 of the Power of PMP. This time we are talking about the often-overlooked topic of midline developme...
Managing Device Time: A live recording with Spark NZ and Parenting Place
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was recorded in front a live audience at Spark NZ for the launch of the Spark Kids Plan. Melissa Chan-Green speaks with Leela Ashford abo...
Cecilia Robinson: Setting Healthy Standards for our Girls
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks just the second year Women's Health Week has been marked - remarkable when you think we have been talking about Men's Health Week for ...
Dyscalculia: The Misunderstood Struggle With Maths - Esther White
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dyscalculia is likely to be not far behind dyslexia in the numbers of people it affects, but it is often called the 'learning difficulty no one talks ...
Jase Williams: Helping Kids Navigate Big Emotions
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To address a child's behavioural challenges, an adult must first understand their own behaviour according to relational neuroscience educator Jase Wil...
The ESSENTIAL guide to teach READING with teachers Sam Allis & Jude Tabuteau
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a MUST watch for any family who is just beginning the reading journey with their child. If you missed the parent information session at your s...
Jackie Riach: Top Parenting Challenges with a Psychologist
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The most common parenting challenges that psychologists are called in to help with in schools and among families. Jackie Riach from the Positive Paren...
Gina Urlich: Food Labels and Early Years Nutrition
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Motat's Julie Baker: School Holiday Fun with STEM
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Simon Brown: Setting Your Kids Up to be Good with Money
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Brown is worried about the impact of declining levels of literacy on girls and ethnic minorities. In this episode, Simon talks about the worryin...
Helen Walls: Handwriting - the Old School Learning Hack!
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 reas...
Felicity Powell: Education saved my life! Tips from a Survivor
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Sir John Kirwan: Talking to your kids about Mental Health
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 re...
Pam Snow: "Stop Blaming Parents" for Reading Challenges
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 oft...
Barbara Oakley: ADHD, Focus and How to Beat Procrastination
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Two Attempted Abductions at Schools: Senior Constable Bryan Ward Responds
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Constable Brian Ward discusses the importance of child safety in schools and at home, addressing recent incidents of attempted abductions. He talks ab...
Erica Stanford: New Parent Information Tool
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand's Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, announces a new information tool for parents to help their children with reading, writing, maths ...
Toni Street SURPRISES NZ’s ‘Coolest Principal’ After Retirement Announcement - Bruce Cunningham
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 B...
Grant Schofeld: The Processed Food & Mental Health Crisis Facing Children
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The truth about slushies! After seeing many alarming articles about the risk of slushy ice drinks to children especially under 8, Melissa decided to f...
Gill Connell: The Power of PMP in Early Education (part one)
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 thou...
Nathaniel Swain: Study tips to combat the 'forgetting curve'
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 mat...
Prof James Chapman on Feedback: False Praise Doesn't Work
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 wi...
Daniel Ansari: The Danger of ‘Maths Anxiety’ for Kids - Neuroscience Expert
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 neuroscienti...
Gemma McCaw: On Reading, The Danger of Online Bullying & Social Media for Kids
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Dan Ford: Surprising Advice about Sleep-Ins from a Sleep Psychologist
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 devel...
Dr Carolyn Strom: How to build a 'reading brain'
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ar...
Carla McNeil and Liz Kane: What Parents Need to Know About Changes to Reading and Writing in Schools
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carla and Liz provide practical tips for parents to support their child’s reading and writing journey. They explain the changes happening in classro...
School Shorts with Melissa Chan-Green.
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, w...