School Shorts
by Melissa Chan-Green
Latest episode
Junior Journalists investigate the future of education
Junior Journalists investigate the future of education
About this podcast
School Shorts is the podcast for busy parents who want to help their children succeed in school.
Hosted by Melissa Chan-Green, a journalist and mum of two, this show covers practical tips on reading, writing, spelling, and maths for preschool and early school years.
Learn about structured literacy, phonics, and foundational maths skills like counting, patterns, and sequences, plus how to support your child’s learning at home.
Quick, easy, and packed with helpful advice—School Shorts is here to help your child thrive!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 79 episodes
- Junior Journalists investigate the future of education · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 80Junior Journalists interview school leaders and their peers about the challenges and opportunities in schools right now. When I was 12 years old, I wrote my first letter to the…
- Play based learning meets Structured Literacy with Liz Lupton and Theresa Kinloch · 41 min · Season 1 Episode 79People often split camps between those who believe in play based learning and those who believe in structured literacy ..but what if they are not mutually exclusive and you can…
- Using the playground to teach reading! with Marianne Brown · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 78Marianne 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…
- Learning Support, what is a SENCO? LSC? Explained with Lizzie Bayliss · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 77If 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…
- Why Kids Need Boundaries with Gen Muir · 50 min · Season 1 Episode 77How to set confident, compassionate boundaries that actually deepen your connection with children and don't negatively impact your relationship. Obstetric social worker and…
- Your AI questions answered; with Bex Rose and Principal Matt Simeon · 1 h 5 min · Season 1 Episode 76Last 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…
- Resilience, Manners and Emotional Regulation with Cara Zelas · 45 min · Season 1 Episode 75Cara 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…
- Barefoot and Teaching Bravery with Harry Scott · 45 min · Season 1 Episode 74Harry 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…
- What Happened When This Principal Prioritised School-Parent Communication, with Blair Dravitski · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 73Hear 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…
- Early Learning Skills for Maximum Success: Ande Ford and Carolynne Masson · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 72Children 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…
- Understanding Neurodiversity and When to Seek Support with Tami Harris · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 71Tami 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…
- Harnessing AI: The Brain Hacks to Teach Kids with Author Mohan Nair · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 70Mohan Nair has written what he calls 'the nutrition label for AI'. Rather than a 'warning label', this is just saying here are all the ingredients we need to be aware of so that…
- The Ladder of Reading and Writing with Nancy Young · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 69Nancy Young is the creator of the infographic the Ladder of Reading and Writing which explains reading skills as a continuim. Nancy is also the Co-Editor of the 2024 book…
- Large School Resource v Small School Connection: Principal Steve McCracken · 29 min · Season 1 Episode 68Principal Steve McCracken doesn't want a student to be able to go through a day at school and not have a teacher or school leader say their name or greet them for a chat. It is…
- Listen to this and the Teen Brain Will All Make Sense! with Kathryn Berkett · 40 min · Season 1 Episode 67There are so many things that happen with behaviour and attitude when hormones start changing in the teen years that it can be a bit of a mystery what is going on in the brain…
- Ministry of Education: School Enrolment Policy · 25 min · Season 1 Episode 66Is there any system of enrolling children at school that creates an equal footing? New Zealand has a 'rolling enrolment' system with flexibility within that for schools to decide…
- The birth date disadvantage; new survey with Jo Knox · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 65Last 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 this topic but there are…
- Reading Progress: Too Fast or Too Slow? with Louise Payne · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 64Not 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 the school gate and the…
- When the Support You Need Doesn't Exist: Karina McHardy on Autism, ASD · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 63Karina 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 additional assistance or learning…
- Kids Need to Do THIS Before They Start School: with Kelly Seaburg and Lucy Naylor · 48 min · Season 1 Episode 62A 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 coming to school not knowing…
