In this episode I talk about the interesting reaction my students have had being back in the classroom after months of remote learning.

I read the blog 'The School Experience Idealised' born out of a frank and thoughtful conversation that I had with my husband, Tom.

The video of the physics professor that I reference in the episode. Also, apologies for pronouncing 'vehemently' awkwardly.

Also - my call to action for student voice:

to showcase student voices I would love for you to get involved.

Please send a short audio clip (no longer than a minute) to [email protected].

If you would like more clarification feel free to email me or send me a dm @educatinglaura

Disclaimer:

If you are fearing for your safety or are suffering from overwhelming feelings/emotions please seek out professional support.

Here is my follow up chat with Ben from The English Lab.

We talk about the evolution of our teaching. What we have learnt about leadership from both the perspective of being lead as well as holding leadership positions.

Ben also explains the reason behind his choice to step away from the classroom this year. I encourage every teacher to listen as you will either relate or you will learn a valuable lesson without having to potentially experience the burn out many of us do.

If you want to contact Ben for teaching training, assessing or free resources his website is:

https://www.englishlab.com.au/

This episode is dedicated to supporting VCE English students and their teachers (note, there is a full teacher dedicated episode to come). 

Ben from The English Lab and I discuss how to address common feedback as a student. How to prepare and study for the exam as well as other important advice targeting any student undertaking the VCE English exam.

Ben is an experienced English teacher and VCAA English assessor and has fantastic insight and perspective for students, teachers and parents of Year 12 students.

You can find him at:

The English Lab, which provides training for teachers, resources for students and leadership/curriculum consulting services. A typical week sees him working with groups of students in preparing for exams/assessments, preparing professional development sessions, creating resources and mentoring leaders in their pursuit to improve their secondary English curriculum.

YouTube Channel

Instagram

References from the episode:

Skeleton Planning: https://youtu.be/azq4lFaCpEs

How to respond to essay questions: https://youtu.be/bLAfLhcqREE

English Exam Preparation: https://youtu.be/F-ILd_imPqo

This is my chat with Katie from @eduKTion - a fresh graduate teacher working as a casual relief teacher (CRT) in 2020.

We talk all things uni, mentors, teaching rounds, the teachergram and personal education experiences.

She discusses the why behind her passion for mental wellness and the incredible resources made available on her TpT page.

To follow her and get access to her work click here.

Call to action - 

to showcase student voices I would love for you to get involved. 

Please send a short audio clip (no longer than a minute) to [email protected].

If you would like more clarification feel free to email me or send me a dm @educatinglaura

Disclaimer:

If you are fearing for your safety or are suffering from overwhelming feelings/emotions please seek out professional support.

A call to action -

the initial part of this episode is my pitch for a potential episode in which I would like to showcase student voice.

The idea is to either respond to (if a student) or give your students (if a teacher) the statement, ‘I wish my teacher... ‘ and then complete the statement.

So it could be: ‘I wish my teacher... knew/said/taught/understood/valued/provided/contributed/asked...’ etc

Ideas that would make the learning experience better, that impacts ability to learn, that demonstrates the individuality within a class.

My mission is to showcase education through the eyes of the individual and the more students can be active participants in their own learning the more impactful our time together as educators and learners can be.

If you would like to get involved please email me a short 60 second sound clip to:

[email protected]

Disclaimer: If you are in a dangerous situation and fear for your safety or are engaging in harmful behaviours please seek out professional support.

Beyond Blue have a great collation of websites and support for you to access here.

Here is the blog that I read out that I wrote in June 2020 if you would like to read along. I analyse the importance of moving with the times and educating our students in relevant mediums.

Emily Oberg - referenced in the episode for her social media faux pas and its impact on her business.

This has been one of my favourite conversations so far.

Kim is an experienced Maths teacher and Careers Counsellor. 

We talk ATAR scores and whether it is allowing the best students into University courses. The importance of female representation in Maths subjects. What we would like to see happen in education for ourselves and our children as well as what good learning looks like.

To get in touch with Kim at Roadmap Ed:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

This is an important message.

I believe that we are too willing to give our power away, to let others define us and what to value. So I am here to empower you to take your power back.

Read along here.

I am so proud to bring you this episode today.

I speak to Tadgh, an experienced teacher, and his wife Lisa - creators of Assessly.

This ambitious couple are dedicated to bringing educators a software system that streamlines assessment. Not only does it align with the national curriculum standards, but it allows teachers to collect data on the spot in many different formats as well as providing easy to interpret data to inform teacher practice.

We talk educational ideologies from both the teacher and parent perspectives. The journey of having a dream and executing it.  As well as their dedication to their product and ensuring that it is exactly what teachers need to make their lives easier.

To get in touch with them or learn more their details are:

Assessly on Instagram

Assessly websites

Here is my fifth blog - For my People

I discuss the impact of isolation during covid, the many ventures I undertook in order to fill the desire I ultimately have for connection and community.

I also have a video of me recording this on my Instagram as an IGTV if you would prefer the visual.

Thank you again for your support and for continuing to download the episodes each week.

Means the world.

I love my chat with a now very successful adult, but once my ex student - Dean.

He was considered highly academic at school, a high achiever and put great pressure on himself to succeed within the constructs of the education system at every level.

He now is at the end of his degree looking at beginning his new profession and we take time to reflect on how his priorities have shifted, time at school as teacher and student and how he is now looking forward to the future.