Edu-Kate

In today’s episode I’m joined by early childhood education leader, speaker and author Amy Reyes-Hauff. We explore why it is vital that educators defend the value of play for our students. We discuss why nature matters, how technology is shaping childhood, and what educators and parents can do to help children thrive.

Amy Reyes-Hauff is an early childhood education leader, speaker, and author with more than 26 years of experience supporting children, educators, and schools. She currently serves as the State Early Learning and Literacy Specialist for the Wyoming Department of Education, where her work focuses on early literacy, outdoor learning, child development, and digital wellness.

Amy is the creator of the Get Wild Wyoming initiative, which has brought outdoor learning experiences to more than 300 classrooms and over 6,000 children across the state. She is also the author of Why Did They Do That?, a brain-based guide to understanding young children's behaviour.

Connect with Amy Reyes-Hauff

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-reyes-hauff-a1b15844

Why Did They Do That? It's Not a Behavior Problem. It's a Biological One: A Brain-Based Guide to the 3–5 Year Old Mind

Publication date: 2025

Summary: Explains preschool children's behaviour through neuroscience rather than discipline. It covers topics such as impulse control, emotional regulation, executive functioning, sensory needs, and why many challenging behaviours are developmentally typical rather than deliberate misbehaviour.

This episode is a rebroadcast.

Today’s special guest is Dr Mariana Brussoni. She is a developmental psychologist and injury prevention researcher passionate about bringing risky play back to children's lives. Her research sits at the intersection between child development, injury prevention, and outdoor play. 

We discuss her new book Embracing Risky Play at School (co-written by Dr. Megan Zeni). Mariana points out how today’s children are missing out on a vital developmental need and how educators need to allow the space, time and freedom for the phenomenon of risky play to occur. Instead of keeping children “as safe as possible” we should aim to keep them “as safe as necessary."

Resources & Links

• Explore Dr. Mariana Brussoni's free Outdoor Play & Learning resources for elementary educators: teacher.outsideplay.org

• Visit the Outside Play Lab for research, practical tools, and additional resources: outsideplay.org

• Book Recommendation: Embracing Risky Play at School – Practical, research-based guidance for K–8 educators on supporting outdoor learning and creating opportunities for risky play.

• Follow the Outside Play Lab on social media:

Instagram: @outsideplayubc

Facebook: @outsideplayubc

X: @outsideplayubc

Bluesky: @outsideplayubc

Today’s guest is Trevor MacKenzie—an educator, author, keynote speaker, and inquiry consultant who partners with schools around the world. He is passionate about student agency, authentic assessment, and helping educators create inquiry-driven classrooms where curiosity and deep learning thrive. 

In this episode, we discuss what meaningful, authentic assessment looks like in the PYP and how educators can use assessment to enhance student learning. Trevor shares what it means to "do less better," what effective feedback looks like, and why developing a culture of curiosity is essential—not only for students but also for educators. There is so much packed into this conversation, so tune in! 

Books by Trevor MacKenzie:

• Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice (2016)

• Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders, and Curiosities of Our Youngest Learners (2019) (with Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt)

• The Inquiry Teacher: Lessons and Strategies for Cultivating Curiosity (2022)

• Amplify Student Voice: Developing Agency Through the Cycle of Inquiry (2024) (with Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt)

Learn more about Trevor MacKenzie:

• Website: https://www.trevormackenzie.com

• Instagram: @trev_mackenzie

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-mackenzie-37103b261/

• X: @trev_mackenzie

In this episode of the Edu-Kate Podcast, I’m joined by Steve Andrews, who leads anti-bullying workshops in schools and works closely with children, educators, and families to create safer and more supportive learning environments.

Steve shares practical insights into what bullying really is, how to recognise the signs, and the best ways to respond. We also discuss how to equip children with the confidence, resilience, and strategies they need to navigate bullying if they experience it themselves, along with the important role that parents and schools play in supporting young people.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone who works with children, this episode offers valuable advice and practical takeaways to help create environments where every child can feel safe, supported, and empowered.

Contact Steve @

[email protected]

604-307-9146

LinkedIn - Steve Andrews Bullying Prevention

Today’s special guest is Jon Madian. Jon is an educator, psychotherapist, and author whose work sits at the intersection of learning science, human development, and educational technology. His focus is on rethinking curriculum, assessment, and learning environments so that they better support curiosity, creativity, and the generative nature of human learning. LinkedIn: Jon Madian | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-madian-426477/

In today's short I share with you five things that I have stopped doing to improve my own teaching and to better support the children in my class. Maybe you have some things that you need to quit doing too. Listen in to see if any of my changes apply to you to.

Today’s guest is Dr. Fabio D’Agostin, an Australian mathematics and physics educator with more than 40 years of teaching experience. In this episode, we discuss the important role emotions play in shaping students’ mathematical mindset, and how confidence, engagement, and emotional experiences influence learning in math classrooms. This episode will certainly get you thinking about how you teach math.

Check out -

Creating Schools: Where Students and Teachers Want to Beby Michael Lawrence and Dr. Fabio D’AgostinPublished by Melbourne Books (2025)

Teachers are often so busy caring about everyone else that they forget to take the time to look after themselves. In this episode, I share with you some of the simple things you do to create more balance and show up as the best teacher you can be.

Today I'm joined by Kirk Martin - founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, where he supports parents and educators to respond to challenging behaviour with calm, connection, and practical strategies. Drawing on years of hands-on work with families, he focuses on reducing anxiety, defiance, and emotional overwhelm in children, helping adults create environments where students feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn. Together we explore the ways in which parents and teachers can work together to best support the needs of children.

Today's special guest is Sophie Smith-Tong, an experienced primary educator, speaker, and advocate for teacher autonomy and wellbeing. With over 15 years in education, she focuses on empowering teachers to make meaningful classroom decisions that support student learning and creativity. She is the author of Teacher Autonomy: Where Has It Gone and Why We Need It Back, a powerful exploration of how increasing accountability and rigid systems have reduced teacher independence—and what educators can do to reclaim it.