Edu-Kate

Today’s special guest is someone who’s built his career on a simple but powerful idea: movement changes lives. On today’s show we are going to talk about why movement is particularly important for kids, not only for their physical and mental wellbeing, but also to help them learn.

Nick spent a decade as a teacher before going on to found Chi Education, a multi-award-winning organisation dedicated to reimagining how children engage with learning, wellbeing, and physical activity. Now, as Director of Confident Healthy Active Me — or CHAM — he’s leading impactful work that uses movement not just for fitness, but as a tool for confidence, connection, and mental health support.

Through programmes like Active Assemblies, Confidently Active, and inclusive sports courses, Nick and his team are helping children, families, and communities rediscover the joy and power of movement — whether that’s in schools, during holidays, or through outreach with those facing real adversity.

What stands out about Nick’s work is that it goes far beyond traditional approaches. This is about building physical literacy as a foundation for resilience, self-esteem, and belonging — especially for those who are often left behind.

In this conversation, we explore Nick’s journey from the classroom to leading a growing movement, the philosophy behind CHAM, and why embedding movement into everyday life might be one of the most important shifts we can make for future generations.

If you’re interested in education, wellbeing, or the transformative power of human connection, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get into it. 

🌐 www.chieducation.co.uk | www.confidentactive.com

Meghan Stewart is a certified mindfulness coach based in Ottawa and founder of Mindfulness Meghan, focused on inclusive wellness and harm reduction through mindfulness.

Meghan is dedicated to helping children and adults build connection and emotional resilience in their everyday lives. She shares practical, accessible mindfulness strategies that can be used in classrooms and homes, supporting wellbeing in ways that feel simple, realistic, and impactful. Through her work, Meghan empowers educators, parents, and young people to slow down, tune in, and thrive—both in learning and in life.

Connect with Meghan: Instagram: @mindfulnessmeghan YouTube: youtube.com/@MindfulnessMeghan Website: mindfulnessmeghan.com

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."

Check out www.teacher.outsideplay.org for useful resources.

This is a rebroadcast.

I recorded this episode with Dr. Chris Winter way back in April 2023. This was back when I started the podcast and put it on the back burner for a while while life happened! This year the podcast is up and running and here for the long haul! I wanted to rebroadcast this episode because I feel one of the most important things we can do to improve our own health and that of our children is sleep! Something so simple and yet so often overlooked!

Dr. Chris Winter is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist dedicated to helping people improve their sleep and overall well-being. He is the author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and has worked with professional athletes, families, and organizations to optimize performance through better sleep. He also hosts Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter, an active podcast where he shares practical insights and the latest research on sleep. Known for translating complex science into clear, actionable strategies, Dr. Winter helps parents and educators better understand and support children’s sleep.

On this episode of the Edu-Kate Podcast, we unpack common sleep challenges facing children today and why quality rest is essential for success both at home and in the classroom. With practical, research-backed insights, Dr. Winter shares strategies that parents and educators can use to better support healthy sleep habits and help children thrive.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tammy McMorrow, a first-grade teacher from Kuna, Idaho with more than 30 years of experience in elementary education. Tammy is the creator and host of the podcast Little Minds Big Thinkers and the founder of the K–2 Building Thinking Classrooms Facebook group.

Inspired by the work of Peter Liljedahl, Tammy shares practical strategies and real classroom experiences that help young learners think deeply, collaborate in math, and build confidence as problem solvers.

We talk about how Building Thinking Classrooms in elementary math, especially in Kindergarten through Grade 2, can transform the way students engage with mathematics. Tammy offers simple, practical ways teachers can introduce thinking tasks, vertical non-permanent surfaces, collaborative problem solving, and student-centered math instruction in primary classrooms.

Whether you’ve already started implementing Building Thinking Classrooms, or you’re wondering how to bring math thinking routines, inquiry-based learning, and problem-based math instruction into your classroom, this episode is full of actionable ideas and encouragement.

Today’s special guest is Dr. Melanie Wong, a professor at University of British Columbia. She is an applied linguist and teacher educator widely recognized for her innovative work in digital literacies and teacher education, and for helping educators design more inclusive, future-ready classrooms.

In this episode, we explore what AI looks like in elementary classrooms today. Whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay — so sit back, relax, and listen in.

Today’s special guest is Matt Glover, a former principal, consultant, and author who works with teachers and schools to strengthen writing instruction in elementary classrooms. He is widely known for his work in early literacy, writing workshop, and craft and process studies. Matt is the author and co-author of several professional books, including his most recent book How to Become a Better Writing Teacher (co-authored with Carl Anderson).

Matt discusses how to move beyond rigid formulas and promote personal interests through allowing children to choose writing genres and create classrooms where children see themselves as capable writers.

Today, we’re joined by Lee Edward Fodi—children’s author, illustrator, and educator. In this episode Lee shares practical ways teachers and parents can nurture imagination and creative confidence in children. He explains why creativity is essential and shouldn’t be treated as an add-on. We also discuss the importance of play and how we as adults need to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable and value the process of creating over the final product.

Joining us on today's episode is Lauren MacLean – teacher, author, and founder of Teach Outdoors. With over a decade of experience in primary teaching and outdoor education, she’s passionate about helping educators bring learning to life in nature.

Lauren shares practical, step-by-step tips for teachers to start using sit spots with their students, plus realistic ways to overcome common barriers to getting outside – no matter the weather, space, or schedule.

Today we’re joined by Brittney Townrow, proud member of the Heiltsuk Nation, Indigenous Education Coordinator and a PhD student in Curriculum Studies. She is a renowned speaker on bringing Indigenous teachings to life through land-based learning, supporting educators and students across BC. In this episode, we'll explore how Indigenous ways of knowing can deepen our connection to place, how to approach the harder conversations around Orange Shirt Day and residential school history with care, and what genuine reciprocity and moving forward together really look like in classrooms and communities.