Episodes
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4: Do later start times actually make a difference to student outcomes?
After finishing a fascintating book called Why We Sleep by Prof. Matt Walker, I found myself trying to help a student get started on her exam revision in a visual arts cover lesson. She tells me she's had 4 hours sleep because she went to bed at midnight but had to set an alarm for 4am to finish…
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3: Managing Cognitive Load in the Classroom
It has been a six-lesson day and there are still lots of jobs to do, but it's time for an afternoon of professional development. This time you'll be learning about managing student cognitive load. You hope to high heaven that the facilitator doesn't fall victim to the ultimate irony...…
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2: Does Peer Instruction Actually Work?
Harvard physics Professor Eric Mazur developed Peer Instruction in the early 90s, after noticing that many of his students weren't deeply understanding concepts despite performing well on traditional exams. He wanted to explore the nuts and bolts of that discrepancy. In this episode, I talk about...
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1: School to Uni Transition, and How to Make it Smooth
Curious about what happens to your students when they leave the classroom and start uni life? This episode covers some of the factors that impact on smoothness of school to university transition. If you have a topic you would like covered, write to me: [email protected]. Visit the…
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20: Listener Questions Answered & Season 5 Sneak Peak
In the last episode of season 4, I answer three listener questions and discuss the plan for season 5 of the podcast. Enjoy, and happy new year! Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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19: How to Write Tailored Report Comments in Less Time
I've got a system for writing report comments, but it takes forever and isn't particularly efficient. Naturally, my problem-solving brain starts looking for solutions during the school holidays when we're both meant to be resting. The result? I have a system to recommend. It still allows for...
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18: Why Do Teachers Move Schools?
Next year, I'll be moving to a new school. The process is bittersweet - whilst there is excitement at the prospect of learning new things, it has been hard to say goodbye to colleagues and students. As you can imagine, these last few weeks I have spoken with many colleagues and friends about the...
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17: Tips to Reduce Your Marking Workload
In this episode I talk about two things I do to reduce my marking workload. Automarked quizzes are a blessing but can be curse so proceed with caution. Exploit the good bits, and don't expect them to solve all your problems. Peer marking in class is a winner if you set it up right. And if your...
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16: Don't Get in Their Way
In this episode I talk about the importance of letting students chart their own course, with guidance of course. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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15: Picnics in Parks with People
School holidays are here. Cue picnics in parks with people, sleeping in (c/o operation recovery from the term that was entirely on Zoom), and changing tyres. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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14: A Successful Student Conference on Zoom
In this episode, I talk about some Zoom wins. Top of mind is the Zoom conference we held for Year 12 Science Extension students last week, where they presented their work to Year 11 students. Breakout rooms and shared screens were the next best thing to the in-person poster session we usually…
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13: I Hope This Email Finds You Sane
"I hope this email finds you well sane." In this episode, I'm talking about the joys of remote teaching. Again. If you're sick of this topic, don't worry, so am I. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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12: When Busy is Your Middle Name (But it Shouldn't Be)
Lockdown continues. Zoom lessons continue. Things are busy, but manageable given that we know it's not forever. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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11: Brain Drain and Zoom Doom
Reflections on two weeks of remote teaching (and hopefully remote learning). Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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10: Now We're Learning Remotely (Again)
Title says it all. Lockdown, Zoom lessons, square eyes. Let's do this. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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9: "I'd Rather Be Somewhere Else"
Realisations and reflections on how to engage students who would prefer not to be at school. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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8: No Attention Span? No Worries!
Helping students with ADHD isn't rocket science, they just learn differently. This week I reflect on my attempts and their merits. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com. P.S. Hello Yr 12! I was wondering how long it would take you to discover...
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7: A Horizontal Holiday
Reflection on term 1 and the school holiday spent horizontal. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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6: Turning 30 & Camping in the Rain
It's pretty much what the title says. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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5: Helping School Counsellors Stay Afloat
In this episode I talk about supporting school counsellors. They are the hidden gems of our education system and they need our support. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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4: School Holiday Experiments
Six weeks is a long time to spend doing nothing. This year, to avoid boredom, my school holiday survival plan for 2020/2021 has involved some new projects and experiments. A change is as good as a rest, and seeing as I'm not very good at rest, change suits me well. Experiments: - Vegetarianism /...
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3: Active Relaxation for Teachers
What do you do when you have 'nothing to do'? In this episode I talk about active relaxation, which basically involves doing stuff that isn't work but that is relaxing/meditative. Seeing as we've done Christmas/New Year and there are three weeks left of school holidays, I wanted to I talk about…
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2: What Don't They Teach You at University?
Sarah from NZ (great name!) wants to know about what a university teaching degree doesn't cover. I have only done one degree in teaching, so I can only speak in depth about the university in which I was enrolled. I've combined my experience and that of other junior teachers to answer this…
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1: When Students Teach Teachers
Welcome back for another season. In this episode, I talk about how students enjoy spending time in nature (even though they'll tell you it's boring). Nature teaches students what is important; that much is clear. Whilst I expected students to enjoy their school camp (a much needed break from the...
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20: My Biggest Failure
This week I discuss my biggest teaching failure. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the discomfort! Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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19: Mentoring Junior Teachers
Throughout my first two years of teaching I have had an excellent mentor helping me to keep it together. As part of celebrating my pleasingly reduced need for mentorship this year, I've recorded this reflection on what made my mentor so supportive and helpful. Are you mentoring a junior teacher?...
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18: Teaching Full Time and Studying Part Time - Smart Move or Death Wish?
I'm erring on the side of studying part time being a smart move. So far, my part-time study has been really interesting and it keeps me in the student seat. I'm always going to want to be learning something, so this is a good way to do it in a structured format. I'm still figuring out how to do...
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17: My New Project Outside of Teaching
I've enrolled in an Honours program at the University of Sydney, to find out the answer to a question I've pondered for a while: How much do high school teachers know about university teaching? And how much university lecturers know about high school teaching? In this episode I talk about initial...
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16: Teacher Burnout: The COVID Edition
We've all worked much harder than we were expecting to work this year. For some of us, it's really starting to take a toll. In this episode, I talk about general vibes in the teaching community around coping with workload this year, and how we're feeling at this point in 2020. Also discussed are...
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15: Are We Over-Surveying Our Students?
Do you survey your students? If yes, how often? We've all been surveyed by the companies with which we interact. Surveys seem to slide into my inbox almost daily, but I ignore the majority of them. I'm too busy to respond to each one. With this in mind, how should we design surveys so that we get...
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14: The Social Dilemma - What Teachers Need to Know About Social Media
This week I watched a program on Netflix called 'The Social Dilemma' and learned plenty about its current role in our society, especially for young people. Well worth a watch if you're curious about how social media is impacting you and/or your students. Write to me: [email protected]....
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13: Creating Positive Learning Experiences when Everything is Cancelled
2020 is a terrible year to graduate high school. So much has been cancelled due to COVID-19. However, there are still ways to make finishing school special for our senior students. In this episode I talk about a lesson that had students learning Physics and feeling special for making it to the…
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12: It Is Actually Possible to Enjoy PD
This week, I discuss some PD opportunities I've had recently and how they've made me a better teacher. (I think.) A few of my friends absolutely despise PD. Whilst it can be dependent on topic and instructor, I think mindset is a big part of enjoying PD and getting something out of it. What do…
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11: School Holidays and Lonely Students
And just like that, we're back to school for another term. Before I pick up too much speed, I'm reflecting on my final week of school holidays, spent skiing by day, emailing students by night. The levels of support my students needed during their school holidays were surprisingly varied. Some...
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10: Thank You Past Self, For Documenting Everything
In this episode, I talk about the time I've saved by documenting everything in my first year of teaching. It took a fair while to do, but having set up a system now, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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9: Should Students Even Have Career Goals at Age Fifteen?
In this episode, I give a general update on end of term, accreditation progress, life events etc. Recently at school we have been helping Year 10 students with their subject selections for senior studies. In science, this involves the decision to study science or not, and if it's a 'yes' to...
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8: Should You Discuss Your Own Mental Health at School?
As a university student, I had trouble staying mentally well, primarily due to the pressure I put on myself to succeed academically. (Answering the what-do-I-want-to-do-with-my-life? question was also a massive source of stress.) Now that I am a teacher, I find myself wanting to use my…
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7: Getting Back to Normal (Sort Of)
In this episode, I talk about returning to school and teaching face-to-face again. School life definitely isn't back to normal (whatever that even is), but some aspects of it are starting to resurface. A philosophical delve into the current set up ensues. It's not all bad, in my opinion. I'm...
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6: Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
Paperwork. I'm doing hours of the stuff. I wouldn't describe teacher accreditation as my favourite thing of all time, but it has its value, and in this episode I talk about navigating the process. I discuss what helps, and what hurts. Also included are some random digressions into gardens and…
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5: Putting on Your Own Oxygen Mask First, and Other Important Lessons
When we're stretched thin at work, it can be hard to find time to do what we need to do to stay sane. But it's so important to find that time. In this episode, I answer a listener question about managing the daily demands on our time, as educators. How do we manage the extra demands on our time...
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4: Working from Home: It's Just Not the Same
The whole working from home thing continues. Thankfully, so does the podcast. What's new? Not much. This week, I'm talking about isolation (#iso) and what it's like for teachers. I talk about the things I miss, and the things I don't miss. Because even though this set up isn't ideal, there is a...
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3: Rubbish Learner Becomes Teacher
We're at the end of our school holiday period (time flies). I have been reflecting on my experiences as a learner. After a rather poor track record (i.e. for ages I was a rubbish learner), I'm doing better now. Being a teacher has made me a better learner - hands down. I also discuss a good…
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2: School Holidays & Questions from Parents
In this episode, I answer some questions from parents about how to navigate online learning. How are children supposed to "keep up" with the class? Some kids are doing the work and some are not. What about those at school who aren't being supervised/encouraged to do what everyone else is doing at...
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1: End of Term; Catch of Breath!
We made it to the end of term! What a long term it has been. This episode marks the first of many in diary-style format, as requested by listeners. The changes I have been making to my lessons at school have been a big part of my focus over the last few weeks, so I spend most of this episode...
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10: Technology Saves the Day
In this episode, I talk about how technology makes learning possible for students during a pandemic. Overnight, modes of learning have changed, and we teachers have made it happen. Go us. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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9: Now We're Learning Remotely
In this episode, I talk about the changes I have made to my teaching practice since both students and teachers have been working from home due to COVID-19. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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8: Preparing for Remote Learning
In this episode, I talk about the preparations I am making for my students to learn at home, given that we are on the verge of school closures in Sydney, Australia. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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7: Why Don't We Differentiate Professional Development?
In this episode, I talk about the broad brush issue with professional development for teachers, and how we might differentiate PD to improve it for teachers. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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6: Keeping Stress in Check
In this episode, I talk about strategies that I use to keep stress in check, why they work, and how things have changed since implementing them. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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5: My Top Three Favourite Lessons
In this episode, I talk about my top three lessons to date. The list is subject to change, but it's important to acknowledge the wins and reflect on what goes well. Write to me: [email protected]. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
About this show
Diary of a Teacher is a podcast about the experiences of an early-career teacher, with an emphasis on sanity preservation and keeping stress in check.Recommended for teachers, tutors, and students.
Hosted by
Sarah Durack
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