Teaching as a Second Language

In this episode Stew and Mark discuss ways that teachers, and the education system as a whole, needs to improve in order to best prepare High School students for university. They discuss what teachers and schools can do to provide options for students considering a tertiary pathway.

In this episode Stewart and Mark recap the year that was (2025) and discuss the 7-month hiatus from the podcast. We look forward to 2026 and discuss what we love most about our jobs, and why we are looking forward to getting stuck into 2026.

In Behaviour Bites Ep 2 Mark and Stew outline how teachers can effectively apply consequences to student actions without getting any pushback. Students not following instructions is one thing, students not acknowledging your authority when giving a consequence is another entirely. Stew and Mark explain the 3Cs that underpin effective consequences, make sure you listen to find out more.

In the first installment of our mini-series "Behaviour Bites" Stew and Mark discuss the importance, nay, imperativeness (that's definitely a word) of silence in the classroom. For many reasons silence is an absolute must when it comes to teaching, yet so many teachers get it wrong. Give this episode a listen and see if you agree with Stew and Mark's strong opinions on the matter.

In this podcast Stew and Mark get a lesson from colleague and language expert Gio who shares his secrets for teaching languages to students. We go on a journey of learning how languages are acquired and the dos and donts of learning a new language. If you've never made it past 4 weeks of using Duolingo, there's a good reason why.

In this episode Stew and Mark discuss how they prepare to be the best versions of themselves at the start of a new school year. They discuss strategies that have worked time and time again. They also discuss new strategies that have revolutionised the way they approach the start of the school year. This is a long one, but the juicy content is towards the end, so make sure you stay tuned!

In this episode Stew and Mark get to chat with Deb about her teaching career, in particular swapping between Primary and Secondary teaching. A very eye-opening conversation about not only the differences between the systems, but we also enjoyed picking Deb's brain about how she has perceived education as a whole changing across her 25+ years in the classroom.Due to some poor planning on Stew's (actually Mark's) behalf, Mark and Stew had to share a microphone - probably good for a guest to get a word in for a change!

Join Mark and Stew as they discuss the year that was, 2024. 

Is the traditional approach to student suspensions truly effective, or are we just offering students an unintended break? Join us as we unpack this controversial subject with Cara, a head of department and dedicated Roosters fan, who offers her unique insights into the world of educational discipline. Together, we challenge the common narrative portrayed in the media, advocating for alternatives that could transform classroom dynamics for the better. Cara sheds light on the impact of suspensions on all involved parties—teachers, students, and their families—while we debate whether internal suspensions or educational interventions might be a more constructive approach.Managing student behavior is no small feat, especially for those who don't fit into the conventional classroom setting. We explore the vital role that parents play in this scenario, as well as the frustrating bottleneck they face due to long waiting lists for professional help. Our conversation takes a deep dive into the transitional challenges between primary and secondary schools, emphasizing the need for seamless support systems. We also reflect on societal influences and the collaborative efforts necessary between educators and parents to foster meaningful change in student behavior.Cara helps us dissect the logistics of student suspensions, pondering whether these measures truly deter misbehavior or merely serve as a temporary fix. We discuss innovative approaches to internal suspensions, including engaging students in community-building activities within the school. The discussion also touches on the merits of fostering accountability through face-to-face apologies, questioning how schools can implement such practices despite logistical hurdles. Wrapping up with a lighthearted nod to the power of inspirational quotes, we underscore the importance of humility, authenticity, and positive action in reshaping the educational landscape.

In this episode Stew and Mark sit down to chat with Guidance Officer Roxy. We ask the hard hitting questions like "What even is a guidance officer?" and "What does a guido do?"Roxy is a legend and has so much experience and is a consummate professional.

In today's episode, Stew and Mark are joined by Kasey, a psychologist who has a lot of experience working with children. Neurodivergent students (not to be confused with Neurodiverse students) are super challenging in both behaviour management, but also academic domains. We hope our chat with Kasey today will help you understand a little bit more about Neurodivergent students, and how you can best support them in the classroom.

In this episode Stew and Mark discuss the importance of "giving a shit" as a teacher, but focus on the fact we have a limited number of "shits" to give. We discuss where we can invest our time and energy most effectively in order to maximise our impact as teachers, whilst maintaining self-care and avoiding the dreaded burnout.

In this episode Mark and Stew discuss the ins and outs of behaviour management for high school teachers. We discuss the importance of building relationships as a cornerstone of all effective behaviour management, and share our personal stories including successes and failures. This episode is perfect for beginning teachers who are struggling and need some pointers on fundamentals, but also for teachers who want to share in some positive tales of success.

In this episode Mark and Stew sit down for a chat with Graham Lee (Stew's dad). We discuss how education has changed over the last 50 years, what it was like teaching in the 20th century, and big takeaways Graham has had across his 50 years of teaching.

In this episode Mark and Stew are joined by second year teacher Georgia. We discuss why being a second year teacher is much harder than the first year, and strategies for coping with the second year.

In this episode Mark and Stew dive into the concept of co-teaching. The co-teaching model is one which involves two teachers being responsible for a class. This means two teachers for planning, two teachers for preparation, two teachers for teaching, and yes even two teachers for marking and reporting!Is co-teaching an educational revolution? Is it just a fad? Is it sustainable for schools to employ the co-teaching model? These are just some of the questions we tackle in this episode. We hope you enjoy it!