Teaching Together

Join us for a special edition of the podcast as we head out on the road for some much needed school holiday adventuring! We'll fill you in on our journey to the Tea Centre as well as debrief about the term that was. In this candid chat, we reflect on our recent "glows and grows," exploring the balance between our professional capacity and the reality of sometimes just being in survival mode. We spend some time discussing how we are aiming to keep refining our sustainable systems for the new term, from digital planning to the professional challenge of developing confidence in a diverse classroom. We also consider the liberating "Curb Cut Effect"—the idea that the scaffolds we put in place for one student often end up supporting a much wider group of students. Whether you are enjoying your own holiday reset or looking for ways to streamline your classroom management for next term, we'd love you to join in the conversation!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 1.5: Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilitiesFocus Area 5.2: Provide feedback to students on their learningFocus Area 6.2: Engage in professional learning and improve practiceFocus Area 6.3: Engage with colleagues and improve practiceHelpful LinksTeaching Together the PodcastThe Tea Centre

In this final instalment of our 'Practical Planning' series, we’re helping you tackle the "perfectionist's trap" - that exhausting urge to reinvent the wheel for every single lesson you teach. While you want your classroom to be a hub of creativity, we discuss why consistency might actually be better when it comes to student engagement. By drawing on a reliable 'menu' of learning activities and thinking routines, you can significantly reduce cognitive overload for your students (and yourself!) freeing up mental bandwidth to focus on the learning rather than trying to decipher new instructions every day. Join us as we consider how to trade constant novelty for solid routines that build consistency. It might just end up being more exciting than you think!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 1.2: Understand how students learnFocus Area 3.3: Use teaching strategiesFocus Area 3.4: Select and use resourcesFocus Area 4.2: Manage classroom activitiesHelpful Links⁠Project Zero’s Thinking Routine Toolbox⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram @teachingtogetherthepodcast⁠

In this mini episode, we chat about ways we have been using AI as a genuine planning partner — not a quick fix (because it's often not quick), and not a replacement for your professional judgement.We unpack when AI can actually save time, when it doesn’t, and why investing time into setting up tools like Agents or Gems can lead to more meaningful, efficient planning in the long run.From refining prompts to building personalised AI systems, this episode focuses on practical strategies that help you collaborate with AI to enhance your teaching — not replace it.

Planning lessons when you're sick is one of the least enjoyable parts of teaching — especially when you're trying to do it at 6:30am with a splitting headache and a box of tissues.In this mini episode of our Practical Planning series, we talk about the reality of preparing cover lessons and share practical ways to make the process easier.We discuss the key ingredients of a good cover lesson, why context matters for casual teachers, and how setting up systems can save you time and energy when you need it most.

The way we plan lessons on placement doesn’t always translate to real classrooms.In this episode, we reflect on how our planning has changed from our placements and early teaching days to now. We discuss why many teachers feel pressure to reinvent the wheel every week, and how developing repeatable lesson structures can make teaching more sustainable and still allow for deep thinking to happen! Rather than creating something new for every lesson, we discuss how consistent frameworks can support both teachers and students by reducing planning time, increasing clarity, and allowing more space to focus on learning.If you're a pre-service or early career teacher feeling overwhelmed by lesson planning, this conversation is for you.Helpful Links 💡Thinking Routines (as usual!)Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:2.2 – Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence3.2 – Plan, structure and sequence learning programs3.3 – Use teaching strategies6.1 – Identify and plan professional learning needs6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice

Sadly, not every good idea is a good fit, and sometimes the best thing you can do with a routine is let it go. In this episode, we talk about the routines we’ve tried, we've loved, we've worked hard to practise, but ultimately had to ditch. Sometimes, letting go of a routine feels unbearable, because of the time and effort (and let's face it, sometimes money) that we have spent to set it up. But if you are wondering whether your routine or system is working for you, then it probably isn't... Sustainable teaching isn’t about doing things just because that's what other teachers do, and it's certainly not about trying to do everything — it’s about doing what works.

Okay, so we all know routines matter… but how do you actually get them to stick?In this mini episode, we chat about some of the classroom routines that we have tried (and sometimes failed) to make everyday teaching feel more sustainable. We discuss the importance of teaching routines explicitly, and probably even more explicitly than we think we need to, in order to genuinely relieve some of the cognitive load for both ourselves and our students. If you’re looking to reduce friction in your classroom and avoid repeating yourself, this episode is for you!As always, you can connect with us @teachingtogetherthepodcast 🤍

Let’s be honest… one of the most draining parts of our job is the admin.In our first mini episode of this Sustainable Systems topic, we unpack the small but constant tasks like emails, registers and classroom tracking that quietly take up so much mental space, and share some of the simple systems that we have implemented to reduce workload and cognitive load.We would love to hear from you! What systems do you use to stay on top of your admin or make those repetitive tasks less time consuming and more manageable? Let us know by commenting below or reach out on any of our socials @teachingtogetherthepodcast 🤍

Teaching often rewards survival — getting through the day, the week, the term — but survival isn’t the same as sustainability.In our very first episode for 2026, we spend some time unpacking the difference between systems and routines, and why so many of the things we do as teachers “work”… but only in a barely-keeping-your-head-above-water & I-don't-have-time-to-come-up-with-a-better-solution kind of way.We reflect honestly on the systems we don’t have (but know we desperately need) the ones that have taken a few years to refine, and the routines we’ve tried, abandoned, and rebuilt. This episode isn’t about doing more. It’s about setting up structures you can rely on and routines that work for you so that you can make teaching something you can imagine yourself doing for the long term 🤍 Helpful Links 💡Classroom Procedures and RoutinesRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice7.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice4.2 Manage classroom activities and behaviour6.4 Apply professional learning to improve student learning

In this final episode of 2025, we’re doing a Teaching Together take on Spotify Wrapped and reflecting on the moments that really shaped us as teachers this year. The minutes we have spent in teacher mode, the top emotions, routines on repeat, and pedagogical “genres” that have defined our year. As Grayce would say, this episode is all about cognitive closure — reflecting, putting 2025 down gently, and giving ourselves permission to properly rest and recover before kick-starting the 2026 school year.We had a lot of fun reflecting on the year that has been, and we hope that this episode helps you find some cognitive closure of your own before resting, resetting, and heading into whatever comes next.See you next year!

It's nearly Christmas🎄which means most of us are just coming out the other side of report writing, probably a little worse-for-wear. In today’s episode, we chat about one of the trickiest parts of the process: reporting on the qualitative stuff.We chat about why it’s hard to assess and measure attributes like student mindset, attitude to learning and positivity as we reflect on our own recent report-writing experiences. We also explore simple strategies we can put in place for 2026 to make reporting on these less-tangible qualities more consistent, fair, and meaningful for all of our students—not just the enthusiastic or bubbly ones.If you know the weight of trying to decide whether someone 'always, usually or sometimes' shows a positive attitude to their learning, then this one is for you!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 1.1 – Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of studentsFocus Area 5.5 – Report clearly, accurately and respectfully to students and parents/carersFocus Area 6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice

In this episode, we’re pulling apart one of the biggest assumptions in education right now — that we can standardise our way to better teachers. 🎓The Strong Beginnings report argues that high-quality, uniform Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs will create more effective teachers — and in turn, solve the teacher shortage. But that idea misses a huge piece of the puzzle.Today we unpack why “teacher effectiveness” can’t simply be built through university content or policy frameworks. Whether you’re in ITE, mentoring a graduate, or somewhere in between, this episode challenges the myth of the “perfectly prepared teacher” and reminds us that teaching is as much art as it is science. 💡 Helpful LinksDepartment of Education – Strong Beginnings ReportMason & Matas (2015) – Teacher Attrition and Retention in AustraliaAITSL – Initial Teacher Education Data ReportsRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 6.3 - Engage with colleagues and improve practiceFocus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

In today's Recess Digest, we're unpacking two more Habits of Mind - Applying Past Knowledge and Taking Responsible Risks. We chat a little bit about what these habits mean and share some ideas and language you can use in your classroom to start building these habits in your own learners! Helpful Links 💡Teaching Together Habits of Mind Stamp!The Habits of Mind InstituteProject Zero - Thinking Routines

Parent–teacher interviews: love them or dread them, they’re one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the school year. In this episode, we get honest about how we typically prepare, and share some strategies for both primary and high school settings, including how to navigate the tricky conversations that inevitably come up from time to time.You’ll also hear some practical wisdom from one of our favourite books for new graduate teachers, Bianca Hewes’ On Teaching — including her must-have interview survival tips — and we’ll share our own hacks for keeping calm, confident, and compassionate during long nights of back-to-back meetings.Whether you’re a beginning teacher heading into your first round of interviews, or if you just want to feel a little less panicked and a little more prepared, this episode has something for you!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs: Focus Area 3.7 - Engage parents/carers in the educative processFocus Area 7.3 - Engage with the parents/carersFocus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communitiesHelpful Links 💡On Teaching by Bianca Hewes (Five Senses Education)Cool.org – Connecting with Parents: Sustainable Connection for Stronger Family–School Partnerships

Welcome to Term 3! Whether you are a few weeks in or just getting started, the end-of-winter burnout is probably creeping in, if it hasn't already crash-landed in front of you.In this episode, we talk honestly about the emotional rollercoaster of teaching across the term and pull apart some recent research about teacher wellbeing, including some surprising stats on how our energy and motivation shift week by week as the term goes on.We also share some practical strategies and mindset shifts that have helped us to reset and win the arm wrestle against fatigue and burn out as the term goes on. If you’re feeling flat, fatigued, or like you're just going through the motions — this episode is your mid-year circuit breaker! 💡 Helpful Links: Be You Educator Wellbeing Toolkit Be You Wellbeing Tools for Teachers Be You Professional Learning for Educators Black Dog Institute – Teacher Wellbeing ReportUNSW: Boosting Wellbeing at the Start of Term📝 Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:• 6.2: Engage in professional learning and improve practice• 7.3: Engage with colleagues and improve practice• 7.4: Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities• 4.4: Maintain student safety and wellbeing

Welcome to another episode from the learning lounge! Today's special guest Matt Pitman, author of The Connection Curriculum, joins in for a powerful conversation unpacking some of the big, confronting questions for educators everywhere. We think about who our school system is serving, what does it mean to truly connect with students and help them find meaning in their learning. We also explore how school refusal and teacher burnout reflect deeper systemic issues, and why shifting our focus toward authentic connection could be a key part of the solution.Helpful Links 💡📘 The Connection Curriculum – Buy the book📲 Follow Matt Pitman on Instagram – @mattlukepitmanRecording this at PD? Here are the relevant APSTs: Focus Area 1.1 – Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of studentsFocus Area 4.1 – Support student participationFocus Area 7.4 – Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

Today we’re getting honest about the emotional and professional expectations we had walking into the classroom and how reality has reshaped those over time.We open up about the emotional energy that teaching demands from us, some of the realities of which neither of us quite expected. We also challenge some of the professional expectations that we once thought were non-negotiables — think Pinterest-worthy displays, colour-coded planners, and perfectly ‘evidence-based’ practice. Spoiler: we’ve learned that sometimes, doing the bare minimum is actually doing your job well. Helpful links 💡If you need a pick me up - Bluey Cake FailRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

In this episode, we’re talking all things Proficient Teacher Accreditation. Whether you’re at the beginning of your accreditation journey or mentoring someone through it, this episode has got something for you. Sierra shares a few of her top tips to keep the stress levels low (did someone say proficiency party??) and Grayce shares how she has found the process to be so far. We unpack the steps involved in NSW with plenty of practical tips, break down how to annotate your evidence, and touch on how the process compares in other Australian states, (spoiler alert, it's not too different).You’ve got this — and we’re here to cheer you on! Want our free Evidence Planning Matrix?Send us a DM with the word “Proficient” over on Instagram @teachingtogetherthepodcast and we’ll send it your way!Other Helpful links 💡Apply for Proficient Teacher (NESA)Evidence Guide PDF (NESA)AITSL Standards – Proficient Compare the process in other states:VIC (VIT)QLD (QCT)SAWANTACTTAS Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 6.1: Identify and plan professional learning needsFocus Area 6.2: Engage in professional learning and improve practiceFocus Area 7.2: Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirementsFocus Area 7.4: Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

We are back for Term 2 and are super keen to bring you this conversation with Tom Mahoney, a passionate educator and PhD candidate at Deakin University. Tom's work involves exploring the impact of educational ideologies on education and educators, and seeks to look for ways to help teachers critically reflect on the ins and outs of their practice. We hope you find this discussion really helpful, maybe even challenging, as we consider the 'why' behind what we do. Helpful Links 💡Check out Tom's Blog HereRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 6.2 - Engage in professional learning and improve practiceFocus Area 6.3 - Engage with colleagues and improve practice

In today's Recess Digest episode we continue exploring some more of the "Habits of Mind" that relate to creative thinking. We discuss some of the challenges that appear when students believe that they aren't creative, and share some ideas and strategies to help give your students procedures for developing creative thinking processes. Helpful Links 💡⁠⁠Habits of Mind Institute⁠⁠⁠⁠Project Zero - Thinking Routines Toolbox⁠⁠Our Habit of Mind StampIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate and share it with your fellow educators!

With NAPLAN testing in full swing, we’re diving into the real purpose of formative and summative assessment—how they work together, shape student learning and our own practice.Of course, we can’t have this conversation without stepping onto our soapbox about standardised testing. Are we assessing what truly matters, or just what’s easiest to measure? And what does that mean for the way we teach?Join us today for a challenging conversation that might just give you some food for thought as we consider the impact of standardised testing and the push for measurable performance outcomes on almost everything else we do as teachers. Helpful Links 💡Schiro's Curriculum Ideologies Classroom Assessment and Pedagogy - Black and WilliamRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 5.1 – Assess student learning

We know how important it is to equip students with strong writing skills, but how do we ensure writing is truly integrated across all subjects—not just in English? In this episode, Christine Teahan, the Co-Director of Academics at The Writing Revolution, joins in for a discussion on why writing instruction matters at every level of education. Christine shares valuable insights on how teachers can embed explicit writing instruction into all subject areas, helping students become stronger thinkers, communicators, and learners. Regardless of your context, this is such a helpful and valuable conversation!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTsFocus Area 2.1 - Content and teaching strategies of the teaching areaFocus Area 2.5 - Literacy and Numeracy StrategiesHelpful Links 💡The Writing Revolution

How do we make sure that our fast finishers aren't just doing 'busy work?' In this episode, we explore the research on extending and challenging students in the classroom, drawing on insights from the latest AERO practice guide. We’ll break down what meaningful challenge looks like in the classroom and share some practical techniques and strategies that you can draw on to effectively extend and challenge all learners, not just your 'fast finishers.'Helpful Links 💡AERO Practice Guide – Extend and ChallengeRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 1.5 – Differentiate teaching to meet the specific needs of students Focus Area 3.1 – Establish challenging learning goalsFocus Area 4.1 – Support student participation

Mistakes happen, but do your learners see mistakes as roadblocks or learning opportunities? As we head into a new school year and work towards building safe and positive classroom environments, we have a chat about the research on error climate in the classroom and explore how students’ perception of mistakes shape their motivation, confidence, and willingness to take risks.We’ll share some practical strategies to help students build their tolerance for errors and consider how our own reactions and responses shape the error climate in our classrooms—often more than we realise!Helpful Links 💡British Journal of Educational Psychology - Error ClimateEdutopia: Growing Students' Mistake ToleranceAPA: The Interplay Between Mistakes and LearningRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 3.3 – Use teaching strategies Focus Area 4.1 – Support student participationFocus Area 6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice.

BONUS EPISODE ALERT! 🚨Hey Teachers! We hope you have been loving your school holidays and enjoying a well-deserved rest. As the start of Term One approaches, we wanted to bring you some bonus content to help with your planning and to give you a little bit of inspiration as you prepare for this school year. We are joined today by Andrea Hillbrick, an educational consultant who draws on her vast knowledge and experience as a teacher to share with us 10 strategies we should 'pack' into our teacher bags for 2025. We both came away from this chat feeling so excited and inspired for this year, and we hope it does the same for you!!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTsFocus Area 2.1 - Content and teaching strategies of the teaching areaFocus Area 2.5 - Literacy and numeracy strategiesFocus Area 3.3 - Use teaching strategiesFocus Area 3.4 - Select and use resourcesHelpful Links 💡Andrea's Website (full of helpful resources and info!)10 Teaching Ideas from AndreaAndrea's Instagram

As the year comes to a close, join us as we craft some adorable clay fridge magnets for Grayce's kindy students and and spend some time reflecting on her first year as a teacher.We also dive into the festive season with a lighthearted discussion about Christmas gifts—teacher presents, thoughtful gestures for colleagues, and ideas for managing the gift budget. It's a little different to our usual format, but it’s the perfect way to wrap up and celebrate the year that was.Whether you're wrapping gifts, finishing reports, or just looking for some cheerful company, press play and let’s wrap up 2024 together!

In this special episode, we chat with one of our friends, Hannah, about the ups and downs of her first few years as a teacher. Together, we reflect on first-year challenges, favourite teaching moments and the lessons that come with more time and experience in the classroom. Hannah shares her journey to obtaining approval to teach in the NSW Department and the importance of working together with your colleagues...especially when you decide that putting on a school musical in your first year of teaching would be fun! Whether you are heading towards your first year of teaching or just reflecting on your growth, this episode reminds us that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel!Helpful Links 💡NSW Department of Education: Approval to Teach

Today's second Recess Digest episode continues exploring some more of the "Habits of Mind" - Metacognition, Flexible Thinking and Questioning. We feel that these dispositions are all really closely related and that fostering them in your classrooms doesn't happen without intentional planning and purpose. Listen in for some ideas and strategies to develop routines and habits in your classroom that build these essential habits for our learners.Helpful Links 💡⁠Habits of Mind Institute⁠⁠Project Zero - Thinking Routines Toolbox⁠If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate and share it with your fellow educators!

In today's (slightly longer than usual) episode, we’re breaking down key strategies from the 'Great Teaching Toolkit' to help you promote deeper learning and critical thinking in your classroom. We guide you through six core elements—Structuring, Explaining, Questioning, Interacting, Embedding, and Activating—giving you practical tips and examples that you can start using right away.You’ll learn how to simplify complex ideas without overwhelming your students, ask the right questions to encourage critical thinking, and help your students become more independent learners. Whether you’re an experienced educator or just starting out, this episode offers actionable insights to help you foster more meaningful learning experiences in your classroom.TL;DR Overview of the Great Teaching Toolkit’s four dimensions Six elements to deepen student thinking How to structure lessons to engage and challenge students Managing cognitive load while simplifying explanations Asking better questions and using feedback to drive deeper thinking Encouraging students to take ownership of their learningHelpful Links 💡 ⁠Great Teaching Toolkit Evidence Review⁠⁠Project Zero Thinking Routines Toolbox⁠⁠Understanding How We Learn - Book⁠Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs: Focus Area 1.2 - Understand how students learn Focus Area 3.3 - Use teaching strategies Focus Area 4.1 - Support student participation Focus Area 5.1 - Assess student learning If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share it with your colleagues! Stay tuned for more strategies to support your students' learning.

In today's episode, we’re here to help you feel more confident and prepared for your teaching placements. From packing your teacher-bag to managing lesson timing and taking care of your voice, we’ll share practical tips that make a big difference. Whether you are heading out on your first or final placement, this episode episode is packed with essentials to guide you through.Helpful Links 💡Voice Care for TeachersProtecting Your Teacher VoiceBe sure to send this to someone you know who might be preparing for their placement. Remember to follow, rate, and leave a review!

Imagine this. You have spent all weekend writing detailed feedback comments all over your students' assessment tasks, only to have them look at their score and throw the rest of the paper away. Sound painful? Join us today as we explore the powerful impact feedback can have in your classroom and how you can make feedback more effective for you and your students without adding to your workload. This episode is full of practical strategies for engaging your students in the feedback process because feedback should be more effort for them than it is for you!Helpful Links 💡NSW Education: Feedback Practices and StrategiesAITSL Spotlight: FeedbackRecording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 5.2 - Provide feedback to students on their learning.

Welcome to the very first of our Recess Digest episodes, where we aim to bring you quick ideas and helpful insights in the time it would take for you to eat your recess! Today we dive into two "Habits of Mind" that are essential for both students and teachers: persisting and managing impulsivity. These are skills that not only help in academic success but also support emotional intelligence and long-term resilience. We'll share some practical tips and strategies that you can easily implement in your classroom to help your students develop these habits and grow as life-long learners. Helpful Links 💡⁠Habits of Mind Institute⁠⁠Habits of Mind Explanations for Teachers ⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate, and share it with your fellow educators! Stay tuned for more "Recess Digest" episodes to come.

The 3 R's - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - are probably more commonly referred to these days as literacy & numeracy. We know, as teachers, that these facets of learning are essential and need to be integrated across all curriculum areas, but that is easier said than done!The release of the National NAPLAN results last week sparked a great deal of conversation in the media around the state of literacy in Australia. While we aren't here today to unpack all of the issues and hype around these results, we do want to share some practical strategies that can be implemented across all subjects to help strengthen student writing. Whether you’re an English teacher or not, this episode will help you to discover how we can all play a part in bringing back the forgotten 'R!'Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTsFocus Area 2.1 - Content and teaching strategies of the teaching areaFocus Area 2.5 - Literacy and numeracy strategiesFocus Area 3.3 - Use teaching strategiesHelpful Links ⁠Effective Writing Strategies for Targeting Learner Needs⁠ ⁠NESA Report: Teaching Writing - Thematic Review⁠ ⁠Summary Report of the Australian Writing Survey 2018⁠ ⁠The Writing Revolution⁠

Most of us would agree that creative thinking is important for our students to develop, but cultivating it and teaching students how to 'think creatively' is not an easy task. Join us today as we unpack some of the latest PISA results assessing creative thinking across the globe and explore some frameworks and structures that you can use in order to better cultivate creative thinking in your students (and maybe even in yourself)!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTsFocus Area 2.1 - Content and teaching strategies of the teaching areaFocus Area 3.3 - Use teaching strategiesHelpful Links 💡PISA - Creative ThinkingPISA Creative Thinking FrameworkACER Creative Thinking Skill Development FrameworkACARA Critical and Creative Thinking Learning Continuum

The height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time for everyone, and an especially unprecedented time for the education sector. If you think you still see and feel the lingering effects of COVID lockdowns ('long-covid' if you will), you are not alone! Join us today for an affirming conversation about the impact of extended periods of online learning on both teachers and students and some possible considerations for how we can respond to and continue to manage the rollercoaster ride that was and is COVID-19. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTsFocus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communitiesHelpful Links 💡Under pressure and overlooked: the impact of COVID-19 on teachers in NSW public schoolsThe Impact of School Closures on Learning and Mental Health of Children: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Being a teacher means being loads of different things; an educator, an entertainer, a mediator, an event planner, a cheerleader, a detective...the list goes on. A skilled interpreter of legislation is one thing that most of us aren't, (unless you've had a super interesting career change), and is the reason why the NCCD is actually super important and very beneficial. Join us today as we unpack what the NCCD is, why you need to know about it as a teacher, and how you can be prepared for the role that you play in the process. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APTSsFocus Area - 6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needsFocus Area 7.2 - Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirementsHelpful Links 💡NCCD HomepageNCCD PD for Educational LeadersNCCD PD for Primary SchoolsNCCD PD for Secondary Schools

It would be a terrifying thing to have to count up the number of tears cried, doors slammed, voices raised and detentions served over homework. Most of us know that it holds some value, so why does it cause so much pain and frustration? Grab your favourite cup of tea and tune in as we unpack some of the flaws with typical approaches to homework and share strategies that you can implement to make it more meaningful and less burdensome for everyone involved!Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APTSFocus Area 3.7 - Engage parents / carers in the educative processFocus Area 7.3 - Engage with the parents/carersHelpful Links 💡Does Homework Still Have Value? - A Johns Hopkins Education Expert Weighs InResearch analysis: Getting the most out of homeworkHomework: The Upsides and Downsides Rethinking Homework - Cathy Vatterott

Join us today for Part 2 of our discussion about the GTPA. This episode, we unpack Practice 3, 4 & 5, as we share some examples of layout, evidence and of course some laughter along the way!

Join us today as we shine a light on the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA) both for pre-service teachers undertaking it, and for teachers who might be supporting pre-service teachers through this daunting process. This is Part 1 of a two-part series where we chat about some of our GTPA experience and top tips, as well as giving you an overview of the GTPA as a whole. In this episode, we also unpack Practice 1 & 2, giving you some examples of types of evidence that you can include in these sections and how you might go about writing your report to show those markers that you are classroom-ready!Helpful Links 💡GTPA Website

As educators, we're constantly seeking ways to enhance our teaching practices and empower our students. Rapid advancements in technology has changed much about the way that we teach and has required us to be adaptable flexible in how we approach learning and the digital world. In this discussion, we unpack what current research has to say about how teachers are feeling about AI in schools and address some of the real concerns and frustrations that it can cause. But, we also discuss the incredible potential of AI in educational spaces; from enhancing student engagement to optimising assessment strategies, we'll explore how AI tools can support teachers and make their lives easier. Join us as we share all about our favourite AI tools and how you can easily use them to support our own planning and practice. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant APSTs:Focus Area 2.6 - Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Focus Area 3.4 - Select and use resourcesFocus Area 4.5 - Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethicallyHelpful Links 💡How AI can be used meaningfully by teachers and students in 2023 Artificial Intelligence In Education: Teachers’ Opinions On AI In The ClassroomTeaching with AIWhat Australian teachers really think of AI and its impact on learning

Welcome to the Learning Lounge! Today, Sierra has the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Shyam Barr, a passionate educator and educational consultant who specialises in supporting learners of all ages to develop their skillset of self-regulated learning. Join us today for an informative conversation about what self-regulated learning is and why and we should teach it, as well as how to implement some easy, low effort strategies that support self-regulated learning in your classroom. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards: Focus Area 1.2 - Understand how students learn Focus area 3.3 - Use teaching strategies Focus area 4.1 Support student participation Focus area 6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practiceHelpful Links 💡Pre-Order Shy's new book!Blog Post: Beyond Cognition: Embracing the Multifaceted Nature of the Science of Learning

Well it's been a long 11 weeks but we have FINALLY made it through Term One, which is especially exciting for Grayce who has slayed her way through her first full-time term as a classroom teacher! Join us today as we reflect on what we have loved and learnt this term, discussing everything from parent-teacher interviews and imposter syndrome, to the joy of students' lightbulb moments, holiday plans and our goals for the term ahead.

We've all had this moment. You look up at your classroom door, at the beginning of a lesson, only to see an unexpected face, and all the error messages start going off inside your brain. You have a Teaching Assistant scheduled to you today. They have arrived with a smile. It should bring some relief, but you have an overwhelming sense of dread and frustration because you didn't know or your forgot that they were coming, and now you have to bring them up to speed, or come up with something for them to help with, in about 3 seconds. Or maybe that's just us?...Hopefully not! Join us today as we share some of our own experiences from working as Teaching Assistants and unpack 7 evidence-based recommendations for how to make the most of Teaching Assistants & SLSOs to support you and your students' learning.Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards: Focus area 3.2 - Plan, structure and sequence learning programs Focus area 3.4 - Select and use resourcesHelpful LinksMaking Best Use of Teaching Assistants - Guidance ReportSupport Scaffolding Framework for Teaching Assistants - DiagramSelf Assessment Guide - Teaching Assistant Implementation

In a digital age where the line between home and work is becoming increasingly blurry, how do we stop emails from infiltrating our time and zapping all of our energy? Join us today for a discussion about the pros and cons associated with email and some strategies that schools and teachers can implement to help reduce workload and stress for teachers.Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards Focus Area 7.1 - Meet professional ethics and responsibilities Focus Area 7.3 - Engage with the parents/carers Focus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communitiesHelpful Links 💡Australian Government Factsheet - Right to Disconnect ReformsSome interesting stats about teacher use of email in the UKRead more about the Monash University study conducted into Teacher's Perceptions of their Work

There's a lot of conversation in the teaching world at the moment about the amount of time it takes for us to get through everything on our to-do lists. Today we discuss the importance of good time management for experiencing job satisfaction and share some tools and strategies for improving time management and building good habits into our admin time and planning periods. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards for this episode: Focus Area 7.2 - Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements Focus Area 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities Helpful LinksSierra's Favourite Digital PlannerSierra's Favourite Paper PlannerAtomic Habits

In a study conducted on teacher expectations during the 1960s, two teachers received their class lists for the year which included student IQ results. BUT, on one of those lists, the IQ 'results' were actually just the students' locker numbers. At the end of the year, the students who were listed as having a high IQ performed much better than those who were listed as having a low IQ. What's amazing though, is that in the other class, students with the high locker number 'IQ's' also performed significantly better than those with the lower locker numbers. This suggests that it wasn't the IQ's that had the greatest effect, but what the teachers expected from the students based on their IQ. Today we chat about the very tangible influence that our expectations have on our students' learning and outline some helpful practices that we should adopt if we want to be high-expectation-teachers. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards for this episode: Focus Area 1.1 - Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students Focus Area 1.2 - Understand how students learn Focus Area 3.1 - Establish challenging learning goals Focus Area 4.1 - Support student participationHelpful Links 💡 Visible Learning Research Database Visible Learning - What Are Meta-Analyses? Austin's Butterfly: Models, Critique & Descriptive Feedback

Most of us are creatures of habit, and we all know the power of a good routine, whether inside or outside of the classroom. Today we are unpacking a little bit of the science behind routines and their power to help our students (and us) engage more easily with learning. We also introduce some of our favourite thinking routines and Sierra shares some glows and grows she has had with routines in her secondary classroom. Recording this as PD? Here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards for this episode: Focus area 1.2 - Understand how students learn Focus area 3.3 - Use teaching strategies Focus area 4.2 - Manage classroom activitiesHelpful Links Project Zero Thinking Routines Toolbox Article: Exploring the evidence base: The role of routines in creating an effective learning environment

Classrooms can be fun to set up at the start of the year, but snazzy decor and colour coordination are not the only things - or even the first things - that we should be planning for in our classrooms. Today we are busting the expectations around having a picture-perfect classroom, as well as unpacking some helpful questions that can guide us when creating positive AND pretty learning environments for our classes this year. If you want to knock over some PD, here are the relevant Australian Professional Teaching Standards for this episode. Standard 4: Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments4.1 - Support Student ParticipationStandard 6: Engage in professional learning6.2 - Engage in professional learning and improve practice💡 Helpful Links⁠Creating Cultures of Thinking⁠⁠Gallery Walks

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