Staffroom Stories of Australian Teachers

”Just” a Teacher - World Teachers Day 2022

This episode is a little different - I call out the notion that you are 'just' a teacher.
Screw that up, throw it in the bin. Yeet it, if you will. Far out the window.
There is nothing 'just' about being a teacher...
The messages in todays episode from the community should convince you otherwise!
Show notes and transcript on the blog!

Colonisation and the Impact of Powerful Storytelling - RELIT2022 Part 2

This is Part Two of my three part reflection on RELIT2022.
 
This week I take a dive into the talk from Nikki Sanchez - an incredibly powerful storyteller, decolonisation educator, and orca extraordinaire.
 
Her messages are deep, distressing, and so critically important for us as educators. Be warned, I cry in this episode. But the takeaways I had were a little off-point - the power of giving windows of resiliency, and of true storytelling.
 
Head to the website for show notes and transcript!

If You’re Not OK, Your Students Don’t Stand a Chance - RELIT2022 Part 1

This is part one in a three part mini-series exploring my unconventional takeaways from the RELIT2022 cup-filling day!
 
Part 1 takes a dive into the wisdom of Dr Jody Carrington. Her messages ring with such truth:
- If you're not ok, the people you're in charge of don't stand a chance
- All we want is to feel seen
- When you are acknowledged, you rise
 
Join me as I explore these topics and what they mean for us in our classrooms.
 
Show notes and transcript on the website!

New Term Refresh

A new term is a time for refreshing and resetting!
In this episode, I give you a few helpful ideas for how best to prepare yourself and your classroom for a new term. Things like seating plans, classroom and hallway decorations, curriculum, and also your own expectations and connections with yourself, your colleagues, and your students. 
As always, full transcript and shownotes on the site!

Anonymous Teacher Files - Teachers with Disabilities

This is the first of our Anonymous Teacher Files, where teachers have asked for me to be their voice on a sensitive topic. 
In this episode, a teacher has reached out to discuss discrimination related to a hearing impairment. I delved into the statistics of teachers with disabilities, and offer advice for how to deal with discrimination that may be occurring in your workplace as a teacher.
Full transcript and show notes available on the website.

Teacher Aides - The connective tissue of our schools

This week in Aus is Teacher Aide Appreciation Week!
Holy dooly do I appreciate every single teacher aide I've ever worked with.
In this episode I want to highlight some of the key reasons why we cannot live without our TAs; how best to work together with a TA in your classroom; and how you can access the unique and invaluable knowledge our TAs hold.
Show notes and transcript on the blog!

Unhappy with Teaching... What’s Next? With Angela Wilson

In this episode, Angela helps us to explore what our options are for when we are just unhappy with our jobs as a teacher.
We discuss a few different options for when you know you need a change, but you're not sure what is out there for you:
You still want to teach, but need a change.
You want to explore other options within education.
You want out of teaching altogether.
This episode follows on from our previous conversation about how to navigate the feeling that perhaps you might be done with teaching.
Transcript and show notes on the blog!

Thinking of Leaving Teaching? With Angela Wilson

This conversation is for every teacher who has toyed with the idea that perhaps they're not as happy as they'd like with their teaching. I don't mean all the *extra* we're dealing with, but deep down within your core.
Perhaps you need clarity and validation that teaching is absolutely still your thing. Perhaps you are on the fence. Perhaps you're ready to get out. No matter where you sit, this one is for you!
Head to the website www.staffroomstories.com for full transcript and show notes, and to explore all of the other topics that come up within our staffrooms.

No, Teens Don’t ’Tune Out’ Mum’s Voice, with Dr Daniel Abrams

Seen the media reports lately claiming that teens actually tune out their Mum's voice? The reality is a little more complex. 
Clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences (and publishing author of the article that the media are referencing) Dr Daniel Abrams joins me to discuss his research on how voice activates the reward systems in neurotypical and neurodivergent brains. 
Transcript and Show Notes on the blog.

Our Gender Diverse and Trans Students - What’s the Truth? with Dr Cate Rayner

I'm sure you've heard a plethora of things said about trans people lately, so I got in contact with the RCH Gender Service, and Dr Cate is here to provide you with the scientifically and medically accurate information needed to clear up those misconceptions.
Bottom line - you'll probably have a gender diverse or trans student in the near future (if you haven't already), and this will help you to understand them a bit better!
Show notes and full transcript available on the blog.