PodcastsEducationSchool Shorts

School Shorts

Melissa Chan-Green
School Shorts
Latest episode

59 episodes

  • School Shorts

    Online Schools? How Crimson Global Education is Disrupting the Traditional Model

    15/03/2026 | 44 mins.
    Online Schools and Alpha Schools have had a massive spike in interest but who do they work for and is this a long-term disruptor in education?
    In this episode, we explore the future of education with Penelope Barton, CEO of Crimson Global Education. Penelope shares what Crimson is working on in innovative models of schooling and whether it is more suited to catering for learners with different learning needs. Penelope Barton also looks at the role of AI in education and how she sees the relationship between education and technology working to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • School Shorts

    How to Help Struggling Writers with 'The Writing Teacher' Helen Walls

    08/03/2026 | 58 mins.
    How well do you remember what grammatical words like adverb, adjective, prepositions actually mean?

    There is a lot of discussion in the education world at the moment about how much focus should be on teaching these word classes and instead focussing on whether a sentence instinctively feels right.

    Some research suggests being able to circle an adverb or noun on a worksheet has zero impact on writing ability. Other educators say everyone should have a common understanding of formal language grammar so that teachers can say 'try adding an adjective here' and students would be more clear about what kind of word to add in.

    Helen Walls aka The Writing Teacher looks at this debate in this episode of School Shorts. She has spoken in a previous episode about the importance of handwriting in the thinking process. This episode takes that discussion further to look at how to help children who are having challenges with writers including how to help older students still struggling.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • School Shorts

    Cambridge Exams: An Explainer for Parents

    01/03/2026 | 23 mins.
    Look, I'll admit it, I don't know much about the assessment system when it gets to High School. I know you can do NCEA (with potential changes on the horizon) and some students also do Cambridge Exams, IGCSE's and A-Levels. I was among the last to do the Bursary assessment system and with kids still in primary school, I don't really know much about how this all works.
    So consider this an explainer for those who might also have only a little knowledge about this. If you have a child that is in High School or will soon be, hopefully this gives you some idea of how this particular assessment works as we speak with Chris Wiggin from Cambridge International.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • School Shorts

    The Tattooed Skateboarding Principal; Hamish Brewer

    22/02/2026 | 32 mins.
    Hamish Brewer throws out the rule book when it comes to what people expect a Principal to be. The tattooed skateboarding Principal from New Zealand now spends most of his time in the U.S where he is one of the most recognisable and disruptive voices in education.
    Hamish has won national awards for transforming failing schools into 'high-performing', 'high-expectation communities'.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • School Shorts

    AI in School, How it's Being Used in Class with Bex Rose

    15/02/2026 | 34 mins.
    Artificial intelligence is already in classrooms. Bex Rose from AI Surge shares what that actually looks like for teachers, students and learning.
    Bex works directly with schools to help them understand how they can integrate and use AI to assist. She discusses what it means for ethics, safety and age appropriate use and common misconceptions about AI in education.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About School Shorts

School Shorts is the podcast for busy parents who want to help their children succeed in school. Hosted by Melissa Chan-Green, a journalist and mum of two, this show covers practical tips on reading, writing, spelling, and maths for preschool and early school years. Learn about structured literacy, phonics, and foundational maths skills like counting, patterns, and sequences, plus how to support your child’s learning at home. Quick, easy, and packed with helpful advice—School Shorts is here to help your child thrive! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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