All Things Ed

Follow All Things Ed
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

This podcast is about all things education. Think teaching, tutoring, and anything else related to passing on knowledge to others.

Sarah Carman


    • Jul 11, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 12m AVG DURATION
    • 71 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from All Things Ed with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from All Things Ed

    1: School to Uni Transition, and How to Make it Smooth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 16:29


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.

    20: Listener Questions Answered & Season 5 Sneak Peak

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2021 13:12


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.

    19: How to Write Tailored Report Comments in Less Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2021 13:23


    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 tailoring of comments so that each student receives the bespoke comment they deserve. But it streamlines various aspects of the process to save me time. Win win. Enjoyed this discovery? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.

    18: Why Do Teachers Move Schools?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 13:27


    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 move. Everyone seems to have their own unique view on this life event, based on their experiences. So, when do teachers move schools, and why? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    17: Tips to Reduce Your Marking Workload

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 13:35


    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 students aren't too exhausted... like anything, you've got to have buy in if you want it to yield results. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    16: Don't Get in Their Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 12:50


    In this episode I talk about the importance of letting students chart their own course, with guidance of course. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    15: Picnics in Parks with People

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 13:25


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    14: A Successful Student Conference on Zoom

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 16:59


    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 run. This episode is dedicated to our beloved cat Sampson. May he catch many rays of sun wherever he's off to next. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    13: I Hope This Email Finds You Sane

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 9:47


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    12: When Busy is Your Middle Name (But it Shouldn't Be)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 13:39


    Lockdown continues. Zoom lessons continue. Things are busy, but manageable given that we know it's not forever. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    11: Brain Drain and Zoom Doom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 13:10


    Reflections on two weeks of remote teaching (and hopefully remote learning). Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    10: Now We're Learning Remotely (Again)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 12:39


    Title says it all. Lockdown, Zoom lessons, square eyes. Let's do this.

    9: "I'd Rather Be Somewhere Else"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 13:13


    Realisations and reflections on how to engage students who would prefer not to be at school.

    8: No Attention Span? No Worries!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 13:20


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    7: A Horizontal Holiday

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 11:11


    Reflection on term 1 and the school holiday spent horizontal. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    6: Turning 30 & Camping in the Rain

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 17:47


    It's pretty much what the title says. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    5: Helping School Counsellors Stay Afloat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 16:47


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    4: School Holiday Experiments

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 10:16


    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 / eating more plants - Various iPhone settings aimed at discouraging usage With all experiments, I think it's important to approach them without absolutism. At times, it can be tempting to apply unwavering rules and restrictions to our lives in the hope that they will improve, but rules hardly ever reach the root cause of discomfort, nor do they set a person up for improved self-worth. Curiosity is the aim of the game, not scientific rigour! Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    3: Active Relaxation for Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 14:53


    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 how I've tried to make the most of my time off, and how I plan to see the rest of the school holidays out. For me, napping on the couch all day is not the answer to curing boredom, though I admit there has been plenty of it. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    2: What Don't They Teach You at University?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 11:45


    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 question. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    1: When Students Teach Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 11:52


    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 city), I wasn't expecting them to become champions of environmental change in such a short time. They ended up teaching me about what we need to do to preserve our natural world.

    20: My Biggest Failure

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 12:29


    This week I discuss my biggest teaching failure. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the discomfort! Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    19: Mentoring Junior Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 10:44


    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? What do you find most effective when it comes to supporting them? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    18: Teaching Full Time and Studying Part Time - Smart Move or Death Wish?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 8:23


    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 both teaching and studying at the same time, with varying degrees of success. There are a couple of strategies that are working well for me right now, and I mention both in this podcast. Got ideas or questions? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    17: My New Project Outside of Teaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 9:35


    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 progress and preliminary findings, and how I'm finding a balance between work and study. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    16: Teacher Burnout: The COVID Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 12:14


    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 some ideas to consider when talking with a colleague or friend who you think is approaching burnout. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    15: Are We Over-Surveying Our Students?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 10:46


    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 the information we need from our students without irritating them? I've got three ideas. Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    14: The Social Dilemma - What Teachers Need to Know About Social Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 11:56


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    13: Creating Positive Learning Experiences when Everything is Cancelled

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 14:52


    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 end of their studies at high school. Also in this episode: exams. Specifically, giving them back to students. How do you do it? Any tips for avoiding upset, and for getting important individualised messages through to each student? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    12: It Is Actually Possible to Enjoy PD

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 10:57


    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 you think? Love PD? Hate it? A bit of both? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    11: School Holidays and Lonely Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 8:16


    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 weren't in contact with me at all. Some just needed the odd bit of clarification. And some needed words of reassurance and opportunities to discuss stress levels at length. Pastoral support is hard to do over email, but I've been trying to help where I can. What are your strategies? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    10: Thank You Past Self, For Documenting Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 10:30


    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: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    9: Should Students Even Have Career Goals at Age Fifteen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 10:54


    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 science, we help students decide which scientific discipline(s) are the best fit for their future plans. Asking fifteen-year-old kids what they wanted to do when they leave school feels a bit odd to me. Most of them don't have a clear plan, and that's totally understandable. At fifteen, I was so very green, and I had no life experience. My plans for the future were not well informed, and they changed dramatically at age 23 anyway. Should we be asking students what they want to do when they leave school? Is asking this question problematic in itself? Because if every adult in a student's life is asking them the same thing, we're collectively saying "this really matters, and you MUST have a clear plan." What do you think? Is this conversation necessary at age fifteen? Should it be prefaced with "it's ok if you don't know..."? I don't know! Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    8: Should You Discuss Your Own Mental Health at School?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2020 16:01


    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 experiences to help students navigate their own decisions, especially when those decisions stir up mental health challenges similar to my own. But there is a fine line between oversharing and providing targeted, relevant pastoral care. I talk about treading this line. Not easy, but doable - at least I think so. What do you think? Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    7: Getting Back to Normal (Sort Of)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020 17:36


    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 getting more time to focus on the actual teaching part of the job. I'm using my time at home to explore new hobbies and get back to basics. I'm not running around like a headless chicken. I'm more relaxed and a bit less busy.  Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    6: Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 10:53


    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 cats. For these are big parts of my life now. (Actually cats always were.) Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    5: Putting on Your Own Oxygen Mask First, and Other Important Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 15:26


    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 that come from students and their families right now? How can we make time for other things? (Including those all important commitments we make to ourselves such as don't eat a packet of chips for dinner because you're 'busy'...) I also talk about working for free. And not to do this. Even though there is a pandemic on. I hope these lessons are useful. I've taken ten years to learn them, so they are hard won! Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    4: Working from Home: It's Just Not the Same

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2020 12:34


    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 silver lining. Enjoy. Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    3: Rubbish Learner Becomes Teacher

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2020 11:26


    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 recipe for happiness. You may have others. Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    2: School Holidays & Questions from Parents

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2020 12:17


    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 home?! Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    1: End of Term; Catch of Breath!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 13:13


    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 discussing those. Also discussed are various other things going on, including sources of stress and how I'm managing them. Enjoy, and stay safe. Email me: hello@spongeeducation.com.

    10: Technology Saves the Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2020 11:56


    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.

    9: Now We’re Learning Remotely

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 11:07


    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.

    8: Preparing for Remote Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2020 10:29


    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.

    7: Why Don’t We Differentiate Professional Development?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 12:32


    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.

    6: Keeping Stress in Check

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 12:28


    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. 

    5: My Top Three Favourite Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 15:10


    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.

    4: Making Boring Lessons Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 17:16


    All Things Ed was born from a passion to make a difference in the education space worldwide. How do you avoid giving boring lessons? How can we as teachers jazz up dry material? In this episode, I talk about how I avoid boring lessons, and I list the strategies I have used so far.

    3: Do You Adjust the Curriculum for Current Affairs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 12:20


    All Things Ed was born from a passion to make a difference in the education space worldwide. Do you adjust what you teach to echo the interests of your students? Do you modify the focus of your lessons to reflect what is going on in the wider community, even globally? In this episode, I talk about my thoughts on teaching climate change in the classroom. Article ref: https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/13/new-zealand-schools-to-teach-students-about-climate-crisis-activism-and-eco-anxiety

    2: Getting Students to Complete the Work You Set

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020 11:55


    All Things Ed was born from a passion to make a difference in the education space worldwide. How do you get students to submit their work on time, and completed? In this episode, I talk about the things I have tried to get this happening. In particular, I'll go through a strategy that has drastically improved homework submission rates for my classes. 

    1: The Extra Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2020 9:07


    All Things Ed was born from a passion to make a difference in the education space worldwide. In this episode, I'll discuss the myriad of extra tasks and administrative wonderment that goes with teaching. I'll also talk about how I coped with it in my first year of teaching, and how I plan to approach it in round two.

    Claim All Things Ed

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel