Episode 7. Tara O'Neill: A Learning Journey

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‘We’re walking alongside them.’

Tara is a  first time Principal at Waitati Kura, just 15 minutes North of Dunedin.  She has recently moved from Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch where she was a leader in a collaborative team in learning through play and projects.  With her new team at Waitati Tara is enjoying the freedom to work across the Year 1-8 school and with and for students and teachers. Most people know Tara through the Learning Through Play Facebook page, her honest and challenging blogging, and her interesting Play Talks.    Hear about Taras journey into play as a teacher and leader. Connect with her deep fascination in students learning journey and the gift that we have as educators to sit alongside them.

Episode 6. Leslee Allen: Every child seen

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Episode 6. Leslee Allen: Every Child Seen

‘I want every child seen, known, and appreciated for who they are.’

Leslee has been teaching for just over 20 years.  She took over as acting principal at Kaurihohore School at the end of 2006.

When applying for the permanent position her one stipulation was that she needed to stay teaching three days a week in the new entrant room, even though she was entitled to be fully released.  Teaching was what Leslee wanted to do, management was not.

As her school grows she feels that she has constantly grown in this role, and feels grateful to work with a group of teachers committed to always evolving. Over the years rules went out the window, and habits and dispositions took their place. They now celebrate that their school is truly a child-centred place. 

Leslee shares how her programme ‘Number Agents’ developed. She paints a picture of where her school is now after using learning through play for the past 6 years. And she talks openly about her blog that she created to share her opinions and experience.

Episode 5. Megan Gallagher: Happy Healthy Teachers

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Megan Gallagher is a mum, furkid owner, and dedicated educator who is on a constant learning journey and relishes the opportunity to share this with others. She is focused on creating a learning environment with the brain in mind, and continues to study neuroscience in education, particularly around emotional engagement, regulation and resilience.

In 2017 Megan completed her Masters of Education with her research dissertation focused on teacher wellbeing. She is committed to working with teachers/educators/whaanau to help spread the word that happy healthy teachers/educators tend to have happier healthier classrooms where learners tend to do better socially, emotionally and academically.

Megan is described as being inspiring, passionate, loving and enthusiastic, she sees herself as a bit of a nerd who is blessed to get to do all the things that she does. Megan is a teacher, leader and learner… all life-long pursuits.

You can find out more about Meg’s projects below:

Episode 4: Jo Luff: Nature Kindy and Free Play

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Jo was a roaming trusted child, full of energy, and constantly told to sit still and concentrate. Whilst studying she was shocked how children were still being told to sit still to learn, teachers still thinking a wriggling moving child is not learning. She completely disagrees with this. Moving children are curious, learning children. Let the children play!

Jo is on the board for the International Play Association Aotearoa, and has been working with Jan Beatson with Play and Learn Nature Kindergarten Long Bay for four years. At Nature Kindy she has been supporting emotional development and building emotional resilience through unstructured self directed play

Hear how Jo advocates for children’s right to play and see the links below to find out more about her projects.

Episode 3. Todd Rigg Carriero: Montessori and taking over the world

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Episode 3.

Todd Rigg Carriero: Montessori and taking over the world

Todd is deeply passionate about education being the solution to all issues and has chosen to spend his life supporting children on their independent trajectories through their academic lives.

Hear how Todd would like to “take over NZ and then the world, with empowered adolescents, for they are the most intelligent humans on the planet; second only to 0 to 3-year-olds.”

Todd has been working at Montessori schools in the US and in NZ for the past 5 years. He is currently working with adolescents at Crimson Education empowering them to make their own choices about their future.

Episode - 52:52mins

“Find what breaks your heart and do that.”

Todd

Episode 2. Rebeccah Basset-Smith: Learning through play

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Episode 2. Rebeccah Basset-Smith: Learning through play

Rebeccah is currently a Team Leader at Silverdale School, and has been responsible for the implementation and development of the play-based learning culture in it’s early years.

Since 2016, the school has shared its model with upwards of 200 visiting principals and teachers. Rebeccah has attended conferences in NZ and Australia and has been responsible for setting up a successful professional learning group on Auckland’s North Shore and Hibiscus Coast.

Rebeccah shares her story from when she first started using play in the classroom, to now where she has seen behavioural issues slip away, kids love of school grow, and her own love of learning ignited.