Parent Teacher Interview

Some conversations are worth coming back to, and this is one of them!
A little over a year ago, I sat down with Anna O'Connor from Sound Slam to talk about early literacy and the foundations children need to become confident readers. Revisiting that conversation, I was reminded just how much there is to take away from it.
In this episode, we explore the skills that sit underneath learning to read, why phonological awareness is so important, and how much of this learning can happen through the everyday conversations, games and experiences we share with our children.
We unpack the Big Six of Reading, including oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency and comprehension. Anna explains what these skills look like in the early years and shares some practical ways families can help build them long before children pick up their first reader.
We also talk about decodable readers, the importance of continuing to read rich picture books, and why everyday experiences – from playing games in the car to a trip to the supermarket or even a visit to Bunnings – can provide some wonderful opportunities for learning.
Anna also shares the story behind Sound Slam, the card game she created with Lucy Campbell to help families develop early literacy skills through play.
One of my favourite reminders from this conversation is that supporting children's learning doesn't always need to mean sitting down and doing extra work. Sometimes it's the little things we do together that provide the richest opportunities.
Whether you're a parent, teacher or simply interested in how children learn, I hope you enjoy this one.

What we discuss
The Big Six of Reading and how the different components work together.

Why oral language and vocabulary are so important in the early years.

Phonological awareness, including rhyming, syllables, initial sounds, blending and segmenting.

The difference between phonological awareness and phonics.

How everyday conversations and play can help build early literacy skills.

Decodable readers, picture books and the importance of reading broadly.

How parents and teachers can work together to support children's reading development.

The story behind Sound Slam and how families can use the game.

Simple ways to bring more language, vocabulary and learning into everyday family life.

Find out more about Sound Slam
Sound Slam is a card game created by Anna O'Connor and Lucy Campbell, designed to help children develop phonological awareness through play.

🌐 Website: https://soundslam.com.au/

🃏 Sound Slam card game: https://soundslam.com.au/products/sound-slam-card-game

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundslamau/

Resources and further reading
A few of the resources and ideas that came up in our original conversation:

The Big Six of Reading – Deslea Konza
The Big Six framework explores six interconnected components of reading: oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
NSW Department of Education – Literacy in Early Childhood: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/early-learning/professional-learning/literacy-in-early-childhood

Deslea Konza – Teaching Reading: Why the "Fab Five" Should Be the "Big Six": https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1047077

Connect with Parent Teacher Interview
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod/
If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast, sharing it with another parent or educator who might find it useful, and leaving a rating or review wherever you listen.
Thanks for listening to the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast – the space between home and school.

Music credits
Music sourced from Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/⁠
🎵 “Ember” – The Lakes
🎵 “Green Leaves” – The Lakes

In this episode of the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast, I'm joined by Cheri from WonderGlow OT for a conversation about what occupational therapy can look like in everyday life.

We explore how OTs work alongside children and families, why parent coaching can be just as important as working directly with a child, and how the right support depends on the individual child, their family and the environments they spend time in.

We also discuss the importance of collaboration between families, teachers and allied health professionals — and some of the practical challenges that can get in the way.

In this episode, we explore:
What occupational therapy is and some of the misconceptions surrounding it.

Why therapy isn't about fixing a child, and why understanding the reasons behind a challenge matters.

The role of parents and caregivers in supporting progress beyond the therapy session.

Why goals need to reflect a child's priorities, capacity and circumstances.

Common areas of support, including emotional regulation, transitions, handwriting and self-care.

How OTs can work in homes, schools and clinics to understand a child's everyday environment.

The challenges of communication between teachers and allied health professionals, and how whole-class strategies can help create more inclusive classrooms.

Pathways families may explore when seeking occupational therapy, including private services, Medicare rebates, private health insurance and the NDIS.

The uncertainty around changes to disability and early childhood support, including Thriving Kids, as discussed in the episode.

A key takeaway from this conversation is that meaningful support is rarely the responsibility of one person alone. When we understand what a child is finding difficult, listen to what matters to them, and work together across home and school, we can make everyday participation more achievable.

About Cheri
Cheri is an occupational therapist who supports children and families. Through WonderGlow OT, she provides client services and develops resources. She also created the Charge Your Mind regulation program and the Battery Boot Camp book, and co-hosts the podcast OTs Figuring It Out.

Find Cheri's work
WonderGlow OT: https://www.wonderglowot.com.au/

Charge Your Mind: https://chargeyourmindprogram.com/

OTs Figuring It Out: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2556273

A note on funding: This episode includes a discussion of Australian Medicare, private health insurance, the NDIS and Thriving Kids. Funding rules and eligibility can change, so please confirm current requirements with the relevant service or official government source before making decisions.
Thanks for listening to the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast — the space between home and school.

Music Credits
“Ember” — The Lakes

“Green Leaves” — The Lakes

Music sourced via Uppbeat.

In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on a couple of recent conversations on the podcast and the ideas that have stuck with me long after the microphones were switched off.
After chatting with Danica from Little Bloom Consultancy and Craig Smith from Universal Sandpit, I've been thinking about what it means to be a good enough parent and educator, why asking for help can be so difficult, and how small moments of joy can change the way we move through a challenging day.
I also revisit some of the ideas Craig shared about AI, empathy and the ways we interact with technology. From thinking differently about people whose experiences aren't the same as our own to using AI to help make sense of our kids' Japanese homework, these conversations have given me plenty to consider — particularly as a parent and teacher trying to work out how we help children engage with AI safely and responsibly.
This isn't about having all the answers. It's about noticing the ideas that stay with us, questioning some of our assumptions and working out what we might do differently as a result.
In this episode, I reflect on:
What it means to be a good-enough parent and educator.
Why asking for help matters, and why it can feel so hard.
Finding the micro-moments of joy in busy and challenging days.
The double empathy problem and understanding different perspectives.
AI, relationships and the ways people use technology to connect, learn and grow.
Helping children develop safe and responsible ways of interacting with AI.
I'd love to hear what has stuck with you from a conversation, a piece of advice or something you've read recently. What have you been thinking about, questioning or trying to put into practice?
Come and join the conversation over on Instagram at @parent_teacher_interview_pod.
If you enjoy the podcast, follow or subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

AI and the Human Side of Learning
Season 2, Episode 14 — with Craig Smith
AI is a topic that can divide a room pretty quickly.
For some, it represents exciting possibilities for the way we learn, work and support one another. For others, there are important questions around safety, privacy, creativity, critical thinking, the environment and what we might lose as these technologies become a bigger part of our lives.
In this episode, Josh sits down with Craig Smith, Manager of Technology and Innovation at Positive Partnerships, educator, author and international speaker, and creator of The Universal Sandpit.
Rather than trying to find all the answers, this conversation explores some of the questions.

Josh and Craig talk about:
How AI might support executive functioning, including planning, organisation, task initiation and managing thoughts.
Craig's idea of the “administration team of the brain” and what this might help us understand about the challenges some students experience.
Using AI as a tool for reflection, conversation and scaffolding, rather than simply outsourcing our thinking.
Neurodiversity and AI, and why different people may experience and use technology in very different ways.
The idea of double empathy and how it might change the way we think about AI, social interaction and what we consider “normal”.
How we can support children to understand what AI actually is, rather than treating it as a magical black box.
Finding the balance between safety and experimentation when children and young people are learning about new technologies.
Craig's “mountain” analogy and the importance of allowing children to develop their own thinking rather than using AI as a shortcut.
How AI can support creativity and play, including Craig's experience of creating a video game with his son.
The Universal Sandpit and the practical AI tools Craig has developed to support inclusive education.
The potential for AI to help educators connect students' strengths and interests with classroom learning.
The ethical questions surrounding AI — including the potential environmental, social and workplace impacts — alongside the possible benefits for inclusion and accessibility.

One of the ideas we keep coming back to is that two things can be true at the same time: AI can create significant challenges, while also offering opportunities that may genuinely benefit some students and educators.
And perhaps that's the point of this conversation. We don't have all the answers yet — but there is value in asking the questions, exploring what is possible and trying to understand how different people experience these technologies.

Where to find out more about Craig
The Universal Sandpit — Craig's collection of AI-powered tools and resources for inclusive education. The site currently includes tools for educators and students covering areas such as executive functioning, lesson planning, differentiation, visual supports, task analysis and more.
The Universal Sandpit
Craig Smith on LinkedIn — Craig regularly shares his experiments, ideas and work around AI, education, neurodiversity and technology.
Craig Smith on LinkedIn
Find out more about Craig

Music Credits
🎵 “Ember” — The Lakes
🎵 “Green Leaves” — The Lakes
Music sourced from Uppbeat.

What happens when the person responsible for helping children regulate is struggling to regulate themselves?
In this episode, I sit down with Danica See from Little Bloom Consultancy for a conversation about one of the parts of education we don't always talk about enough — the emotional weight carried by the educators doing the work.
Danica shares her journey through early childhood education, from a difficult first year of teaching to discovering behaviour guidance and eventually creating Little Bloom Consultancy, where she supports educators to bridge the gap between what we know about children and what that can actually look like in practice.
We talk about educator burnout, emotional regulation, the pressure to be the “perfect” teacher, and why creating safe spaces for children also means creating safe spaces for the adults who care for them.

Little Bloom Consultancy
A space supporting early childhood educators and leaders with children's behaviour, big feelings, emotional development and educator wellbeing.
Little Bloom Consultancy
📱 Instagram — @littlebloom.consultancy
Follow Little Bloom Consultancy on Instagram
🎙️ The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
Danica's podcast exploring behaviour, emotions, relationships and the realities of working with young children.
Listen to The Bloom Room on Apple Podcasts

Music
“Ember” — The Lakes
“Green Leaves” — The Lakes
Music sourced from Uppbeat - https://uppbeat.io/

Connect with the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast
🎙️ Parent Teacher Interview Podcast
📱 Instagram: @parent_teacher_interview_pod
If you've enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to follow the podcast, share it with another educator or parent who might find it useful, and leave us a review wherever you listen.