Parent Teacher Interview

In this episode, Jenn and Jess share their inspiring journey from classroom collaboration to creating MyComms, an innovative app designed to support visual communication across diverse settings. Discover how their deep experience in education and therapy inspired a tool that promotes inclusivity, personalisation, and everyday accessibility for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Key Topics:
The impact of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting students with complex communication needs
How visual supports enhance independence and reduce anxiety
The origins of MyComms and the need for personalised, accessible visual supports
Overview of MyComms features: task breakdowns, daily schedules, and choice boards
Real stories of how MyComms has helped children, adults, families, and professionals

Links
MyComms App — Apple App Store (search "MyComms")
MyComms App — Google Play Store
commspec.co — Official website with blogs and resources
Supporting Executive Functioning Resources — Free tools and info

Music for this episode is provided by Uppbeat, featuring tracks "Ember" and "Green Leaf" by The Lakes.

Note: MyComms is currently available in Australia, with plans to expand globally very soon. Stay tuned for new features and updates by following their work and upcoming presentations!

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Yasmin Bastouil shares her journey from junior primary teacher to children’s book author, revealing how classroom chaos, empathy, and her own family inspired her stories.
Yasmin opens up about her early love of teaching, her time educating young children in France, and how those experiences guided her into writing books that centre on emotional intelligence and celebrating differences. She talks candidly about imposter syndrome, the challenges of self-publishing, and the powerful moment she realised her stories were impacting kids — including her own.
From laugh-out-loud classroom moments to heartfelt reflections on supporting children’s emotional development, this conversation is full of insight for teachers, parents, and anyone interested in children’s literature.

📚 Books by Yasmin Bastouil
(Great to link for listeners who want to explore the books discussed in the episode.)
A Superpower Called Empathy - A heart-centred picture book about understanding emotions and embracing empathy.

We’re Getting a New Baby - A lovely story about welcoming a new sibling and the emotions around that life change.

Who Likes the Zoo? - A humorous classroom tale of show-and-tell chaos and celebrating community.

📘 Available on Yasmin’s website: ⁠https://www.the-playground-diaries.com.au/⁠ — featured among her titles. ⁠The Playground Diaries⁠

🔗 About Yasmin Bastouil
Author & Teacher — The Playground Diaries Website: https://www.the-playground-diaries.com.au/ — Yasmin is a South Australian junior primary teacher, mum of two and children’s book author whose stories focus on empathy, emotional literacy and connection. The Playground Diaries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.playground.diaries/ — Follow Yasmin for classroom insights, writing updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses.

In this episode, Daniel Marshall shares his journey from an engineering career to becoming a financial coach. He discusses the pivotal moments that led him to discover personal finance and investing, and emphasises how our mindset and language around money can shape lifelong habits.
Daniel offers practical insights for parents on how to instil strong financial values in their children — from encouraging problem-solving to finding the right balance between chores and earning money. He highlights the role parents play in modelling generosity, gratitude and financial responsibility, and explores how open conversations about household finances can empower kids to build confidence and independence.
This episode is full of practical takeaways for families wanting to strengthen their financial foundations and create a healthier relationship with money.
🎧 Learn more about Daniel Marshall:
Website: https://danielmarshall.com.au

Podcast: Money Mastery with Marshy

Newsletter: The Weekly Marshall

✨ Don’t forget to follow Parent Teacher Interview wherever you listen to podcasts, and check out our Instagram @parent_teacher_interview_pod for more conversations and behind-the-scenes moments.

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Joshua chats with Anna O’Connor — a passionate kindergarten teacher, mum of two, and one half of the creative duo behind SoundSlam.
Anna shares how phonological awareness forms the foundation for early reading success and how she and her co-creator, Lucy, designed SoundSlam to make learning fun, engaging, and screen-free.
Together, they explore practical ways parents and educators can build literacy skills through everyday moments, the power of play in learning, and the story behind developing an educational game that’s already making an impact in classrooms and homes.

🔗 Resources Mentioned
SoundSlam
🌐 soundslam.com.au

📸 Instagram: @SoundSlamAU

Websites & Reading Resources
Five from Five — Created by Dr. Jennifer Buckingham, focusing on the five pillars of reading.

Reading Rockets — A U.S.-based resource offering practical tools and articles for parents and teachers.

Books & Authors
Reading for Life by Lyn Stone

Language at the Speed of Sight by Mark Seidenberg

Research and work by Dr. Pam Snow and Dr. Jennifer Buckingham

Podcast
🎙️ Sold a Story by Emily Hanford — A deep dive into the science of reading and how children learn to read.

🎒 Ready to ace the parent-teacher interview? Dive into our latest episode where we unravel the mysteries of school meetings with a sprinkle of humor! From decoding teacher lingo to avoiding the classic "Karen" pitfalls, we've got the tips to make you the MVP of the classroom. Whether you're prepping for NASA-level discussions or just trying to remember your kid's teacher's name, this episode is your cheat sheet to success. Tune in, laugh a little, and let's make those school meetings a breeze! #ParentingWins #SchoolLife

Title Music and Sound Effects - Sourced from Uppbeat - https://uppbeat.io/

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