In this episode, we welcome Chelsea Luker, an Autistic ADHD psychologist, author, and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Chelsea dives deep into what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach, her journey as a parent to neurodivergent children, and her impactful work at Connect Us Psychology. Chelsea also discusses her book, Square Me Round World, a collection of stories designed to reflect and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. From addressing the challenges in mainstream education to advocating for more inclusive environments, Chelsea offers invalu ..read more

Welcome to EMpowered. The podcast for creating a new generation of emotionally intelligent humans. In this episode, I am sharing my story into emotional intelligence and why I have rebranded from The Grad Guide to Emma Gentle. Here’s what you’ll learn: How my business started Why mentorship and coaching have been so important for me in the last three years and why I wanted to become a coach. How I went from teacher, to assistant principal to entrepreneur. Why being uncomfortable in experiences really creates growth and personal development. How emotional intelligence (EQ) is so important in s ..read more

In this episode of Let's Get Schooled, Em dives into the barriers hindering effective teaching and leading in today's educational landscape. Join her as she explores the challenges educators face and offers insights into navigating these obstacles. Em highlights the overwhelming workload many educators contend with due to schools taking on too many initiatives at once. She emphasises the importance of focusing on one initiative at a time to ensure proper implementation and effectiveness Discussing the detrimental impact of large class sizes, Em shares a concerning example of a teacher managing ..read more

In this episode, Em delves into the fundamental aspects of nurturing wellbeing for teachers and leaders, focusing on setting boundaries, embracing self-care, and fostering a growth mindset in the realm of education. Setting Boundaries: Em introduces the seven types of boundaries, highlighting their significance in maintaining balance and preserving personal and professional space. She explores mental, emotional, material, internal, conversational, physical, and time boundaries, emphasising their application in real-life contexts. Acknowledging the discomfort around setting boundaries, Em delv ..read more

This week I speak about the components of Emotional Intelligence and why we need as high EQ as teachers and leaders.   ..read more

The 'overwhelm' trap can be a common one to fall into when becoming a teacher. The reality is teaching can be mentally and emotionally draining and each year more and more admin falls into our laps. Student behaviour can be challenging to work with you if you don't understand how to support your children. I get it! It can be a lot!  This episode will help you pinpoint where your overwhelm might stem from, so you can identify what's going on for you and determine how you can move forward. Some of the themes I cover: Executive functioning Mindset Gratitude Utilising your planning time Aski ..read more

BONUS EPISODE!! Miss Inclusivity is a graduate teacher, currently teaching Year 1/2, who is deeply passionate about inclusion in her classroom. Her commitment is to ensure that every student in her classroom feels valued and supported. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment through emotional regulation, visual scaffolds & cues, and a classroom where her students have FUN! As a young teacher from QLD, Miss Inclusivity also makes accessories and resources for teachers as a creative outlet, has her own podcast: 'Miss Inclusivity The Podcast' and shares all of the navigations of ..read more

Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, instructional coach, researcher and writer, who is passionate about literacy, language and learning and effective and engaging teaching for all students. In 2019, he founded a community of teachers and other educators committed to The Science of Learning, called Think Forward Educators. Today Em and Nathaniel chat about: - How Nathaniel got into teaching - The Science of Learning - What is Think Forward Educators? Free Professional Development - Have we been teaching reading and writing the wrong way round? - Tips for new teachers (relatable for ALL teachers!) - H ..read more

I had the privilege of speaking to the lovely Jocelyn Seamer today, about all things Science of Reading and Structured Literacy! It's so important for teachers to be up to date with evidence based research. Jocelyn is determined to make sure that all teachers are supported to implement evidence informed practice in structured literacy.   Jocelyn and Em chat about: Who is Jocelyn Seamer? Jocelyn’s passion for literacy and equity The difference between structured literacy and balanced literacy The Cueing System- The difference between guessing and problem solving when trying to read How to ..read more

Chloe is an early years teacher, mentor and literacy leader located in rural Queensland. After a tumultuous first year of teaching, she has worked hard to find joy and fulfilment in her role again, which has ignited her passion for helping other new teachers do the same. What we discussed: Chloe’s background into teaching Chloe’s challenging first year experience What Chloe needed in her first year of teaching that she didn’t receive How Chloe overcame her challenging teaching experience How Chloe used her experience to start thriving as a teacher Our thoughts on #teachergram Chloe’s early en ..read more