Senior Leader at XUNO Suite (xuno.com.au) and driving force behind the Student Maps platform, Anthony Sacker, joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) to unpack how DIBELS can move from raw scores to real classroom action. In this interview, we explore how smart visualisations and simple workflows help teachers identify risk early and respond with confidence.

From pronunciation myths to progress monitoring, Anthony explains why consistent screening, clear benchmarks and collaborative review can lift literacy for every learner. First, we demystify DIBELS: what it measures, why it matters and how often to use it across year levels. Then, we shift to practice. Teachers gather accuracy rates, composite scores and fluency checks; however, those numbers only shine when they’re easy to read and share. That’s where student maps come in. With colour-coded results, distribution views and progress-over-time graphs, teams can see who needs intervention, who needs extension and which strategies to try next.

Moreover, Anthony outlines how schools can combine DIBELS with PAT, NAPLAN and other assessments without drowning in spreadsheets. Instead of copy-paste chaos, teachers use a single space to store results, add comments, attach work samples and prepare for handovers. As a result, Year 5 teams begin the year with a clear picture of strengths, gaps and goals. Parents also benefit, because one view shows growth, next steps and expected levels.

Beyond literacy, the episode considers career guidance. When counsellors view longitudinal data, conversations become concrete. Students see the link between habits, skills and aspirations. Meanwhile, leaders gain a dependable way to track cohort trends and evaluate support plans. Crucially, we discuss pace and practicality. Data should help, not hinder. Therefore, the episode focuses on quick wins: setting thresholds, using dashboards, and choosing graphs that tell a story in seconds.

Finally, we cover trials, so schools can try the tools with sample data before committing. If you want a clear path from assessment to action, this episode delivers. And yes, we settle the pronunciation debate early. It’s DIBELS!

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Megastar Jim Cummings joins This is My Voice podcast. Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck, Pete from a Goofy Movie, singing voice of Scar, you name it he's done it! He is one of the best voice actors in the world. He's the voice of your childhood and if you've ever watched a cartoon chances are you would have heard the many voice talents of Jim Cummings!

Check out Jim at a Supanova near you.

Thanks to The Australian Radio School + The Auscast Network

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This week we're stepping away from our books and onto the internet (oh no) as Amy, Justina & Abby chat to life writing expert Dr. Emma Maguire about online girlhood cultures and digital life writing. Join us as we discuss self representation online, 'authenticity' on social media, the commodification of the self and 'content' creation, the voices of women in a space labelled for 'girls', and the personal act of creating a zine. And, of course, Amy asks the most pressing question: can self-insert fanfiction be classified as life writing?

Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

MENTIONS

📚 BOOKS: The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt

✏️ AUTHORS: Rachel Cusk; Vidgis Hjorth; Deborah Levy; Helen Garner; Roxanne Gay; Bianca Martin

📺 TV: Too Much (2025—)

LINKS

• Follow Emma Maguire on IG: @emmamaguire__

• Find Emma's Publications here: emmamaguire.com
• Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
• Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
• Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
• Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
• Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
• Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

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Miriam Webster makes her literary debut with a sharp, funny and often dark collection of short stories about love, loss and very modern dilemmas. With an eye for what isn’t said and that which is said by accident, the collection is named for the Freudian slip.

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New publishers on the block, Margot Lloyd and Emily Hart, are publishing exciting debut authors, re-releasing irresistible classics and teaching the rest of us how to write better in their “Word Shops” – two talented women having fun and publishing their way!

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Our random reader, Max, is a nine-year-old with an infectious passion for reading.

Guests

Miriam Webster, author of “The Slip”.

Margot Lloyd and Emily Hart introduce Pink Short’s new books “Annie Magdalene” and “Sea Green” by Barbara Hanrahan, “Playing Nice Was Getting Me Nowhere” by Alex Cothren and “Plastic Budgie” by Olivia De Silva “

Other books that get a mention:

Michaela mentions “Moor to Sea; A Journey Along the Cleveland Way” by Vicki Foote

Annie mentions “Woo Woo” by Ella Baxter and “The Writers Journey; Mythic Structure for Writers” by Christopher Vogler

Margot and Emily also mention Barbara Hanrahan’s “The Scent of Eucalyptus”, Anne Enright’s collection of short stories “Taking Pictures”, “The Bakers Book” by Ruby Goss, a forthcoming book of poetry by Evelyn Araluen, Splinter Magazine, “The Parisian” by Isabella Hammand.

Max mentions “The First Cat in Space ate Pizza” by Matt Barnett, “Diary of Loki” by Louise Stowell and what he recommends as the best book series ever, “Sherlock Bones”.

INSTAGRAM

@pinkshortspress

@anikopress

@mim_webster

@vickifoote

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Rebecca Woolnough, Area Manager, Oceania at SMART Technologies (http://smarttech.com/en-au) joins Around the School Table (https://xuno.com.au/podcast) to unpack how right-fit edtech lifts learning, not workload. From “divisolation” to Universal Design for Learning, her lens is practical and hopeful. Crucially, she argues for outcomes before hardware. Consequently, schools avoid shiny-bauble mistakes and wasted spend.

Drawing on classroom leadership, Rebecca explains why sharing devices boosts collaboration. Instead of one-to-one, she recommends 1:2 or 1:3 in many activities. Therefore, attention shifts from screens to problem-solving and dialogue. Moreover, students practise negotiation, creativity, and critical thinking together.

Her formula for success is clear and repeatable. Start with exit outcomes, then pedagogy, then software, and finally hardware. Consequently, hardware is chosen to remove barriers, not add friction. Additionally, targeted professional learning ties everything to real curriculum goals.

The discussion also explores neurodiversity-informed design with the University of Melbourne. As a result, classrooms feel inclusive without extra teacher admin. For example, multiple modes for responses lift agency and reduce anxiety. Furthermore, SMART tools make those tweaks fast and repeatable.

Practical tips land throughout. Teachers can ink over PDFs or slides and keep the annotations. Then, share to students quickly through existing platforms. Meanwhile, the Smartboard Mini unlocks small-group collaboration and accessibility tweaks.

AI is addressed with balance and care. Yes, it speeds planning and routine marking for teachers. However, human judgement and scaffolding remain central. In short, Rebecca champions tech that serves pedagogy and people.

Listeners leave with a usable roadmap for smarter investment. Therefore, you can prioritise learning goals and choose tools that fit. Finally, Rebecca offers hope, clarity, and classroom-ready steps. As ever, host Steve Davis keeps the focus on real classrooms. Together, they surface mistakes leaders can avoid during rollouts. For instance, evaluate impact early and keep software platform-agnostic. Next, sequence capability building, not just device deliveries. Above all, remember why the investment exists in the first place.

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This week life writing month takes an experimental turn as Amy, Payton & Justina chat to Olivia De Zilva about her debut genre-defying book Plastic Budgie, out now with Pink Shorts Press. Join us as we dive into the messy intersections of memory, nostalgia, fact and fiction, and we wax poetic about the unapologetically cringey kitsch of Adelaide and our love of novelty processed meats.

Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

MENTIONS

📚 BOOKS: Plastic Budgie by Olivia De Zilva; Theory and Practice by Michelle de Krester; Peripathetic by Cher Tan; Twilight by Stephanie Meyer; Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick; Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta; Girls Out Loud by Jacqueline Wilson; The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson; Eggshell by Olivia De Zilva

🎬 FILM: Grease (1978); Xanadu (1980); Call Me By Your Name (2017)

📺 TV: The Simpson (1989–); Kath & Kim (2002–2007); Glee (2009–2015); Stranger Things (2016–)

LINKS

• Get Plastic Budgie here and pre-order Eggshell here
• Follow Olivia De Zilva on IG: @oliviadezilva
• Follow Opinionated on IG: @opinionatedclub
• Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
• Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
• Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
• Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
• Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
• Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

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CEO and Founder Anna Vermooten joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) to share how Parents Battle of the Bands (parentsbattleofthebands.com) grew from a St Kilda idea into a movement. This audio-only conversation captures the energy of community music. It also reveals how parent bands can strengthen connections between families and schools. From the first rehearsal room jokes to a packed Prince Bandroom, Anna traces the project’s unlikely rise. Ticket proceeds flow back into school music programs.

Therefore, each gig doubles as a fundraiser and a catalyst for arts participation. Along the way, friendly rivalry, sing-alongs, and clever set lists turn busy parents into confident performers. However, the story is about shows. Anna explains how one enthusiastic parent at each school becomes the spark. Word of mouth travels across playgrounds and sports courts. As a result, new bands form, venues come on board, and momentum builds.

Importantly, the model sits outside formal school administration. That choice keeps the vibe playful while still supporting music education. The episode explores Melbourne’s distinct live-music culture. It also follows new chapters opening in Bondi and beyond. Judges and special guests have added credibility, yet the real draw is the community in the crowd. Furthermore, intergenerational benefits are clear. When children see parents rehearsing and performing, they often start bands of their own. Anna outlines how schools and parents express interest, access a starter kit, and onboard through a purpose-built app.

Consequently, bands focus on rehearsals, song choices, and show night logistics. Tips include choosing popular, high-energy tracks, encouraging sing-alongs, and adding a twist. Mash-ups and creative arrangements often delight audiences and judges alike. Ultimately, Parents Battle of the Bands shows how music can cut through the noise of modern life. It forges friendships, celebrates creativity, and funds future learning. Moreover, it offers a scalable blueprint for any community keen to turn hidden talent into shared joy.

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This month we're talking about life writing.... including what on earth that means. Amy & series regulars Justina, Payton, and Millie may not be experts, but it turns out they've consumed a lot more of the genre than they thought. Join them as they talk about the myriad types of life writing, how scary it is to write about yourself, and why the patriarchy is at it again.

Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

LINKS

• Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
• Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
• Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
• Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
• Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
• Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.