Episodios

  • 68. The Parent's Guide to Emotion Coaching

    68. The Parent's Guide to Emotion Coaching
    Jun 27 2025
    In this episode of The Parent-Teacher Project, host Lucia Garcia sits down with Manal Azzi, school counsellor at Tangara School for Girls and a therapist with over 15 years of experience. Together, they explore how parents can support their children's emotional development, model emotional regulation, and respond constructively to the emotional challenges children face at home and school. Discussion Points: Why Emotions Matter: Emotions are vital for healthy relationships and self-understanding. Ignoring them can lead to future challenges. Emotion Coaching Steps: Notice your child’s emotions, use them as a chance to connect, listen with empathy and validate, help them name the emotion, set limits and find solutions together. What Parents Can Do: Be calm, consistent, and compassionate. Model healthy emotional behaviour and avoid dismissive phrases. Supporting Teens: Teens need non-judgemental support and space to talk. If big emotions are frequent, it may be time to seek professional help. Talking with Boys: Teach emotional language early. Use daily moments to show that feelings are normal and safe to express. Resources Mentioned: • Dr. John Gottman’s Emotion Coaching model • Upcoming TeenSTAR training: Register HERE Join the Conversation We'd love to hear your experiences. What has helped you stay calm and connected when your child is having a meltdown? Have there been moments where simply acknowledging your child’s feelings changed the outcome of a situation? Reflection can often bring clarity, and your insights might be just what another parent needs to hear. Join the conversation with us online. You can comment on our latest post or message us. Let's support one another as we guide our children with compassion and courage. You can:  Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast  Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • 67. Netflix’s Adolescence: A School Counsellor’s Thoughts

    67. Netflix’s Adolescence: A School Counsellor’s Thoughts
    May 19 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with John Soulemezis, school counsellor at Redfield College, to unpack the Netflix series Adolescence. John shares insights on major themes the series raises around identity, masculinity, the online world, and emotional wellbeing. More importantly, he translates these themes into practical advice for parents, teachers, and anyone helping young men navigate today’s challenging landscape.

    Discussion Points:

    • What Adolescence captures about the modern teenage experience
    • The role of dialogue and open communication in building trust with boys
    • Why healthy role models of masculinity are more important than ever
    • The impact of the online world — both visible and invisible — on teenage identity
    • How parents and educators can respond with understanding and hope

    Join the Conversation

    What stood out to you from Adolescence? What challenges have you faced supporting teenagers today? How are you opening conversations about masculinity, identity, and the online world in your home or classroom?

    You can: 

    Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

    Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 

    Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday 

    Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 

    Más Menos
    23 m
  • 66. How Educators Inspire Students to Grow

    66. How Educators Inspire Students to Grow
    Mar 17 2025

    In this episode, we welcome Katrina Alvir, an experienced teacher and expert in character education. With years of experience in classical education, Katrina shares valuable insights on how parents and educators can inspire children in developing virtues and forming good habits. She discusses the power of real-life role models, consistent example and practical ways to integrate character education into daily life.


    Discussion Points:

    • Integrating Virtues into the Curriculum – How to weave character education seamlessly into daily lessons.
    • Creating a Classroom Culture of Virtue – Practical ways to encourage responsibility, respect, and kindness.
    • The Importance of Acknowledging Mistakes – How apologising to students fosters humility, trust, and teaches them the value of taking responsibility.
    • Being a Constant Example – The impact of a teacher’s words and actions in shaping students' character and the importance of striving for personal growth.
    • Being Truly Present – The power of showing up and giving hope

    Join the Conversation

    How do you incorporate character education in your classroom? We'd love to hear your insights and experiences—share your thoughts with us and join the discussion on how teachers can shape students' character through everyday moments in the classroom.

    You can: 

    Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

    Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 

    Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday 

    Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 

    Más Menos
    28 m
  • 65. Diligence & Heart: Raising Kids Who Thrive & Give

    65. Diligence & Heart: Raising Kids Who Thrive & Give
    Feb 17 2025
    In this episode, host Isabelle Thomas sits down with Dr Andy Mullins, an experienced educator and author, to discuss how parents can help their children develop strong character, resilience, and a solid work ethic. Drawing from his years working with families and schools like Redfield and Wollemi College in Sydney, Dr Mullins shares key insights on raising children who are both diligent in their studies and generous in their service to others. He also explores the importance of parental unity, leading by example, and staying connected with children as they grow. Key Points: The balance between high expectations and deep affection in parenting Why hard work alone isn’t enough, but essential for character formation How to teach children that success isn’t just about personal goals, but about service The shift from parental guidance to self-governance as children grow The role of one-on-one time in building trust and emotional connection Practical strategies for staying close to children despite external influences Join the Conversation How do you encourage resilience and strong character in your children? What strategies have helped you balance expectations and affection in parenting? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Book reference: Fathering from the Fast Lane, Bruce Robinson. https://www.amazon.com.au/Fathering-Fast-Lane-Practical-Ideas/dp/1876451211 You can:  Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 
    Más Menos
    24 m
  • 64. Parent Partnership Part 2: Building a Culture of Trust

    64. Parent Partnership Part 2: Building a Culture of Trust
    Oct 21 2024
    In this episode, we explore the role of teachers in building a culture of collaboration with parents. Mary Broadsmith shares her insights and practical tips on fostering open communication, building trust, and engaging parents as active partners in their child’s learning journey. Mary also emphasizes the importance of virtue education and the responsibility teachers have to model professionalism and character for their students. Key Topics: Creating a Collaborative Culture with Parents Benefits of inviting parents into the classroom Strategies for open communication and trust-building Effective Communication Techniques Building rapport with parents during meetings Handling difficult conversations and emails with professionalism The Role of Virtue Education Integrating virtues into the classroom environment Encouraging students to make positive choices and take responsibility Join the Conversation: Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 
    Más Menos
    23 m
  • 63. Parent Partnership Part 1: Why Schools Should Let Parents In

    63. Parent Partnership Part 1: Why Schools Should Let Parents In
    Oct 21 2024
    In this episode we welcome Mary Broadsmith, Principal of Harkaway Hills College in Melbourne, to discuss the role of parent engagement in schools. As the primary educators of their children, parents have a significant impact on their child’s education. Mary discusses how research consistently shows that active parental involvement boosts student flourishing and achievement, strengthens student-family bonds and even staff well-being. Key Topics: The Research-Backed Impact of Parent Engagement: Mary discusses how studies show that students with actively involved parents tend to perform better academically and overall, highlighting the long-term benefits of parent participation in their children’s education. Strengthening the Parent-Teacher Partnership: She explores practical ways to foster open, effective communication between parents and teachers, creating a collaborative environment that supports student success and teacher wellbeing. Boosting School Morale and Community Spirit: Mary explains how strong parent engagement not only benefits students but also improves staff morale and creates a more cohesive, supportive school community. You can: Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 
    Más Menos
    19 m
  • 62. How To Improve Your Childs Reading And Writing Skills

    62. How To Improve Your Childs Reading And Writing Skills
    Dec 7 2022

    In this episode, we welcome Anthony O’Shea, the Year 3 teacher at Lysterfield Lake College. Anthony is a father of 4 and has many years of experience in Primary education. In this podcast episode, he speaks about the benefits of learning to read and write at a young age, and how to encourage children to love reading and writing.
    Más Menos
    23 m
  • 61. Is Your Child Ready For School?

    61. Is Your Child Ready For School?
    Nov 9 2022
    Have you ever been worried about when the right time to enrol your child into school is? Meet Catherine Tilley, a mother and teacher who has taught in several school settings. After working n Science, she discovered her passion for early Primary education and has been in the classroom for over 8 years. In this episode, she discusses topics around school readiness for toddler-aged children!
    Más Menos
    18 m