The Parent-Teacher Project

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  

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    

Katrina Alvir, an experienced teacher and character education expert from Tangara School for Girls, shares her insights on inspiring student growth. She discusses integrating virtues into the curriculum and creating a classroom culture of responsibility and kindness. Katrina emphasizes the power of acknowledging mistakes and the importance of being a constant example for students. She also highlights the significance of showing up and being present to foster hope and resilience in learners, advocating for a collaborative approach involving teachers, parents, and the community.

Andy Mullins, former principal of Redfield and Wollemi College in Sydney, dives deep into the art of parenting for character development. He emphasizes balancing high expectations with affection, highlighting that hard work alone isn’t enough. Andy discusses the importance of teaching children about service to others, the transition from guidance to self-governance, and the vital role of one-on-one time in building trust. Practical strategies for maintaining close connections with kids amidst external influences are also shared, making this an insightful listen for nurturing resilient children.

Mary Broadsmith, Principal of Harkaway Hills College in Melbourne, sheds light on the vital role of parent engagement in education. She highlights research showing that involved parents lead to better academic performance and overall student well-being. Mary emphasizes practical strategies for enhancing parent-teacher communication, creating a supportive environment for both students and teachers. Additionally, she discusses how strong parent involvement boosts school morale and fosters a tight-knit community.

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  

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.

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!

Join Kate Mathai, a dedicated mother of six and seasoned counselor, as she shares her wisdom on family dynamics. She discusses the need to adapt parenting styles as children grow and evolve. Kate emphasizes resolving sibling disputes through effective communication and turning every interaction into a teaching moment. The power of family traditions like baking cookies and spontaneous outings to strengthen bonds is highlighted, along with the importance of instilling virtues like respect and forgiveness through parental example.

Meet Mr Stefen Drevikovsky. Stefen is the Head of Middle School at Redfield College and has been teaching at Redfield for 15 years. Stefen has a special aptitude for teaching languages, especially Spanish. In this episode, Stefen talks about the reasons and benefits of children learning a new language in school and provides tips on how to perfect a second language.   Recommended resources: - https://nswschoollang.schools.nsw.gov.au/ - https://sclanguages.schools.nsw.gov.au/