The Holidays Are Good: Recent Episodes
Matt Brophy
Join me as I interview some wonderful male educators about some of the challenges they face in their profession.
I'll ask my special guests to share their experiences being a male teacher and any funny anecdotes during their career.
In the first episode of The Holidays Are Good for 2021, I'm joined by Jacob Lynn. Jacob and I worked at the same school over the past two years. During this time, we've dealt with a worldwide pandemic which lead to online schooling for periods of time in 2020 and 2021. The way schools, teachers, parents and students adapted to this uncertainty was remarkable.
In our chat, we discuss the role of technology in the classroom, the huge responsibility which comes with being a beginning teacher and how important it is to continually strive to be better as an educator in today's society.
Jake's willingness to share his views of teaching was refreshing to say the least. As a work colleague and as a mate, it was great to chat professionally about our chosen vocation. His school is blessed to have him!
In the latest episode of The Holidays Are Good, I'm joined by Alexander Zinonos. Believe it or not, Alexander heard me on the Carrie and Tommy show on the Hit Radio Network in Australia.
He later messaged me on Instagram to send his kind words of encouragement about my previous interviews on the podcast. We finally organised a time to chat in the more traditional 2020 way, over a zoom meeting.
After talking to Alexander for around an hour, I was impressed by his maturity and general approach towards teaching. The thing that struck a chord with me was Alexander's drive to better himself as a teacher for his students. Teachers are lifelong learners. We need to be the best versions of ourselves in order for our students to be the best version of themselves.
In the next episode of The Holidays Are Good, I am joined by Zach Johns. Zach is a young male teacher in his second year of teaching. I've known him for a long time due to our connection with the Seven Hills Toongabbie RSL Cricket Club, playing in the same team as his dad and later as team mates. When I heard he decided to become a teacher, I was delighted to say the least.
After chatting to Zach on a professional level for an hour, I soon realised that he made the right decision. He is a great young man who is striving to be the best teacher he can be for his students. Is that what teaching is all about? We talked about building positive relationships with your students and how important it is to know what makes them tick.
I wish I was as switched on at his age. His class and school are blessed to have him. After hearing his story, you'll definitely agree.
In another episode of The Holidays Are Good, I'm joined by Harry Sadsad and Daniel Vrljic, who are both high school teachers in the CEDP (Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta.)
In this special panel, we discussed the roads which led us to becoming teachers, what are the pros and cons of same sex and co-educational schools and what are the challenges with being a male teacher in a high school scenario.
I'd love chatting to the guys in a professional sense, particularly knowing how we first met all those years ago as Year 5 students back in 1990. We've come a long way since then!
In this special episode of The Holidays Are Good, I am joined by a panel of education experts to discuss the alternate schooling arrangements that was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Adam Fletcher, Chris Gawidziel and Scott Carroll kindly gave up their time to give their thoughts on the home schooling situation, how they've adapted as teachers and fathers during this time and gave some helpful suggestions to help families in these difficult times.
With the current second wave of positive cases sweeping the world, we may have to revert to home schooling sooner than we realise.
In the first episode of The Holidays Are Good for 2020, I interviewed my next guest back in November 2019. Since that time, my wife and I moved to BrisVegas, we both started new jobs and the COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head.
My special guest, Scott Carroll is someone I've known about for a long time through my time teaching in Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta. This interview was the first time we met officially. We learnt about so many connections we have that it was hard to believe that we hadn't met sooner.
We chatted like old mates at the pub or in this case, the HQ of CEDP. Scott's energy, love and enthusiasm for teaching is definitely infectious. We talked about his transition from classroom teacher to teacher educator as part of CEDP's mission team.
I hope I get more opportunities to chat with Scott on a personal and professional basis in 2020.
In the 8th episode of The Holidays Are Good, I am joined by my great mate Chris Gawidziel. Chris and I not only attended Patrician Brothers Blacktown, we also worked together at St Andrew's Primary Marayong and St Pius Enmore.
We discuss our experiences teaching in London, how the profession has changed since we began our vocation and how there's more to this than meets the eye in relation to our students reactions to certain situations and the ever changing role of teachers in today's society.
Chris is an excellent educator, who is excelling in his role as Religious Coordinator at present. The St Pius' Catholic School Enmore community is blessed to have him onboard.
Silence Is The Absence Of Sound is a special episode of The Holidays Are Good. In this particular episode, I'm celebrating the life of Mark Kennedy. Mark passed away on the 7th May 2019.
I was blessed to know Mark not only as a grade partner, but as a great friend and role model. He taught me so much about teaching and about life in general. He was truly one in a billion.
I didn't have the chance to interview Mark so I hope that this episode sheds some light on how much of a positive impact he had on me. I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
In the seventh episode of The Holidays Are Good, I am joined by Khyl Ward. He is an old Nor-West Jets team mate of mine and a fellow male educator.
Khyl and I discuss how important it is to establish consistency and fairness when dealing with students. We also talk about how social media is an ever present factor in our classrooms in 2019, the challenges of teaching PDHPE to kids who aren't the most active and finally, which fictional teacher best represents us.
It was a great chat with a young educator, who wants to make a real difference. His enthusiasm is infectious and Khyl's school is extremely lucky to have him on staff.
Joining me in the sixth episode of The Holidays Are Good is Leigh Johnson. He is a Creative Arts teacher at a high school in the Western Suburbs of Sydney.
We discuss how the transition from Primary to Secondary schooling has changed to help students adapt more smoothly. We also talk about how, as educators, we need to give constructive feedback to allow students to improve, achieve and grow as young adults.
As an artist himself, Leigh talks about the practices he uses in his classes to encourage his students to create pieces of art in any medium.
Check out Leigh's instagram page leighanthonyjohnson to see his artwork and to get your own inspiration!
In episode 5, our first in 2019, I am joined by University of Western Sydney alumni, one time work colleague at St Andrew's Primary Marayong and best man at my wedding, Mr Adam Fletcher.
Adam and I discuss the importance of relevant assessing for students in 2019, which allows all students to achieve a level of success. Are there ways of changing the reporting system sent to parents to show the improvements and developments of their child throughout the year without resorting to the A to E?
We also discuss the stigmas and stereotypes we've dealt with once people find out that we are primary school teachers.
* This edition of The Holidays Are Good was recorded at Rooty Hill RSL and as a result, may include the following:
1) Background music
2) Announcements over the club's PA
3) Pokies' jackpot and free spins music
4) Commentary on what Adam and I saw whilst at above-mentioned venue.
In episode 4, I am joined by my fellow Patrician Brothers Blacktown, John Paul II High Marayong and University of Western Sydney alumni Mr Ben Oxley.
We discuss our experiences teaching abroad and how we've had to adapt to our new school environments. Ben's forward thinking approach to teaching in 2018 and beyond is well worth the listen.
From PBL (Project Based Learning) to EMU (Extending Mathematical Thinking), we cover every educational acronym!
In episode 3, I am joined by former educator of 30 years and now full-time writer Alan Whiticker.
Alan and I discuss life as a male teacher starting out in the early 1980's and his progression into leadership positions during his teaching career. I ask Alan for some advice in regards to taking the leap into leadership roles. As the episode title suggests, if you don't get the backing of your leadership team in regards to opportunities available at your current school, vote with your feet!
We also discuss Alan's transition from teacher to full-time writer after 30 plus years as a teacher.
Join me as I talk to one of my old work colleagues, mentor and friend Mark Galea.
We chat about his early experiences as a male teacher in the 1990's, his transition into leadership roles and how teaching in the current climate has its challenges.
We also discuss the possible reasons for the low percentage of young male teachers at the present.
Join me Matt Brophy, as I interview some inspiring male educators about their experiences as a teacher past and present. We also discuss the challenges male educators may face in the future.