In 2023 Afghan single mother Laila was desperate to get herself and her five daughters out of Iran. The chances were slim, but she was willing to try anything. When she called an Afghan contact in Adelaide, Mij Tanith was in the room and decided to try and help. What ensued was a growing long distance friendship that overcame the barriers of language and culture, fought through the bureaucratic hurdles and has led to Laila and her daughters being safely settled in Australia. Using poetry and prose, writer and refugee activist Mij Tanith has now told Laila’s story

Guest:

Mij Tanith, author and poet

INSTAGRAM

@mijtanith

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As we wrap up queer sci-fi month (😔🫶🏼) we get together to chat about our incredible book club pick, IDA by Alison Evans. This book follows Ida, who believes that she can time travel and uses her ability to amend errors in her life. From avoiding car crashes to rewinding conversational hiccups, who wouldn't want to travel through time? But when Ida's doppelganger sits down beside her at the train station, and her grasp on time becomes slippery, she realizes that she has been shifting between parallel universes. Every decision she changes creates a new version of herself. What happens to those versions of Ida, who have to live with the consequences she's avoiding? What happens when those doppelgangers get mad?

Join us as we get philosophical and ask questions such as; what does sci-fi look like at a domestic level? What kind of lives are the alternative versions of yourself living? Do you think it's harder to make mistakes and be imperfect today, in the age of social media, than it used to be? How does IDA disrupt the notion of a single, constant identity? And where do YOU begin and end?

LINKS

🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://linktr.ee/masswisteria#465207993

🌸 Our Socials:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
• TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub
• YT: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyandBookClub

💛 Where to find Amy:

• Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/
• Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
• Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening!💞

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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Paul Matthews, Author and Education Consultant at Paul Matthews.ai (paulmatthews.ai), to explore how educators can embrace artificial intelligence without losing the human qualities that make teaching meaningful.

Drawing on his background in humanities, leadership, and classroom teaching, Paul Matthews shares a thoughtful perspective on the opportunities and challenges AI presents for schools. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human thinking, Paul argues that it should be used to strengthen productivity while preserving wisdom, judgement, creativity, and authentic relationships.

Throughout the conversation, Paul explains the difference between technological capability and wisdom. He highlights how AI can save time on routine tasks. However, he also warns that technology can intensify workloads when used without clear purpose. As a result, educators are encouraged to develop habits that align with their values and educational goals.

The discussion also explores the concept of “organic intelligence” and why deep knowledge remains essential in an AI-powered world. Paul explains that effective AI use depends on strong domain expertise. Without that foundation, teachers and students may struggle to evaluate AI-generated content critically.

In addition, Steve and Paul examine practical ways schools can support students. They discuss teaching responsible AI use, maintaining opportunities for pen-and-paper learning, and ensuring students continue to build confidence through cognitive effort. Furthermore, Paul shares how AI can help teachers implement evidence-based literacy practices more efficiently, making it easier for every teacher to become a literacy teacher.

The episode also considers the future of education, the importance of intentional change, and the growing value of genuine human connection. Paul introduces his concept of “Matthews Law”, which suggests that if AI change is not intentional, it becomes accidental.

Whether you are a classroom teacher, school leader, or education innovator, this conversation offers practical insights for navigating AI with confidence, purpose, and wisdom. Above all, Paul demonstrates how schools can use technology to support learning while keeping humanity at the centre of education.

Powered by: xuno.com.au

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This episode Amy, Justina & Abby are joined by Alison Evans, author of our June BOTM Ida, as well as a whole host of other queer YA and middle grade speculative fiction, sci-fi and fantasy. Join us as we discuss all things reading and writing queer spec fic, imagining hopeful futures in YA, zine making for horse girls (gender neutral) – plus some (mostly) spoiler-free Ida chats ahead of next week’s book club.

MENTIONS

🌌 Our BOTM is Ida by Alison Evans

📚 BOOKS: Garth Nix; Isobel Carmody; Paul Collins; Michael Pryor; Obernewtyn by Isobel Carmody; The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells; Jorge Luis Borges; Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut; This is How You Lose the Time War by by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone; Highway Bodies by Alison Evans; This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield; Kindred: 12 #LoveOzYA Stories ed. Michael Earp

✍️ SHORT STORIES: “Tomorrow, Dawn” by Sascha Stronach

📺 TV SHOWS: Star Trek (1966–1969); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

✂️ ZINES: Long Trek; Pony with a Secret; 2 Pony 2 Zine; Ponies in Space

LINKS:

• Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
• Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
• Follow the Amy & Podcast on TikTok: @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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In this episode of Around the School Table, produced by Xuno, host Steve Davis is joined by Dr. Gina Biancarosa, Ann Swindells Chair in Education, Professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, and Director of the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (uoregon.edu), to explore the origins, purpose, and growing impact of DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) in schools across Australia and beyond.

Throughout the conversation, Gina explains how DIBELS was developed to help educators identify students who may need additional support with reading. Rather than relying solely on lengthy assessments, DIBELS uses brief, targeted measures that provide valuable insights into a student's literacy development. As a result, teachers can monitor progress more frequently and make informed instructional decisions.

The discussion explores the science behind key DIBELS assessments, including letter naming fluency, phonemic awareness, nonsense word fluency, oral reading fluency, and comprehension measures. Furthermore, Gina explains how each assessment aligns with the research on how children learn to read and develop reading comprehension over time.

Steve and Gina also examine the importance of reading for meaning. While decoding words is essential, comprehension remains the ultimate goal. Consequently, the episode highlights why effective literacy instruction must support both accurate word recognition and deep understanding of text.

In addition, listeners will learn how Australian educators have embraced DIBELS through professional learning communities, including the highly active DIBELS in Oz network. Gina reflects on the collaborative efforts that led to the development of an Australasian version of DIBELS, ensuring greater relevance for Australian and New Zealand students.

The conversation also explores how literacy data can be used responsibly within broader school improvement strategies. While assessment data can guide intervention and goal-setting, Gina emphasises the importance of using DIBELS for its intended purpose rather than as a blunt accountability tool. The discussion also touches on how DIBELS data can be analysed and interpreted within broader school improvement processes using tools such as Student Maps.

Beyond assessment, Gina shares her personal reflections on reading as a lifelong gift. From childhood favourites to supporting readers with vision impairment, she highlights the profound opportunities that literacy creates throughout life.

This episode offers valuable insights for teachers, school leaders, literacy specialists, and education professionals seeking practical ways to support reading growth while maintaining a strong focus on student understanding and success.

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A serial killer is on the loose in Melbourne in Sarah Bailey’s ‘Click’. Three women, a journalist, a cop and a politician are on the case. The approaching pandemic is a dark hovering presence in this gripping story which also shows how modern technology has become a force for good and for evil.

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Literary academic Kylie Cardell lays takes us through the life and achievements of Charmian Clift, writer and trailblazer of the 1950s and 1960s. She lived in the shadow of her famous husband, writer George Johnston, and died too early from suicide. Her writings, including her unfinished memoir “The End of the Morning”, are a remarkable treasury of observations about life for women in the mid 20th century.

Guests:

Sarah Bailey, author

Kylie Cardell, Associate Professor of Literature, Flinders University

Other books that get a mention:

Annie mentions “Frogsong” by Melissa Manning and the 2010 Booker winner “The Finkler Question” by HowardJacobson

Sarah recommends the fantasy trilogy “His Dark Materials” by Philip Pullman

INSTAGRAM

@sarah_bailey_author

@kyliesays

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