Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kate Longworth, CEO of Gaia Learning, the first online learning provider to achieve the ADHD Friendly School Award. In this episode, Kate shares her personal journey as a parent of a neurodivergent child and explains how Gaia Learning is revolutionising education for students with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences.

Discover how personalised, interest-driven educational pathways help neurodivergent students thrive and why engagement should be prioritised over traditional attendance metrics. Kate provides powerful examples of student success stories and discusses the challenges of scaling such a customised educational model.

You'll learn:

✅ Practical strategies to better support neurodivergent learners.

✅ The importance of integrating student interests into educational content.

✅ Innovative ways to authentically measure student engagement.

✅ Don't miss this conversation packed with valuable insights and inspiration for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about inclusive education.

Learn more about Gaia Learning: https://gaialearning.co.uk

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#Neurodiversity #InclusiveEducation #ADHD #Autism #EducationInnovation #StudentEngagement

In this insightful episode of The International Classroom Podcast, host Alex Gray speaks with renowned reading specialist Kristy Jones about evidence-based approaches to improving reading skills, rekindling a love of reading, and understanding the science behind literacy development.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Science of Reading: Kristy explains the "Big Five" components—Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension—and how they form the foundation of effective reading instruction.

• Early Identification & Intervention: Discover why early recognition of reading challenges is crucial, including how educators and parents can differentiate between general struggles and specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia or ADHD.

• Engaging Reluctant Readers: Practical tips to foster enjoyment and motivation in reading, including innovative strategies parents can implement at home.

• Role of Secondary Teachers: A vital conversation about why reading skills matter beyond primary school, highlighting the significance of literacy across all educational phases.

• The Future of Reading Instruction & AI: Kristy shares insights into the potential and current limitations of AI-based reading tools, emphasizing a balanced, hybrid approach to integrating technology in reading programs.

Resources Mentioned:

• Epic Digital Library

• Nessie Learning App

Connect with Kristy Jones:

• Website: The Reading Specialists

• LinkedIn: Kristy Jones

Who Should Listen:Educators across all stages, parents seeking practical literacy advice, and school leaders interested in evidence-based reading strategies.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The International Classroom Podcast and leave us a review to support our continued conversations about global education, leadership, and learning!

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Join Alex on this captivating episode of The International Classroom Podcast, as he reconnects with Simon Blower, the inspiring co-founder of Pobble. Simon, a former classroom teacher and deputy head, shares his journey from educator to EdTech innovator, driven by his passion for making writing accessible and exciting for every child.Episode Highlights:Simon's Journey: Hear Simon discuss his transition from the classroom to becoming an EdTech founder, motivated by the desire to tackle the challenges of teaching writing and reduce the overwhelming paperwork that distracts from meaningful learning.Exploring Pobble: Simon walks us through Pobble’s innovative platform designed to inspire creativity and support writing development through visually captivating prompts, ready-made writing activities, and interactive features to help both teachers and students.AI and EdTech Integration: Discover how Pobble is embracing AI technology to further enhance image quality, differentiate activities instantly, and ensure that content is adaptive, accessible, and engaging for all learners.Practical Classroom Implementation: Simon offers practical tips on seamlessly integrating Pobble into various educational contexts, whether in primary classrooms or secondary schools, highlighting its flexibility, ease of use, and strong alignment with English National Curriculum objectives.Impact and Evidence: Gain insight into the measurable impact Pobble has demonstrated, from saving teacher planning time to significantly boosting student engagement and writing output, supported by collaborations with prestigious institutions like Innovate UK, Microsoft Accelerator, and the BBC's 500 Words competition.Future Plans: Simon shares exciting updates about Pobble’s future, including language translation, deeper platform integration with Google Classroom, and enhancements to user experience, ensuring it remains accessible and beneficial to educators globally.Key Takeaway:Simon emphasises Pobble’s core mission—to inspire every child, especially reluctant writers, by providing engaging visual prompts and structured activities that transform their writing experience and confidence.Connect with Simon and Pobble:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonblowerpobble/Website: https://www.pobble.com/Thank you for tuning in to this episode of The International Classroom Podcast. Subscribe to stay updated with inspiring conversations and innovative educational strategies from around the globe!