I wrote an article about different ways to get into uni without an ATAR and I've been asked by so many people how to get early entry into university in Australia other than NSW. I covered NSW in the original article because that's where we live and my son had already...
school
Take cover, it’s parent-teacher interview season
There are many perplexing things about raising children, but surely the biggest is how they can possibly be so different to their parents. We made them, we grew them, and yet here they are: a total, unsolvable mystery. This is never brought home for me more than...
11 tips for Year 7 newbies from older high school kids
My youngest is starting high school in February, so I thought we'd gather some tips for Year 7 kids from older friends. It actually physically hurts me to write such a ridiculous sentence. How can all three of my babies be in actual big school? That makes me very......
Why there’s hope for your “reluctant student”
If you're doing daily battle with a reluctant student, today's guest writer will be like a breath of fresh air for you. It's a personal story about how Elizabeth Noske, self- confessed reluctant student, scraped her way through to become a lifelong learner. The...
What if learners could harness the power of flow?
Can education harness the power of flow to increase student engagement? By Simon McCallum, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Edward Schofield, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Stephen Dobson, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria...
FFS: It’s okay if your child isn’t engaged with school right now
Did you see the viral letter from the Blacktown LGA principal's office? It's been doing the rounds for good reason. It's a huge dose of common sense in the middle of what feels like the most nonsensical time ever. I think it resonated with so many parents because it...
Steiner schools are good for creativity, capability and resilience
Steiner schools are a popular choice of alternative schooling in Australia, with more than 40 schools country-wide. Along with other alternatives to mainstream schooling, Australia seems to be pursuing an agenda of educational choice, similar to that in the UK and US....
6 tips for getting prepared for Year 11
Being prepared for year 11 - which in Australia means senior high school - feels almost as daunting as getting your five-year-old ready for 'big school'. Only this time the school is actual big school and your five-year-old is HUGE. My son starts year 11 in three...
11 group gift ideas for teachers that are fabulous
If you're looking for group gift ideas for teachers, it means only one thing: you drew the 'class parent' short straw and have been fielding emails about whether it's a mufti day tomorrow all year. I feel your pain. For some reason, I am a chronic over-volunteerer and...
What makes a good teacher?
We recently spoke to Eddie Woo (of WooTube and Teenage Boss infamy) to get his thoughts on what makes a good teacher. This question was sparked by our own frustration at the enormous differences between classroom teaching styles and teachers ability to engage a...
Get Social
Recent Posts
Practising gratitude can help older kids find more joy in life
Years ago, when the children were small and there were only two of them, we would talk about our best and worst parts of the day at dinnertime. Gathered around our timber dining table, a candle burning, night falling, we started a tradition that has since become a...
Why Heartstopper needs to be on your watch list
If you've got a high school-aged kid, chances are that the Netflix show Heartstopper will be on your radar. Everyone is watching it. Everyone is falling in love with it. And that's a very good thing indeed. It may as well be called Heartwarmer, because this show is...
Give yourself the gift of this apple and blackberry pie recipe
I've fallen so far behind in everything in life (I know you've been there). I was supposed to introduce you to this marvellous apple and blackberry pie from Sophie Hanson's new book at least a month ago. Yet here we are. Don't let my delayed introduction put you off...
Affiliate links
From time to time Mumlyfe uses affiliate links. It means that Mumlyfe may recieve a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchse using the link. YOu can find out more about how it works here.