Best Best Small Group Curriculum Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 347: From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious 24:19

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5h ago24:19

24:19

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today’s episode tackles a challenge every ELA teacher knows well: getting students to move beyond simply summarizing a text and into true analysis. This episode, From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious, is all about helping students answer the big “So what?”—why their evid…

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Kerre Woodham: The housing intensification battle reaches cabinet level 7:56

18h ago7:56

7:56

The battle over intensification of housing has reached cabinet level, with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Housing Minister at odds over Chris Bishop's plan to get hundreds of thousands of houses built in the super city. “It's 2 million,” I hear you say. “They want to build two million houses.” Well, the Housing Minister addresses this in his col…

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Why the Battle Gets Harder After You Follow Christ - Question & Answer from The Locker Room w/ Jim Ramos EP 901 6:32

2h ago6:32

6:32

Every man needs a locker room. Join a brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our bi-monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room twice a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life’s difficult questions. Sharing community with these amazing men is one of the most enjoyable th…

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No Shortcuts! Living Fully for God - Average Joe Conversation w/ Chris Hancock EP 900 29:20

9h ago29:20

29:20

Are you tired of taking shortcuts that leave you stuck? Do you have the guts to wait on God’s timing, lead your family with strength, and rise to the next level? In this 'Average Joe' conversation, Pastor Jim Ramos sits down with longtime friend Chris Hancock—a man who’s battled addiction, built a thriving business, and learned what it means to lov…

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Kerre Woodham: The realities of leaving the Paris Agreement 6:53

1d ago6:53

6:53

ACT Party Leader David Seymour has set the cat among the pigeons, or the Huntaway among the cattle, by calling for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a pact that’s part of the UN's framework convention on climate change, which started in 1992 with the Rio Earth Summit. The main goal of the Paris Agreement is to…

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Tim Groser: Former Climate Change Minister on ACT's call to withdraw from the Paris Agreement 7:42

1d ago7:42

7:42

A former Climate Change Minister believes New Zealand should stay in the Paris Climate Agreement. ACT leader David Seymour's announced a policy to leave the global pact unless rules are loosened for our farmers. New Zealand First has also floated the idea of withdrawing, as some larger nations have ditched it. Tim Groser told Kerre Woodham this goe…

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Sir Lockwood Smith: Former MP and Diplomat on ACTs call to withdraw from the Paris Agreement 7:18

1d ago7:18

7:18

Pulling out of the Paris Agreement could cause more problems than it solves. Act and New Zealand First have expressed interest in pulling New Zealand out of the agreement unless more realistic emissions targets are produced. Sir Lockwood Smith, former MP and Diplomat, says he sympathises with famers and Seymour on the subject, but we just pull out …

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Episode 346: ChatGPT Series: Brainstorming & Lesson Hooks Made Simple 14:07

6h ago14:07

14:07

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! Today, we’re continuing our ChatGPT Series with an episode called Brainstorming & Lesson Hooks Made Simple. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your planner, wondering how to start a lesson in a way that actually captures your students’ attention—or if you’r…

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#132 Student-Centered Teaching in Math Class 12:42

7h ago12:42

12:42

Let's dive into Student-Centered Teaching: How to Build Autonomy Without Losing Control in your Math Class! Ready to shift your math class from teacher-led to student-driven? In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly what student-centered teaching looks like—and how to create autonomy without chaos. You’ll learn: ✅ What student-centered really m…

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Tama Potaka: Associate Housing Minister on the number of emergency housing applications being declined, homelessness 14:08

3d ago14:08

14:08

The number of emergency housing applications being declined has soared as the Government tightens restrictions. Data obtained by our newsroom under the Official Information Act shows applications have dropped significantly to the end of June, but the number being declined continues to rise. More applications are being declined than granted in Auckl…

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Kerre Woodham: What did it cost to get the foreign buyers clarification? 7:49

3d ago7:49

7:49

You might remember, those of you who were listening around about a month ago when the Prime Minister was in the studio, taking your calls. Steve rang in and gave the PM a bit of ginger over the economy. He said, "I know you're between a rock and a hard place, Prime Minister, with the economy. Not really any more levers you can pull to do much, and …

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Billy Moore: New Zealand Airports Association Chief Executive discusses $30million government loan offer to small airlines 7:57

4d ago7:57

7:57

The Government's offering up to 30-million dollars in loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to smaller airlines. It's also approved funding for a digital development that will allow regional transport bookings to be integrated with the platforms of major carriers. Associate Transport Minister James Meager says most regional airlines couldn't …

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Choosing Adventure w/ Dan Mathews: How Family Men Escape the Comfort Trap in the Stress Bubble EP 899 1:00:04

4d ago1:00:04

1:00:04

Are you settling for comfort—or are you leading your family into adventure? In this week’s expert interview, Jim Ramos is joined by Dan Mathews, who dives into what it means for a man to reject the safety net of “easy” and instead choose quality time, risk, and adventure with the people who matter most. Get ready to be challenged, inspired, and rem…

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Hamish Firth: Mt Hobson Group urban planning expert on the meeting around housing intensification in Auckland 8:28

7d ago8:28

8:28

There's confidence the right balance can be found when it comes to housing intensification in Auckland. A public meeting was held in Mt Eden last night, over proposals to allow 10 to 15-storey developments near transport hubs and town centres. Most of the meeting was civil, but things got tense when a young planning student suggested older people w…

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Kerre Woodham: I'm not convinced we can do housing intensification properly 4:02

7d ago4:02

4:02

Around 200 people packed out the Mt Eden Village Centre in Auckland last night, and they were pretty riled up. In fact, many were furious over plans for high rise apartments and the loss of special character status for hundreds of villas and bungalows in the wider neighbourhood. And this is the kind of feeling that is being felt across many differe…

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Erica Stanford: Education Minister talks NCEA reform, curriculum updates 34:29

7d ago34:29

34:29

The Education Minister says there was no option to do nothing when it came to changing NCEA. The proposed changes include replacing the qualification with a system emphasising literacy and numeracy more. Erica Stanford told Kerre Woodham changes were already underway with Labour updating the Level 1 curriculum, so there was no option to do nothing.…

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Episode 345: Teaching Grammar in the Flow of Writing 21:35

5d ago21:35

21:35

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Have you ever taught a grammar skill on Friday, only to watch your students completely forget it by Monday? You’re not alone. Grammar taught in isolation rarely sticks—but when it’s woven into the flow of writing instruction, everything changes. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the EB Grammar Framework, a s…

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#131 Real-World Math Projects Your Students Will Actually Care About 8:07

5d ago8:07

8:07

Not all real-world math is created equal. In this episode, I’m breaking down what makes a math project actually relevant to your students—and how to make math feel meaningful without needing a full curriculum rewrite. You’ll learn what students really care about, how to design your first spark of engagement, and how to use AI tools to help personal…

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Become a Better Leader and Teacher w/Bonus Question - Question & Answer from The Locker Room w/ Jim Ramos EP 898 6:29

6d ago6:29

6:29

Every man needs a locker room. Join a brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our bi-monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room twice a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life’s difficult questions. Sharing community with these amazing men is one of the most enjoyable th…

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Kerre Woodham: Surely this visa can only be good for New Zealand? 5:10

9d ago5:10

5:10

A new visa to attract businesspeople to New Zealand has been established by the Government, and really, it's only a matter of days, perhaps weeks, before a loosening on restrictions for foreigners being able to purchase residential property here is announced. Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister, when he was last in-studio with me, said we’ll be a…

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Chris Small: ABC Business Sales Managing Director on the new Business Investor Visa 6:25

9d ago6:25

6:25

More money could soon circulate through the economy as the Government opens up the country to more overseas businesspeople. Under its new Business Investor Visa, foreign investors who put at least $2 million into a Kiwi business will be granted a 12-month fast-track to residence pathway. People who invest $1 million will be given a three-year work-…

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Episode 344: ChatGPT Series: How to Train ChatGPT to Create Rubrics and Feedback 20:50

7d ago20:50

20:50

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Grading doesn’t have to steal your weekends anymore! 🎉 In this brand-new series, I’m showing you how to train ChatGPT to become your teaching assistant—saving you time, reducing stress, and giving you space to focus on what matters most: your students. In this first episode, we’re tackling the grading stru…

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#130- 3 Must-Have Classroom Routines That Actually Work in Secondary Math 10:38

7d ago10:38

10:38

Ready to stop managing behavior and start supporting student thinking? In this episode, we’re breaking down the three essential classroom routines every secondary math teacher needs—especially if you're trying to run a student-centered classroom without constant chaos. You’ll learn how to start class with purpose, build student talk into your every…

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I Stopped Putting My Kids First: Here’s What Happened - Average Joe Conversation w/ Matt Johnson EP 897 22:20

7d ago22:20

22:20

Have you bought into the lie that being a good dad means putting your kids before your wife? What if that “noble” choice is actually sabotaging your family? In this 'Average Joe' conversation, Pastor Jim Ramos sits down with his friend Matt Johnson to challenge one of the most common and destructive mistakes husbands make: reversing God’s hierarchy…

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Kerre Woodham: We need to get ships in and out more quickly 6:45

10d ago6:45

6:45

We all know that New Zealand is a trading nation. We need to sell stuff to make the money we need to build hospitals, pay our teachers and police officers, pay for benefits and Super, pay for roads and cycleways, and the like. To maintain our standard of living we have to earn our keep, and that's what our exporters do. We need good exporters, and …

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Robbie Paul: Icehouse Ventures CEO on the number of young Kiwi start-ups and investors 10:28

10d ago10:28

10:28

Do younger Kiwis still have that No.8 wire mentality? While some are concerned the younger generation is settling as opposed to striving and investing in their ideas and futures, others believe the worry is unfounded. Icehouse Ventures, a venture capital company that backs Kiwi startups, hosted their 15th Annual Showcase last week, in which nine Ki…

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Sherelle Kennelly: NZ Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation CEO on the lack of efficiency in our ports and supply chains 7:27

10d ago7:27

7:27

There’s a call to completely reset our supply chains. The Cargo Owners Council says there's been a 30% drop in productivity since 2019. Chair Brent Flavey says New Zealand is in the bottom 20% for port efficiency, and we aren’t keeping up with the rest of the world. NZ Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation CEO Sherelle Kennelly told Ker…

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Kerre Woodham: Fatal DUI crashes need to carry strong sentences 6:53

11d ago6:53

6:53

I don't know about you, but I was truly surprised to hear Judge Russell Collins send a young drug driver to jail on Friday. In the Napier District Court, Judge Collins heard Alexander Kerr had dope in his system when he crashed his car - killing his mate and leaving another in a wheelchair for life. Kerr had no previous convictions. His mate, the o…

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REBOOT: Christian Wild Men: What Biblical Masculine Strength Looks Like w/ Ryan Miller EP 896 55:31

11d ago55:31

55:31

This is a reboot of a past episode #734 of the Men in the Arena Podcast. Calling all WILD MEN! You know you’re called to be a strong Christian man, so why does the Bible tell you to be “meek?” And why does God keep calling WILD, UNRULY men to his cause? This world wants to break men like you, but God has different plans. This week, Men in the Arena…

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Kerre Woodham: What good would repealing the gang patch ban do? 4:37

14d ago4:37

4:37

Labour's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate Peeni Heare is standing by a comment that he’d repeal the gang patch ban. He agreed with the notion at an event on Wednesday night. Now, this is despite Chris Hipkins saying no, no, that's not true, we're not going to repeal the gang patch law. Peeni Henare told RNZ he was asked his personal view on the issue, whi…

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Episode 343: You’re Probably Already Doing This—But It’s the Secret to a Strong Reading Culture 23:26

12d ago23:26

23:26

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! So many teachers want to build a strong reading culture in their classrooms—but the truth is, you’re probably already doing one of the most important things without even realizing it! In today’s episode, I pull back the curtain on the “secret” to fostering a love of reading and shows you how to amplify wha…

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#129- Student Engagement Strategies That Actually Work in Math Class 8:49

12d ago8:49

8:49

What does student engagement really look like in a math classroom? Spoiler: it’s not quiet rows, silent worksheets, or step-by-step compliance. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of my Holt student teaching placement—the moment I realized math class could be so much more—and walking through real engagement strategies you can use right now. You’…

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Kerre Woodham: What will it take to bring NZ out of its funk? 7:30

15d ago7:30

7:30

Finance Minister Nicola Willis all but invoked the old adage ‘the beatings will continue until morale improves’, when commenting on the state of the economy yesterday. In a stand up with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after the Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to 3%, she blamed the sluggish economy on doomsayers from the opposition ben…

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David Seymour: Associate Education Minister on rising attendance rates 10:55

15d ago10:55

10:55

More students are attending school regularly. Figures released today show 58.4% of students regularly attended school in Term 2 - the highest since 2021. It's a drop from Term 1 where 66% of students showed up regularly, but this is partially explained by winter illness. Associate Education Minister David Seymour says messaging from the government …

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How to Flee Temptation - Question & Answer from The Locker Room w/ Jim Ramos EP 895 9:05

13d ago9:05

9:05

Every man needs a locker room. Join a brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our bi-monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room twice a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life’s difficult questions. Sharing community with these amazing men is one of the most enjoyable th…

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Maurice Williamson: Former MP and former diplomat on Trevor Mallard's ousting from Ambassador to Ireland 8:20

16d ago8:20

8:20

Former Speaker Trevor Mallard is returning early from Ireland, ending his job as Ambassador. Winston Peters has appointed senior foreign affairs staffer Angela Hassan-Sharp as his replacement, saying his behaviour during the anti-mandate occupation at Parliament should've disqualified him from the role. Peters says only experienced diplomats, not f…

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Kerre Woodham: How can teachers justify the continued disruption? 6:05

16d ago6:05

6:05

The secondary teachers are out again. They're appalled and insulted by the Government's latest pay offer. For the record, the Governments offered a 1% pay rise every year for three years in collective agreement negotiations. PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says the offer is the lowest increase in a generation and 18-19,000 teachers will be out pro…

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Episode 342: The Secret to a Thriving Classroom Culture 22:02

14d ago22:02

22:02

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! What if your classroom didn’t run on a long list of rules, but on a few powerful core values that shape how everyone shows up each day? In this episode, let's explore why core values inspire more ownership than rules, how to choose the right ones for your students, and simple ways to bring them to life dai…

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The Problem…and the Solution: When a Man Gets It Pt 4 – Equipping Men in Ten EP 894 11:26

14d ago11:26

11:26

What happens when men refuse to step up? What’s the cost when fathers walk away from their families, and leaders go silent in the fight? In this week’s 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos exposes the dark side of manhood when males settle for less than God’s calling—and lays out the path to redemption. From fatherlessness to cultural coll…

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#128 My First Real-World Math Project Was a Mess—What I’d Do Differently Now (with AI Support) 7:12

14d ago7:12

7:12

Ever launch a project you were sure would be a hit… only for it to totally flop? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of my first real-world math project—a polished, professionally-designed activity that completely fell apart in the classroom. But that failure? It led to one of my most powerful, student-centered projects yet: Change M…

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Kerre Woodham: Can you have confidence in buying a new build with partial liability? 8:04

17d ago8:04

8:04

Two stories in the Herald today - one about the announcement from Christopher Luxon and Chris Penk yesterday, changing the building liability settings so ratepayers aren't burdened with picking up the tab that shonky developers, builders, or architects are responsible for. In the Herald story, they cite a case in Queenstown: the Oaks Shores body co…

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Kerre Woodham: Can Kiwis be swayed to support Nuclear Power? 6:24

18d ago6:24

6:24

It seems hard to believe, but the Maxim Institute reckons New Zealand can lead the world in sustainable AI infrastructure. They warn, however, that the window of opportunity is closing quickly because everybody wants to be in on it. Every other country wants the rewards that come from hooking their carriages to the AI machine, the choices we make n…