Hoops of Steel

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Hoops of Steel

Julie Arnold

7 episodes

3 months ago

Turn closed questions into open doors: Marcus Luther shows how to fuel thinking, talking, and learning. In this episode, Julie Arnold speaks with Oregon-based English teacher and podcaster Marcus Luther about building classrooms where curiosity crackles and every student’s voice matters. From quick wins that draw even the quietest students into conversation, to feedback moments that shift self‑belief, Marcus shares practical strategies wrapped in warmth and optimism. Along the way, Marcus cha...

Education

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Education

Episodes (7/7)

Hoops of Steel

Vacating the Floor with Marcus Luther

3 months ago

45 minutes

Hoops of Steel

Healing, Teaching, Law with Wesley Enoch

What stories shape us — and how do we learn to tell our own? In this episode, Julie Arnold speaks with playwright, director and creative leader Wesley Enoch about the power of storytelling in education, the importance of honouring lived experience, and the joy of building spaces where students feel seen and heard. This episode is a warm, wise, and energising conversation for teachers who want to help students express identity with clarity and confidence. Wesley Enoch AM is a playwright and di...

4 months ago

51 minutes

Hoops of Steel

Just because I don't like PD, doesn't mean I'm not a professional learner

How does a English teacher transform professional learning into great classroom practice? How do you take a set text, pick the bits that are going to engage your students and prepare them for what comes next? From medieval Icelandic sagas to Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, Dan joins Julie to talk about how deep reading, writing, and meaningful classroom encounters help students grow and keep teachers loving what they do. Dan has taught English in public schools for most of this century and ...

5 months ago

37 minutes

Hoops of Steel

On storytelling, language, and history with Anna Funder

How can literature help students see history as something alive and full of meaning for our present? In this episode, recorded at the ETAQ State Conference, Julie Arnold speaks with acclaimed author Anna Funder about the joy and challenges of writing stories that bring the past into sharp, human focus. In a conversation ranging through her best known work, they explore how literature can uncover hidden lives, question power, and spark fierce curiosity in the classroom. Anna Funder is one of A...

6 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Hoops of Steel

The Paradox of Poetry with Sarah Holland-Batt and Kelli McGraw

Send us a text Teaching poetry is a balancing act—can we nurture intellect and emotion while tackling curriculum and student pushback? Sarah Holland-Batt and Kelli McGraw explore the challenges of teaching poetry—how it tests us, yet sparks creativity, deep thinking, and meaningful connections. Sarah Holland-Batt is an award-winning poet, editor and critic. Her books have received a number of Australia’s leading literary awards, including the Stella Prize for her most recent book, The Jaguar,...

7 months ago

42 minutes

Hoops of Steel

Agency in the Age of Accountability with Jeffrey Lewis

Send us a text It feels risky to invite students to experiment and make choices when there's so much pressure on student performance. Jeffrey Lewis talks about how to make space in the curriculum for students to find their own ways to get inspired. Jeffrey Lewis is currently Assistant Head of English at Brisbane Grammar School. He has previously held positions on the ETAQ Management Committee, including Director of Professional Learning and Secretary. He is an avid reader, amateur playwright,...

8 months ago

41 minutes

Hoops of Steel

The Sisyphean Task of Teaching English with Melanie Ralph

Send us a text "Booklets... stay with me". Melanie Ralph believes that keeping things simple is the key to creating a joyful classroom. Her innovative teaching resources help lighten the load for her colleagues. Mel's values-driven, pragmatic approach is great for students; and it can help teachers hold onto the joy and the point of learning in English. Show notes: Mel's Website Bare Bones Teaching on YouTube ---> Join our community at https://www.etaq.org.au/ Enter the conversation ...

9 months ago

26 minutes