This week’s newsletter comes bearing science, support and one unexpectedly adorable frog named Greg.
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With assessment and reporting season humming along in the background, we thought this week we’d balance practical help with a little joy.
There’s some fascinating research on the science of stress and why reframing it might actually help during busy seasons, excellent resources for National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week (including a beauty if you’re in NSW), a Squiz The World trip to the UAE, and finally… Greg. A frog found living inside a bag of lettuce from Woollies, has accidentally become this week’s emotional support amphibian.  |
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A Different Way To Think About Teacher Stress
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Feeling the term-time pressure cooker bubbling away? Science may have some surprisingly good news.
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| Assessment and reporting season can feel a bit like spinning plates while replying to emails, writing comments and remembering whose permission slip is still missing. |
| So we knew we had to share when this week, we stumbled across some fascinating research from psychologists at Stanford University and elsewhere suggesting something surprising: stress itself might not be the problem. Instead, the way we think about stress may shape how it affects us. |
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| Researchers studying “stress mindsets” found that people who viewed stress as something that could help them rise to a challenge, rather than purely damage them, tended to cope better under pressure and even showed healthier responses in the body. In one study, people who completed a mindset intervention reported lower anxiety and depression symptoms and even lower inflammation markers months later. |
| Before anyone rolls their eyes and mutters “toxic positivity” into their coffee, this is not about pretending stress is fun or ignoring the hard stuff. One researcher, psychologist Alia Crum, says it’s about reframing stress from “this is ruining me” to “this is my body gearing up to meet a challenge.” |
| One practical approach involves three steps: acknowledge the stress, welcome it, then use it. Ask yourself: What’s causing this stress? Why does it matter to me? And how can I channel it into something useful? |
| There’s also a free, science-backed online course that starts with a quick check-in about your current stress mindset before taking you through the research and practical strategies. It takes around two hours, but at this point in the term… it could be two hours very well spent. |
| Explore the free course here. |
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This Tuesday On Squiz The World: The UAE
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What do robot camel jockeys, indoor penguins and the tallest building on Earth have in common? The answer: this Tuesday’s stop on Squiz The World.
This fortnight, we take kids on an audio excursion to the United Arab Emirates, a country where giant futuristic cities rise beside traditions stretching back hundreds of years. |
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And while we’re here… if you or your class have an idea for a future Squiz The World country or a Shortcut topic, we would love to hear it.   |
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   Resources For National Sorry Day & Reconciliation Week
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| Tuesday marks National Sorry Day, a day to acknowledge the history and ongoing impact of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, now known as the Stolen Generations. Then on Wednesday, National Reconciliation Week begins, encouraging all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to consider how we can contribute to reconciliation. |
| If you’re looking for thoughtful, practical classroom resources, I’m resharing a favourite of ours: Australians Together. |
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| Yes, you’ll need to sign up for a free account, but it’s worth it. The site includes curriculum-aligned resources built from First Nations perspectives that you can use not just this week, but all year round. There are classroom activities, teacher guides, videos, background explainers, and dedicated resources for Reconciliation Week ready to go. |
| And if you’re in NSW, this is a beauty: Museums of History NSW’s free online Reconciliation Week event for Stage 2 and 3 students explores Aboriginal language revitalisation and how communities and Parliament have worked to support language renewal. |
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| A free online learning event for Reconciliation Week 2026 to explore the theme of ‘All In’ |
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| Students will hear from First Nations educators, learn about the passing of the Aboriginal Languages Bill in 2017, explore message sticks and archival materials, and finish with a creative activity of their own. Bonus: There are post-event classroom resources, too. |
| And while we’re on the topic… if you’re exploring Reconciliation, land rights, identity or Australian history in class, this is also a handy week to revisit our classic Squiz Kids Shortcut on Eddie Mabo and Native Title. It explores who Eddie Mabo was, why his High Court case mattered, how it challenged the idea of terra nullius, and the lasting impact of the Mabo decision on Australia today, all in kid-friendly language that works beautifully as a class listen or discussion starter. |
| Listen to Your Shortcut to Eddie Mabo |
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One less thing to plan this week. You’re welcome.  |
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Know a teacher who’d love this? Pass it on.
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| We love hearing from you! Reply to this email with any feedback, suggestions, or funny teaching stories, or hit us up at [email protected]. |
Now get out there, and have a most excellent day!
Over and out. |
| – Christie Kijurina, Squiz Kids Educator |
