New Zealand isn't the only country to be concerned about falling student literacy rates and the gender gap in academic performance. New Australian research suggests that boys are twice as likely to be at the bottom in literacy and more likely to fall behind once they reach secondary school. But one boys' high school in North Sydney has defied those odds. Once one of the lowest ranked schools in the state, it is now one of the top for English. Principal Paul Sheather explains to Kathryn how a different teaching approach drove this incredible turnaround at Balgowlah Boys Campus.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Many parents will remember the 'terrible twos' - when your toddler turns into a tiny tyrant whose favourite word is 'no!'. But what happens when they're a little bit older, but still tending toward being stubborn? What's under-lying the behaviour coming from a strong-willed child? And how can parents adjust their expectations and reactions cope with it? Jenny Hale is one of Parenting Place's Senior Parent Coaches. She's also the author of the book Kind, Firm, Calm: Simple Strategies to Transform Your Parenting. Parenting Place has just launched a new parenting course on this topic.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There are a lot of books on parenting, but very few about what happens when you suddenly find yourself doing it on your own. This was the experience of Australian author and podcaster Rachel Maksimovic. She became a solo mum when she was just 20 weeks' pregnant - and among the financial and career challenges it brought - there were a host of other, unexpected things. That prompted her to start her podcast called Mothering on My Own. It's now morphed into a book of the same name, in which 30 women who have found themselves parenting on their own share their stories. Rachel says society still judges single mums negatively - and fails to recognise the fullness of their lives.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details