Backporch Education Podcast

Poem: The Glove and the Lions, Leigh Hunt  Statement of the Whole: Where is the line between scaffolding and handholding? Educators build steps of mastery into their curricula, but doing so well (like our awesome guest, Tim Kemper!) requires being able to … Continue reading →

Our Top Ten List of Books Everyone Should Read  A Question from Josie P  Statement of the Whole: A listener poses the challenge and Jason and Steve almost refuse to respond.  But a lot of fun ensues when they try … Continue reading →

Poem:  none  Statement of the Whole: This question, from a listener, has elements of several issues in it.  What do we do when we have multiple students learning in a given classroom with differing levels of performance and ability?  And what do … Continue reading →

Poem:  Leaves Compared With Flowers, by Robert Frost  Statement of the Whole: Expectations come from our estimate of what a student should be able to do.  How do we avoid either over or under estimating our students?  Jason and Steve respond to this question … Continue reading →

Poem:  Introduction to Poetry, By Billy Collins  Statement of the Whole: Some folk copy the state school curriculum and just teach at home.  Some call almost any activity a part of the curriculum.  One of the great joys of home educating is the freedom … Continue reading →

Poem: Time, Real and Imaginary, By Samuel Taylor Coleridge  On the wide level of a mountain’s head, (I knew not where, but ’twas some faery place) Their pinions, ostrich-like, for sails out-spread, Two lovely children run an endless race, A sister and a brother ! This far outstripp’d the other … Continue reading →

Poem: “Not of School Age” by Robert Frost  Around bend after bend  It was blown woods and no end  I came to but one house  I made but the one friend  At the one house, a child was out  Who drew … Continue reading →

Looking Back, Looking Ahead  Poem:  A Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  Statement of the Whole: Do you remember when Toto pulled back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz?  This episode resembles that scene in some regards.  The cast of The Backporch Education podcast have … Continue reading →

An Interview with Josie Parker  Poem:  “Inside of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge,” by William Wordsworth  Statement of the Whole: What is the modern college experience?  Are all colleges and universities working off the same basic plan?  Why do colleges in Europe … Continue reading →

The panic before school episode  Poem: Interrogative by Sister M. Therese  Statement of the Whole: As soon as summer starts, the clock starts clicking loudly.  What do good teachers do with their summers?  How do you start a new school year … Continue reading →