What does it mean to connect with someone? Learn from a psychologist how our connections regulate our emotions, and the policies and biases that drive disconnection in our schools and society.

Show Notes:

• Where Jody’s passion for connections came from. (3:05)
• A time and a place for strategies. (5:20)
• Remembering why we do this work as educators. (7:30)
• We are all just walking each other home. (9:30)
• Connect before you direct. (11:20)
• The practices and policies in schools that drive disconnection. (12:30)
• The ACEs research on trauma and the childhood benevolence scale. (17:15)
• Checking our biases. (21:00)
• Implicit bias & cultural sensitivity. (25:15)
• Leaning into the emotional experience of discomfort. (28:35)
• Relationship knows no hierarchy. (31:34)
• Having conversations and starting a movement. (34:16)

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.

Circle meetings are a protocol that provides a safe space for students to practice their social skills and tackle topics that matter most to them. Learn how to facilitate them to build a culture of belonging in your classroom.

Show Notes:

• Why circle meetings? [02:30]
• What are circle meetings? [2:55]
• How often do you run a circle meeting? [3:45]
• Using norms to establish expectations [4:00]
• Facilitating a meeting [5:45]
• How circle meetings impact classroom culture [10:50]
• Taking the time to build the culture supports more effective instruction [13:00]
• The power of belonging [16:05]

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.

How we experience learning in our own life has a huge impact on the experiences we create for our students. Find out how a Metis-Cree assistant professor created a philosophy of learning after surviving addiction, homelessness, and reclaiming his indigenous identity.

Show Notes:

• How From the Ashes came to be. (3:00)
• Unpacking the poem “My Soul is Still Homeless.” (5:52)
• Why From the Ashes is really a love story. (10:03)
• Constructing identity through language. (15:26)
• A literacy education in jail. (18:35)
• Learning to learn while surviving on the streets. (20:38)
• Applying a different perspective of learning as a professor. (23:50)
• Subjective learning through creative expression. (27:56)
• How educators might authentically honor reconciliation in their classrooms. (33:15)
• Reflecting on a conversation with Gord Downie. (38:45)
• Advice for educators concerned about cultural appropriation. (42:15)
• The power of intention. (44:09)

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.

How we experience learning in our own life has a huge impact on the experiences we create for our students. Find out how a Metis-Cree assistant professor created a philosophy of learning after surviving addiction, homelessness, and reclaiming his indigenous identity.

COVID-19 has raised many questions about the purpose of education throughout North America and elicited very different answers from educators, parents and politicians. To better understand this current debate, we look at the reasons we’ve educated our kids throughout history and imagine how our schools might change if we clearly define our why.

Show Notes:

• Background on Ted Spear. [2:00]
• What was “weird” about school. [3:05]
• The capital P purposes of education throughout history. [7:45]
• The functional purposes of education. [11:45]
• Losing sight of purpose in structures. [16:00]
• Ted’s philosophy of education. [17:35]
• A single educator cannot reimagine education. [21:30]
• Aligning purpose with school operations. [23:45]
• How might we reimagine high school? [28:29]
• Cultivating humanity with assessment. [36:30]

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.

Now is the time to lean into the discomfort of talking about race. On this episode, we acknowledge our identities as a Black American and a white Canadian and discuss what it means to be anti-racist, and the #SmallGreatThings we can do as educators.

Show Notes:

• Checking-in on current events in Baltimore County. [4:01]
• Why this time is different. [6:46]
• What does it mean to be anti-racist? [11:00]
• What does “people of the global majority” mean? [16:28]
• How do we call-out racism & call-in with love? [17:49]
• Grappling with white shame & guilt. [19:35]
• Cultural norms that impede change. [23:27]
• We are at a breaking point. [26:36]
• Being an anti-racist educator. [29:05]
• Be a part of Amber’s #SmallGreatThing. [42:00]

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.

Welcome to #EduCrush! In honor of something new, we are going to discuss how to adopt a beginner’s mindset by getting curious, knowing where to look, and giving ourselves the permission to explore new routes.

Show Notes:

• Feelings check about the first episode. [0:30]
• What is a beginner’s mindset? [4:06]
• Getting curious. [5:52]
• Knowing where to look in your professional practice. [9:14]
• Giving yourself the permission to explore new routes. [11:03]

View full show notes at www.educrushpod.com.