Let's K12 Better

How are you going to pursue your passion this year?

We are celebrating the start of season 2 of the Let’s K12 Better podcast all month with the What’s Your Why -a series on exploring motivation and the imperfect journey to your authentic self. We hope you join us on January 27th for a LIVE show community discussion on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on finding our authentic self.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lindsay Portnoy, Cognitive Scientist, School Board President, and mother who thinks about how we make research and best practices in learning more accessible and applicable for parents and educators.

Learn more about Lindsay’s work!

• https://www.lindsayportnoy.com/
• https://www.lindsayportnoy.com/learntoday 

Links to resources and where to buy her books:

• https://bookshop.org/books/game-on-brain-on-the-surprising-relationship-between-play-and-gray-matter/9781951600426
• https://bookshop.org/books/designed-to-learn-using-design-thinking-to-bring-purpose-and-passion-to-the-classroom/9781416628248
• https://www.lindsayportnoy.com/designed-to-learn
• https://www.lindsayportnoy.com/gobo

Op-eds and published thought pieces:

• USA Today - Coronavirus: Remote learning turns kids into zombies because we're doing it all wrong. 
• The74 - A Mom’s View: Some Families Have the Resources to Manage Online Learning for Their Kids. Too Many Others Do Not. Where Is the Equity in That? 
• The Washington Post - What is ‘design thinking’? And why does it belong in our classrooms?   
• The World Economic Forum - Children should be playing more games in the classroom. Here’s why... 

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How are you going to pursue your passion this year? 
We are celebrating the start of season 2 of the Let’s K12 Better podcast all month with the What’s Your Why -a series on exploring motivation and the imperfect journey to your authentic self. We hope you join us on January 27th for a LIVE show community discussion on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on finding our authentic self. 

In this episode, we sit down with Yaritza Villalba, educator and Founding President, YV Educational Resources. Yaritza shows us how centering student voice is not only rewarding but necessary for all students, specifically historically marginalized students.

Learn more about Yaritza Villalba’s work or connect with her on social media at the links below! 

Link to website: https://www.yveducationalresources.com/

#AskYaritza blog link: https://blog.flipgrid.com/news/category/AskYaritza

#AskYaritza is located on the Flipgrid YouTube channel: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCaE_edn77lDzCxI3pinKvHg 

Twitter Handle: @inc_yv

Instagram Handle: inc_yv

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterNewsletter!

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What are your New Year’s Resolutions? How are you going to pursue your passion this year?

Welcome to season 2 of the Let’s K12 Better podcast! We are starting this second season with What’s Your Why -a series on exploring motivation and the imperfect journey to your authentic self. We hope you join us on January 27th for a LIVE show community discussion on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on finding our authentic self. 

In this episode, we sat down with Gail Clanton, a writer and community builder who uses her talent and passion to help transform businesses, brands, and individuals so that they reach their ultimate levels of success. Gail shows us how important it is to build or find your tribe but most importantly to lift as we climb.

Learn more about Gail Clanton’s work or connect with her on social media at the links below! 

Facebook Group:  Grown-Up Church Girls
Facebook:  GailClantonSparkles
Instagram:  GailClantonSparkles
Twitter: @GailCSparkles
 

Website:  https://www.gailclanton.com/

Blog:  http://www.diaryofagrownupchurchgirl.com/

The scripture Gail mentioned in her interview was from Matthew 5:16, which reads:  "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

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We are not shy about giving thanks. For our family, giving thanks is an opportunity to think deeply about our contributions to making our family-run, our commitment to each other, and how reciprocity is a form of love and selflessness. For the last episode of 2020, we went LIVE on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube (on the MomOfAllCapes Channels).  

We want to acknowledge that this year though intense and unprecedented in so many ways that lots of people are still hurting during these times. We wish peace to anyone who lost a loved one during COVID 19 and have you in our prayers. 

God bless everyone this upcoming year. Thanks for sticking with us this year.

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What can we learn about communication, from trees? Lots! In this episode, we discuss Dr. Suzanne Simard’s groundbreaking research on forests, the New York Times article “The Social Life of Trees” and the ways in which parents can raise children to see others as potential supercooperators rather than competitors.  Maybe the trees tell us that the secrets to our survival are found below the surface in our need to connect with each other.

--- Learn more about how trees communicate ---
The Social Life of Trees: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/02/magazine/tree-communication-mycorrhiza.html 

Dr. Suzanne Simard’s TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other?language=en#t-475328

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We’re celebrating 25 awesome episodes of the Let’s K12 Better podcast. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LISTENERS!

Through the end of 2020, we challenge families to sprinkle a bit of gratitude into every single thing they do.  Why is it so hard to show that we are thankful when times are tough or disappointing? Many of us learn to say thank you only when someone does something for us. Let’s change that.

Gratitude questions for families:

What is gratitude?

How do we show each other gratitude?

What are three things we are thankful for as a family and as individuals?

What are we thankful we are Learning or having challenges with?

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We’re baaaack! So the election happened. Now what? If you’re like us, you’re feeling a mixture of stress and relief after what has been a contentious and dramatic election cycle. So now that we have a new President-Elect, everyone is wondering how or even if we should move forward. Should we all sing Kumbaya and move on or should we think about the structural issues that are driving people apart? In this episode, we discuss the election results, the debates, and so much more.  

FYI… You’re not crazy, there is “nature” singing in the background. It was too hot to close all the windows, so please enjoy those ambient healing sounds in the background.

*During November and December, episodes will launch bi-weekly. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterNewsletter!

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Music credit: G. Mortley

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WARNING: We break out in song in this episode… so get ready!

How do we engage kids in civic life when they can’t vote? How do we become informed voters so that we can make the best possible choice? We held a family discussion about voting and the debates. We challenge you to have a discussion too!  
Here are our questions:

1. Why should people vote, even if they do not like the candidates? What can they do about it?

2. What is missing in the discussion in schools about voting?OR  What do you wish was covered and why? 

3. Sometimes candidates run ads and say harmful things about each other. What do you think about those kinds of ads? Are they helpful? 

4. We watched both the presidential and the vice presidential debates. What were some differences between the two? How did the debates make you feel afterward?

5. Voting is only one, very important part of your civic experience. What other ways can people make a change in their community? Kids can’t vote. So what are ways that kids can contribute to their communities? 

Check out the 5th Let’s K12 Better Newsletter with nonpartisan resources and tools to help you make an informed decision: https://mailchi.mp/aee90749591f/tips-for-raising-socially-conscious-anti-racist-kids-5836019.

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It’s a short one this week, but YOU’VE GOT HOMEWORK! 

October 5th - 9th is National Voter Education Week. How are you going to use this time to prepare for the election? We switched it up this episode and have provided discussion questions about elections and voting for families to use next week (and all month long). 

We are living during unprecedented times and kids are asking a lot of questions. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to engage because of fear. Remember, we’re preparing them to fix this mess. Bring your kids along on the journey with you. Here are your discussion questions:

1. Why should people vote, even if they do not like the candidates? What can they do about it?
2. What is missing in the discussion in schools about voting?OR  What do you wish was covered and why? 
3. Sometimes candidates run ads and say harmful things about each other. What do you think about those kinds of ads? Are they helpful? 
4. What can parents do to raise informed and engaged future voters?
5. Voting is only one, very important part of your civic experience. What other ways can people make a change in their community?
6. Kids can’t vote. So what are ways that kids can contribute to their communities? 

We’d love to hear about your family discussion. Share with us on social media @LetsK12Better or email us [email protected].

Find non-partisan resources in the 5th Let’s K12 Better Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/aee90749591f/tips-for-raising-socially-conscious-anti-racist-kids-5836019.   

National Voter Education Week site: https://votereducationweek.org/!

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#VoteReady |  #MailReady |  #VotePlanReady |  #BallotReady |  #WeReady2020

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How do we talk to kids about Breonna Taylor or police brutality?

#SayHerName... Since the death of Breonna Taylor, we’ve held many family discussions about race and other important topics. Because no topic is off the table in our home, we decided to pivot, still celebrating National Voter Registration Day, but we wanted to take a moment to discuss the grand jury’s ruling and the rippling impact it has had on all of us.

*Before you have a family conversation about Breonna Taylor’s death, read up an entire timeline. 

Podcasts on talking to kids about race, racial justice, and police brutality:

• Talking to Kids… About Race | Let's K12 Better Podcast 
• How to Raise a Socially Conscious, Anti-Racist Child | NYT Parenting 
• Talking to your kids about race and how to raise an anti-racist kid | Mother Of All Shows 
• Civics, Race, and Kids | TC After Dark 
• How to Talk to Kids About Race | Edit Your Life Show

Become an informed, anti-racist voter. Learn more about your ballot and read up on your candidates:

• National Voter Registration Day #VoteReady resources 
• Vote411 Election Information
• Issue Voter  
• Ballot Ready 
• League of Women Voters 

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