Little Things First

Tracy and Jim chat and chew today over the long-standing topic of professional development.  PD may be falling out of favor as a term, but some of the ancient practices are still around, even when they fail to produce measurable results.  Tracy and Jim grapple, literally, with this topic and explore a way of looking at professional learning using a Tracy Vandeventer original: the five Ps.  What are the five Ps?  Listen to this week's episode to find out!

Professional development resource

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This week, we interview blogger, educational leader, teacher, and author Rachelle Dene Poth who has dabbled in just about everything teaching and learning with an emphasis on engaging students through augmented reality, virtual reality, and project-based learning.  Ms. Poth discusses how we can use these mediums regardless of the delivery model to more adequately reach every student every day. 

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Debbie Drummond has been around for awhile.  She had seen it all, or so she thought.  And then she was introduced to Assessment to Achievement, a seemingly simple approach to professional learning and school reform that is being implemented in schools across the country.  A2A, as it is called, takes elements of the past and repackages them in a system that helps schools collaborate and implement small changes, leading to improved student outcomes.  What is A2A?  Find out this week!

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Dr. Doris Santoro has written. book called DEMORALIZED about the ways that teachers are marginalized in education improvement efforts and how we can re-moralize them with very specific school actions.  It isn't hopeless!  Tracy and Jim visited about the book three weeks ago and now get to ask all their questions of Dr. Santoro herself.  Join in and consider the ways that educators can re-moralize one another and themselves.  

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Brad Larrabee is the principal of two successful schools, one a nationally-recognized Title I school.  Mr. Larabee shares with Tracy and Jim his formula for success, which relies an awful lot on culture and relationships.  In addition, he has a five-year strategic plan developed with district leadership to prioritize additional high-leverage activities.  Mr. Larrabee is in a rural district and says that rural life is a culture that needs to be acknowledged, accepted, and learned from.  There is certainly a lot to be learned from this award-winning principal.  

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Dr. Kevin Kumashoiro talks about a very important topic for a very important time--what would education for democracy look like?  How do educators navigate the liberatory and oppressive tensions that co-exist within the very existence of democracy?  Dr. Kumashiro explores these topics and more, which are particularly relevant in 2020.  Dr. Kumashoro reflects on how educators can perform small acts to address anti-oppressive educational practices and how educators might respond to systemic and overt racism including the rise in aggression toward Asian-Americans.

https://www.kevinkumashiro.com

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For the second time, Tracy and Jim discuss a book on the podcast.  This time, it is DEMORALIZED by Dr. Doris Santoro.  Tracy chose the book because of her concern over teacher retention.  In the past, Tracy and Jim have discussed concerns over morale, stress, and psychological safety, and they continue that discussion today.  What are your thoughts about how to re-moralize public education so that teachers will come and then stay?  Join the discussion at on Facebook @littlethingsfirst.

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*This is part of our series on rural schools.*  

Chad Prewitt is the principal of Davenport middle and high schools in Davenport, Washington.  His schools are ESEA award-winning places where culture and student needs are prioritized.  Chad shares some of his insights gleaned from eight years of service, that have contributed to his success.  Join Chad, Tracy, and Jim on the road (literally) as they discuss the little things that make a difference for our most successful schools.  Stay until the end of the episode to find out what Tracy found out about Chad's conversation with his younger self!

Mike Mattos

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Dr. Russell Skiba is a an education Professor who has studied disproportionate discipline in schools for decades.  Now retired, Dr. Skiba talks to Tracy and Jim about what he has learned from his and others' research about the little things we can do to be more compassionate in our discipline efforts.  

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Latricia Reeves is an award-winning principal out of Georgia who talks about leadership as a central focus, for staff and students.  They use the Leader in Me program to build student leadership and social emotional skills.  In addition, there is an emphasis on collective teacher efficacy and relationships.  Ms. Reeves has been at the school for 15 years as the community and staff has changed.  Her endurance has created a school that people long to be a part of.  

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https://classdojo.com