School Leaders Project

What's the difference between a student-centered and learner-centered model? What's really standing in the way of schools making changes? We answer these questions and more in this engaging episode with the creators of the Learner-Centered Framework, Devin Vodicka and Katie Martin. The framework centers on designing schools that meet the needs of our learners, preparing them for a dynamic and changing world. We talk about whole-learner outcomes and enabling conditions for success. You will come away feeling inspired with actionable strategies you can use to lead the change in your school.----------------------------------------------------(00:00) Highlights(2:43) About the guests(4:16) School-centered vs. Student-centered vs. Learner-centered(10:00) The education system isn’t broken, it's doing what it's designed to do (15:13) Are the barriers to change real or perceived?(17:46) The 4Ps of change(19:42) What is the learner-centered framework?(29:35) What’s a competency-based approach? (36:01) How do we create enabling conditions? (39:02) How do we build teacher autonomy? (46:11) What are the buts? (50:28) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final 3-------------------------------------------------------About School Leaders Project: School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities.We launch a new episode every Wednesday at 7 am ET. So, mark your calendars and get #midweekinspirED.#schoolleaders #leadership #schoolculture #leadershipproblems #schools #coordinator #principalsfollowingprincipals #coordinator

In this episode, we dive deep into the flaws of the traditional education system and explore an innovative alternative with Matt Kramer, creator of Wildflower Schools. We discuss the pressing need for personalized learning environments that cater to students’ individual needs, interests, and aspirations. Matt challenges the assembly-line approach of schools, highlighting the importance of customization and smaller learning environments. We challenge the role of principals, standardized tests, and the purpose of education itself. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of microschools and their potential to revolutionize the way we educate and empower our children for a brighter future.-----------------------------------------------------

(00:00) Highlights

(02:17) Who is Matt Kramer?

(03:51) What is a microschool?

(08:20) How do families find microschools?

(16:40) More about the Wildflower Model

(21:53) Who’s in charge here?

(27:11) The intention of and problem with standardized tests

(30:41) Moving away from schools as factories

(40:05) Teacher leaders as entrepreneurs

(44:04) What makes a Montessori school?

(53:39) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final 3!-------------------------------------------------------About School Leaders Project: School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities.We launch a new episode every Wednesday at 7 am ET. So, mark your calendars and get #midweekinspirED.#schoolleaders #leadership #schoolculture #leadershipproblems #schools #coordinator #principalsfollowingprincipals #coordinator

Discover the profound impact of philosophy in education with educator and advocate Kimberly Mitchell. Learn practical strategies to incorporate philosophical thinking into your leadership and empower students, teachers, and school communities in navigating a changing world. Access valuable resources like the Plato toolkit and The Liberating Structures website to find practical lesson plans and frameworks for integrating philosophy and inquiry-based practices into your own educational context.

Explore practical strategies for navigating challenges, fostering trust, and setting a positive tone with the world-renowned expert in interpersonal relationships, Jennifer Abrams. Embrace growth and unlock your full potential in creating an empowering learning environment as a leader!---------------------------------------------------------For more information, head over to our website - slp.toddleapp.comJoin our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesc...----------------------------------------------(00:00) Highlights (1:29) Introduction (2:54) Getting to know Jen Abrams(3:37) What is a tough conversation? (7:22) Clear is kind. Laying the foundation (15:33) Jen’s tips for effective feedback (21:22) Teachers, take charge of your own learning (25:43) When is it time to have a tough conversation (31:15) Don’t let the amygdala drive the bus (34:13) Time and Space for tough conversations (51:34) Growing teacher capacity for complexity (54:54) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final 3! ---------------------------------------------------- About School Leaders Project: School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities.We launch a new episode every Wednesday at 7 am ET. So, mark your calendars and get #midweekinspirED.#schoolleaders #leadership #schoolculture #managingdifficultconversations

Join renowned education expert Yong Zhao as he challenges traditional notions of learning to better prepare students for an AI-enabled future. Yong believes in the power of just-in-time learning over the outdated just-in-case approach. He encourages us to understand what makes each student unique and what truly motivates them, rather than focusing on their weaknesses. Yong envisions a world where schools prioritize real-world problem-solving, freeing educators and students from the constraints of rigid curriculum and testing. Prepare to be inspired as Yong invites us to reflect on our legacy and purpose as educators.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(00:00) Highlights 

(00:46) Introduction 

(02:21) Who is Yong Zhao?

(03:19) AI’s Impact on Schools and Teaching 

(08:11) Invitation to early adopters 

(11:18) Just-in-case vs. Just-in-time teaching 

(16:34) Cultivating student strengths vs. “fixing” student deficits 

(27:53) Learners without Borders 

(28:10) The curriculum is the floor, not the ceiling 

(32:37) Affirming identity through education 

(34:25) Confronting dubious practices in education, Yong’s newest book 

(39:16) Going beyond slogans, no one size fits all solutions 

(43:04) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final 3!

----------------------------------------------------

For more information, head over to our website - slp.toddleapp.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesc...----------------------------------------------------About School Leaders Project:School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities. We'll be launching a new episode every Wednesday at 7 am ET, starting May 3rd. So, mark your calendars and get #midweekinspirED.

This week at School Leaders Project, we speak to Kath Murdoch. We discover how inquiry is much more than a teaching practice, it is a mindset and a culture. Tune in to get notes on how to use inquiry to take control of your curriculum. Kath also spills the beans on how leaders (unintentionally) use the curriculum to control and limit teacher creativity!-------------------------------------------------------------(00:00) Highlights(00:54) Introduction(02:31) About Kath Murdoch (03:56) Personalized inquiry: within or outside of the curriculum?(03:37) Advice to new leaders(08:03) Guided vs. Open Inquiry and the Role of Curriculum(13:34) Permission with the curriculum(19:00) Transiency and preserving school culture (32:11) Teacher Inquiries (50:17) Resources that support inquiry (57:53) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final 3!  ------------------------------------------------------------

Sign up at https://slp.toddleapp.com/ to stay updated about new episodes launching every week on Wednesdays at 7 am.

About School Leaders Project:

School Leaders Project is a community initiative by Toddle. Loved by 40,000+ educators around the world, Toddle is an all-in-one teaching-learning platform for progressive schools. Toddle empowers teaching teams to work together and better for curriculum planning, student portfolios, assessments, reports, and family communication - all from one intuitive interface.

In this episode of the School Leaders Project, we have the incredible Dr. Jo Boaler (⁠ @joboaler5365 ⁠ ) author, professor, founder of youcubed, and math expert. ⭐Jo is inspiring in an unconventional way and she believes everyone is a math person! In this episode, Jo shares eye-opening insights on how to transform math classrooms and mindsets. Here are our top three takeaways from the conversation:1️⃣ How we test affects how well students do.💡

2️⃣ Immersive training excites teachers and is effective. 🌟

3️⃣ Learning how to learn, thinking about thinking, and solving problems is crucial for success in both students and adults. 🎯-------------------------------------------------------------------------(00:00) Highlights

(02:01) Introduction

(03:30) All About Jo 

(08:48) Taking Test Scores Off The Table 

(12:24) Limitless Leadership 

(21:00) Creating a Culture of Collaboration 

(27:09) Leaning into pushback 

(32:38) Youcubed, an easy win! 

(35:04) Insight into Jo’s newest book 

(41:23) School Leaders’ Countdown: The Final Three! _________________________________________________Sign up at https://slp.toddleapp.com/ to stay updated about new episodes launching every week on Wednesdays at 7am.About School Leaders Project:School Leaders Project is a community initiative by Toddle. Loved by 40,000+ educators around the world, Toddle is an all-in-one teaching-learning platform for progressive schools. Toddle empowers teaching teams to work together and better for curriculum planning, student portfolios, assessments, reports, and family communication - all from one intuitive interface.

In the second episode of the School Leaders Project, we speak to Jon Bergmann, one of the pioneers of flipped learning. Discover the origin story of flipped learning and learn from Jon's experience of implementing this innovative approach in schools worldwide.Our top three takeaways from our chat with Jon:

1️⃣Tailor active learning strategies to different subjects.

2️⃣Use the flipped model for staff meetings to boost productivity.

3️⃣Acknowledge not just strengths, but also the beliefs of students and staff.----------------------------------------------00:00 Highlights

00:58 Who is Jon Bergmann?

02:18 What is flipped teaching?

06:46 What is active learning?

10:05 Resources needed for flipping learning

13:14 The case for teacher-made videos

17:24 Overcoming Obstacles to flipped learning

22:01 How can we model flipped learning as a leader?

29:03 The holy grail of teaching: Flipped mastery

40:45 Relationships and Collaboration in the flipped classroom

43:21 School Leaders' Countdown: The Final ThreeFor more information, head over to our website - https://slp.toddleapp.com/Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theschoolleadersproject--------------------------------------We'll be launching a new episode every Wednesday at 7 am ET. So, mark your calendars and get ready to get inspired!

In the very first episode of School Leaders Project, we speak to the amazing Trevor MacKenzie - author, teacher, and expert in building cultures of assessments in schools. Join the conversation to find answers to some critical questions:

✅ How can we reflect our school values through our assessment calendars?

✅ What steps can we take to eliminate outdated assessment practices?

✅ How do we go beyond grades and numbers for a comprehensive view of student learning?

✅ What are the best ways to communicate assessment data?

00:00 - Highlights

02:02 - Introduction / About Trevor MacKenzie

06:57 - What is student-centered Assessment?

11:33 - The Power of Co-designing Success Criteria

14:28 - The 90-10 Balance

18:11 - Extinct Assessment Practices

21:26 - Modernizing Reporting Processes

28:18 - Leading an Assessment Culture

35:08 - Leading through Empathetic Design

39:38 - Passing on Data Across Grade Levels

47:40 - School Leaders' Countdown: The Final Three

For more information, head over to our website - www.slp.toddleapp.com

Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theschoolleadersproject

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About School Leaders Project:School Leaders Project is a podcast that dives deep into the world of education and leadership, featuring discussions with extraordinary thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of learning. Our aim is to simplify school leadership, providing you with the tools to create positive changes in your schools and communities. We'll be launching a new episode every second Wednesday at 7 am ET, starting May 3rd. So, mark your calendars and get #midweekinspirED.