In this S4E30 bonus episode, I reflect on my conversation with Dr. Katy Anthes about her Forward Framework for moving from polarization to progress. Drawing from the classic book Difficult Conversations, I consider the gap between intentions and impact, explaining why we often misinterpret others' motives and how avoiding difficult conversations damages relationships.

Learn practical strategies for:
➡️recognizing your contribution to conflicts,
➡️understanding your emotions,
➡️and addressing issues directly to create meaningful progress.

Whether you're an educator, parent, or leader, these evidence-based techniques will transform how you approach challenging conversations and build stronger connections.

📚 Featured Book: Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen

00:00 - Introduction: Moving from Polarized Mindsets to Progress
01:00 - The Schoolutions: Coaching and Teaching Strategies Podcast
01:40 - Dr. Katy Anthes's Forward Framework
02:10 - "Difficult Conversations": A Classic Resource
03:00 - Why Assumptions About Intentions Are Often Wrong
04:00 - How We Assume Intentions from Impact
05:30 - Digital Communication and Misinterpreting Intentions
07:00 - How Accusing Others Creates Defensiveness
08:30 - The Toxicity of Avoiding Difficult Conversations
10:00 - Tools for Spotting Your Contribution: Role Reversal
11:00 - The Observer's Insight Technique
12:00 - Understanding Your Own Emotions
14:00 - Final Thoughts: Being Understood vs. Being Right
14:30 - Outro and Contact Information

#DifficultConversations #IntentionsVsImpact #ConflictResolution #EducationPodcast #CommunicationSkills #ForwardFramework #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #TeachingStrategies #ParentingTips #WorkplaceRelationships #PersonalGrowth #AssumedIntentions #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducatorResources

Check out my full S4E30 interview with Dr. Katy Anthes! 

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired, and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

New episodes are released every Monday, with a bonus solo episode on Fridays featuring research-backed coaching and teaching strategies you can apply right away to better serve the children in your care.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of Schoolutions: Coaching & Teaching Strategies Podcast: 
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

In this powerful conversation with former Colorado Commissioner of Education Dr. Katy Anthes, we explore her groundbreaking "Forward Framework" for navigating polarization and finding productive middle ground in education and beyond. 

Dr. Anthes shares research-backed strategies to move from destructive conflict to productive disagreement, explaining why curiosity and humanity are essential for progress. Learn practical skills to address divisive topics in your classroom, school, or community, and discover why 87% of Americans are tired of division and ready for a better way forward. 

Whether you're an educator dealing with polarizing issues or anyone seeking to have more meaningful conversations across differences, this episode offers hope and practical tools to create positive change.

Episode Mentions:

• Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC)
• Colorado Council of the International Reading Association (CCIRA)
• Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict & Getting to Yes with Yourself: How to Get What You Truly Want by William Ury
• Jim Collins 
• High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
• More in Common 
• Undivide Us
• Belonging without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian

Check out Katy’s writing and work with PEBC: 

• A Reminder to America: We Still Agree on More Than We Don’t The work ahead of educators to nurture a healthier kind of politics (November 11, 2024) 
• Forward Initiative → From Polarization to Progress 

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Katy Anthes & Forward Initiative 

05:00 - Research on Conflict: William Ury's "Possible" 

09:00 - Destructive vs. Productive Conflict 

13:00 - Finding Humanity and Common Ground 

17:00 - Examples of Polarization in Education 

21:00 - Hope in Numbers: 87% Want Less Division 

25:00 - The Forward Framework Part 1: Preparation & Listening 

32:00 - The Forward Framework Part 2: Connecting & Complicating 

37:00 - The Forward Framework Part 3: Rethinking & Creating Space 

41:00 - Closing Thoughts: Progress Through Humanity

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Learn how Just-In-Time Scaffolding can support struggling math students in this video. Discover three effective ways to provide math intervention for students who need extra help in understanding mathematical concepts.

In this S4E29 bonus episode, I unpack the critical differences between "just-in-time" and "just-in-case" scaffolding. Discover why timing is everything when supporting struggling math students and how traditional intervention models often fail at the secondary level. 

Learn practical strategies for maintaining cognitive demand while providing appropriate support, ensuring equity in mathematics education, and balancing academic intervention with social-emotional awareness. 

This episode offers invaluable insights for educators seeking to transform their approach to supporting striving students in grades 6-12, with research-backed methods that preserve productive struggle while providing targeted assistance.

Episode Mentions:

• Just-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case Scaffolding: How to Foster Productive Perseverance by Dr. Juli K. Dixon 
• How to Implement Response to Intervention at the Secondary Level by  PJ Caposey

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 
01:00 Introducing the Bonus Episode Focus 
02:00 Understanding Just In Time vs Just In Case Scaffolding 
04:00 How Premature Scaffolding Reduces Cognitive Demand 
06:00 Maintaining Learning Goals While Scaffolding 
07:00 Real-World Example: Holocaust Unit Scaffolding 
08:00 Challenges with RTI at the Secondary Level 
10:00 Team Concepts and Student-Centered Approaches 
11:00 Proactive Intervention: Catching Students Early 
13:00 Rethinking the RTI Triangle Model 
14:00 Social-Emotional Support in Intervention 
15:00 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

#MathIntervention #JustInTimeScaffolding #ProductiveStruggle #EquityInEducation #BreakItMath #TeacherPD #SecondaryEducation #MathTeaching #RTImodels #DifferentiatedInstruction

Want to learn more about  Juliana 's B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention Framework™? Check out my full S4E29 interview with her (https://youtu.be/Nvb8ePouHbA).

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired, and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

New episodes are released every Monday, with a bonus solo episode on Fridays featuring research-backed coaching and teaching strategies you can apply right away to better serve the children in your care.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of Schoolutions: Coaching & Teaching Strategies Podcast: 
https://www.youtube.com/@schoolutionspodcast/

👉 Follow us on social:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-wahl-4300811a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/olivia-wahl.bsky.social
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schoolutionspodcast

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Join me as I speak with Juliana Tapper, M.Ed, founder of CollaborateEd and author of Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework To Engage Students Who Struggle. Discover Juliana’s revolutionary B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention Framework™, designed specifically for students who have experienced math trauma or anxiety. 

Juliana reveals why Algebra 1 is a critical gatekeeper for educational success and how her evidence-based approach helps break down barriers for historically underserved students. Learn practical techniques to build math confidence, engage reluctant learners, and elevate student status in mathematics.

🔑 Topics:

• Understanding and addressing math trauma and anxiety
• The five-step B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention Framework™
• How to implement the innovative "Math Wars" teaching method
• Why building community must come before content
• Just-in-time vs. just-in-case intervention approaches
• Strategies for maintaining high expectations for all students

Episode Mentions:

• Embedded Formative Assessment by Dylan Wiliam
• Elena Aguliar - Coaching for Equity, The Art of Coaching Teams, Arise
• Math Chat Podcast hosted by Mona Lehl
• Math Therapy™ by Vanessa Vakharia
• Choosing to See by Kyndall Brown, Ph.D. and Dr. Pamela Seda
• Just-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case Scaffolding: How to Foster Productive Perseverance by Dr. Juli K. Dixon 

From Juliana:

• Free PDF: 10 Math intervention strategies
• Free Mini-Workshop: Surprisingly easy ways to engage apathetic students

#6Through12MathIntervention #MathTrauma #AlgebraGatekeeping #MathEquity #TeacherSupport #MathWars #MathFramework #BREAKIT #MiddleSchoolMath #HighSchoolMath #MathTeaching #MathCoaching

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Learn about the potential end of free school lunches and what could come next. Stay informed on Department of Education news and potential cuts.

In this urgent S4E28 bonus episode, I examine how Republican budget proposals threaten universal free school meals for 12 million students nationwide. Based on senior Chalkbeat reporter Kalyn Belsha's investigative reporting, this episode breaks down the academic, administrative, and financial consequences of these proposed cuts. 

Learn why universal free school meals improve attendance, test scores, and student behavior, and discover how these cuts would create significant burdens for schools already facing resource challenges. This episode provides essential information for educators, parents, and community members concerned about child nutrition and educational equity.

For more resources, including Kalyn's full article and Jennifer Gaddis' book "The Labor of Lunch," visit the show notes. Join me every Monday for research-backed strategies and Friday for bonus reflections to support the children in your care.

Episode Mentions:

• How a Republican plan to cut universal free school meals could affect 12 million students by Kalyn Belsha 
• The Labor of Lunch: Why We Need Real Food and Real Jobs in American Public Schools Volume 70, Jennifer E. Gaddis 
• S3E23: Providing Healthy School Meals to All Students with Food Service ESP, Talisa Jones
• National Education Association (NEA)

00:00 - Introduction: The Threat to Universal Free School Meals 
01:00 - About Skolution's Coaching and Teaching Strategies Podcast 
01:45 - Kalyn Belshaw's Investigation into School Meal Cuts 
03:00 - Impact of Universal Meals: Removing Stigma and Supporting Families 
04:00 - Administrative Burdens and Nutrition Quality Concerns 
05:30 - GOP Proposals: Community Eligibility Requirements Increase 
07:00 - Income Verification Requirements and Paperwork Burden 
08:00 - Financial Impact on Families and School Meal Debt 
09:30 - Immigration Concerns and Tariff Effects 
10:45 - Book Recommendation: "The Labor of Lunch" by Jennifer Gaddis 
12:30 - Moving Away from "Or" Mentality in Public Support 
13:30 - Advocacy Work of Food Service ESPs 
14:15 - Closing and Call to Action

#SchoolMealCrisis #SaveSchoolLunches #FeedingStudents #EducationCuts #StudentHunger #SchoolLunchProgram #UniversalFreeMeals #ChildNutrition #FoodInsecurity #SchoolMealDebt #EquitableEducation #StudentSuccess #EducationPolicy #SchoolMealEquity #ChildrenFirst #EducationAdvocacy #TeacherVoices #SchoolFunding #NutritionMatters #KidsNeedFood

Want to learn more about how the budget cuts will impact children in your care? Check out my full S4E28 interview with Kalyn.

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Join me as I interview Chalkbeat senior national reporter Kalyn Belsha for an urgent update on the Trump administration's education cuts. This follow-up to Kalyn’s Episode 18 appearance covers the rapid dismantling of the Department of Education. 

Discover which vital programs have been terminated, how research benefiting thousands of students has been abruptly halted, and what these cuts mean for vulnerable populations including children with disabilities. 

This conversation reveals how federal education funding is being used as leverage against schools and universities, and why the biggest concerns lie ahead with potential cuts to Title I and IDEA funding. 

Episode Mentions:

• Trump expected to sign executive order on U.S. Department of Education. Here’s what we know by Erica Meltzer 
• Parent groups and organizations that support families of children with disabilities by state 
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) 
• The Hechinger Report's tracker of Trump's education actions 
• The New York Times' tracker on lawsuits against the Trump administration 
• Columbia University's response to the Trump administration saying it would withhold $400M in federal funds from the University 
• The University of Kansas Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction -This link has a teacher's guide & earlier research on the strategy

00:00 Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters 

01:00 Overview of Recent Department of Education Cuts

02:00 Kalyn Belsha Returns with Critical Updates 

03:00 Department of Education Confirmation Hearings 

04:35 Linda McMahon's Limited Knowledge of Education Law 

05:25 Major Cuts to Teacher Training and Research Programs 

07:15 Impact on Students with Disabilities' Transition Programs 

08:30 Research Projects That Cannot Be Restarted 

09:30 The "End DEI" Portal and Its Real Purpose 

11:15 Where Are the Guardrails? Understanding Funding Types 

12:45 The Future of Title I and IDEA Funding 

14:15 Implications for Colleges and Universities 

15:40 Federal Funding Used as Leverage Against Schools 

17:00 Executive Order to Dismantle the Education Department 

18:30 Withholding Federal Funds as a New Enforcement Tactic 

19:30 School Meal Program Rollbacks on the Horizon 

20:45 The Connection Between Education and Democracy 

22:15 How to Stay Informed Without Being Overwhelmed 

24:00 Resources for Tracking Education Policy Changes

25:15 How to Advocate for Education Funding 

26:30 Moving Beyond Our Bubbles to Support All Children 

27:30 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

In this bonus episode I break down the groundbreaking "Forward Together" report from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) shared by Sarah Sandelius and Kristen N. Briggs during their S4E27 Episode: How The Ability Challenge is Transforming Special Education. Discover the three essential mindsets and eight key practices that benefit not just the one in five students with learning differences, but ALL learners. 

I share practical strategies for:

➡️explicit instruction, 

➡️Universal Design for Learning, 

➡️strategy instruction, 

➡️flexible grouping, 

➡️positive behavior strategies, 

➡️collaboration, 

➡️culturally responsive teaching, 

➡️and evidence-based content instruction. 

Learn how to create equitable learning environments where every student can thrive despite political pushback against inclusive education initiatives. 

Episode Mentions:

• ✨NCLD Report: FORWARD TOGETHER: Helping Educators Unlock the Power of Students Who Learn Differently
• ✨Stiggins's 7 Strategies of Assessment FOR Learning
• ✨S3 E31: Your AI-Powered UDL Thought Partner: LUDIA with Beth Stark and Jérémie Rostan
• ✨S4E19: Educational Teams Bridging School & Family Communication w/ Leah Mermelstein & Dr. Jen Gioia
• ✨Kalyn Belsha of Chalkbeat

Perfect for educators, administrators, and caregivers committed to supporting diverse learners.

00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview 

01:00 - About the Forward Together Report 

03:00 - Understanding the "One in Five" Students 

05:00 - Three Essential Mindsets for Effective Teaching 

06:00 - Self-Efficacy: Believing in Your Ability to Teach All Students 

08:00 - Positive Orientation Toward Inclusion and Belonging 

09:00 - Growth Mindset for Teachers and Students 

10:00 - Eight Key Practices That Benefit All Learners 

11:00 - Explicit Targeted Instruction and Universal Design for Learning 

12:00 - Strategy Instruction for Independent Learning 

14:00 - Positive Behavior Strategies and PBIS 

15:00 - Flexible vs. Fixed Grouping Approaches 

16:00 - Collaboration Between Educators and Caregivers 

17:00 - Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Pedagogy 

19:00 - Evidence-Based Content Instruction 

20:00 - What Science Says About Neurodiversity in Learning 

22:00 - Moving Forward Together and Finding Purpose 

23:00 - Closing Thoughts and Next Episode Preview

#TheAbilityChallenge #SpecialEducation #InclusiveTeaching #LearningDifferences #EquitableEducation #TeachingStrategies #EducatorResources #NCLD #UniversalDesignForLearning #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #EducationPodcast

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Join me as I speak with Sarah Sandelius and Kristen N. Briggs from The Ability Challenge about revolutionizing special education through their groundbreaking THRIVE Framework. We need to shift from deficit-based thinking to presuming competence in all learners.

You'll Learn:

• Why focusing on Tier 1 instruction is essential for ALL students
• How to move beyond compliance metrics to meaningful student outcomes
• The critical difference between visible and invisible disabilities
• Why "kids will meet whatever bar you set for them, low or high"
• Practical strategies for creating truly inclusive learning environments

Sarah Sandelius, a former lawyer who founded The Ability Challenge, shares her personal journey from witnessing educational inequity to creating systems-level change. Kristen N. Briggs brings her invaluable perspective as a special education teacher and school leader, highlighting how intentional support systems can transform educational experiences for students with disabilities.

Episode Mentions: 

• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
  • Insights for Navigating the Transition to Adulthood
  • Forward Together
• IDEA
• MTSS-i
• Juliana Tapper, M.Ed - Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention
• The Ability Challenge's 2025 White Paper "From ABC to THRIVE" 

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction and overview 
• 01:00 - Meet Sarah Sandelius and Kristen Briggs 
• 02:00 - Research that informs their work 
• 03:50 - Kristen on lived experience vs. academic research 
• 06:10 - Sarah's journey to founding The Ability Challenge 
• 09:56 - Understanding visible vs. invisible disabilities 
• 11:59 - What schools could do better to support students 
• 13:21 - The problem of "Tier 2 and 3 ourselves out of a Tier 1 challenge" 
• 17:23 - The importance of collaborative professional learning 
• 19:29 - The THRIVE Framework explained 
• 21:50 - Taking a systems-level approach to special education 
• 24:40 - Moving beyond compliance metrics to meaningful assessment 
• 27:46 - Grade-level content access for all students 
• 29:08 - The "what, so what, now what" data analysis protocol 
• 31:32 - Setting high expectations and checking educator biases 
• 34:34 - Future vision and emerging trends in special education 
• 37:17 - Building teacher knowledge around specialized instruction 
• 38:37 - Resources for understanding functions of behavior 
• 39:12 - Reimagining staffing approaches

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

Discover how writer's notebooks create essential spaces for student creativity and authentic expression in this S4E26 bonus episode featuring insights from Ralph Fletcher's book, A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. Learn practical strategies for implementing writer's notebooks in your classroom and providing meaningful feedback that empowers rather than constrains young writers.

🔑 In this episode: 

🌟Why writer's notebooks serve a distinct purpose beyond assignments

🌟How to shift from formulaic writing to authentic expression

🌟The difference between "done" and "done for now" in the writing process

🌟Practical ways to provide feedback that focuses on growth, not just praise

🌟John Hattie's research on effective feedback for student learning

I share my experience implementing writer's folders and notebooks across grade levels and explain how giving students freedom transformed their writing. This episode is perfect for K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, and anyone interested in helping students develop authentic writing voices.

00:00 - Introduction: The power of greenbelt writing 

01:00 - Schoolutions podcast overview 

01:43 - Ralph Fletcher's concept of greenbelt writing 

02:00 - Writing folders vs. writer's notebooks 

03:12 - Breaking free from genre constraints 

04:32 - The problem with writing formulas 

05:12 - Ralph's definition of a writer's notebook 

07:00 - Choosing the right people for writing feedback 

08:23 - Creating in-person writing groups 

10:15 - The writer should control the feedback process 

11:32 - You don't have to accept all feedback 

12:58 - John Hattie's research on effective feedback 

14:25 - Why "great job" isn't helpful feedback 

15:32 - Connecting feedback to zones of proximal development

Episode Mentions:

• A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher
• Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning by John Hattie
• Lev Vygotsky’s Zones of Development

Want to learn more about Greenbelt writing and offering students choice as writers? Check out my full S4E26 interview with  Ralph Fletcher.

#WritersNotebook #TeachingWriting #LiteracyInstruction #RalphFletcher #GreenbeltWriting #StudentWriters #TeacherPD #WritingWorkshop #JohnHattie #WritingFeedback #ElementaryWriting #MiddleSchoolELA #WritingProcess #LiteracyCoaching #AuthenticWriting

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with renowned author and educator Ralph Fletcher to discuss his book, Joy Write: Cultivating High-Impact, Low-Stakes Writing and why the concept of greenbelt writing is crucial for developing authentic student voices. 

Greenbelt writing serves as a designated creative space where students can write freely without constraints, similar to how greenbelts in nature create essential passages for wildlife to thrive.

Ralph, who has also written numerous books for young readers and teachers, shares his perspective on how scripted curricula and commercial writing programs have squeezed choice and joy out of classroom writing experiences. 

The conversation explores:

• Why choice is fundamental to developing strong writers
• How academic writing has overshadowed expressive writing in classrooms
• The importance of pleasure and joy in the writing process
• Practical ways teachers can incorporate greenbelt writing alongside required curriculum
• How student-initiated writing reveals skills, humor, and collaboration that often remain hidden

Episode Mentions: 

• What is Greenbelt Writing? by Ralph Fletcher
• The World's Loneliest Elephant by Ralph Fletcher (illustrated by Naoko Stoop)
• Craft and Process Studies by Matt Glover
• Misreading Masculinity by Thomas Newkirk
• Boy Writers by Ralph Fletcher
• Barry Lane (educator)
• Katie Wood Ray (educator who discusses writing stamina)
• Malcolm Gladwell (reference to his 10,000 hours concept)
• John Carroll (professor at University of New Hampshire)

Ralph offers examples of how teachers can validate and affirm student writing without feeling pressured to grade or critique it heavily, suggesting that sometimes benign neglect allows creativity to flourish. 

The episode concludes with a discussion about writing identity and how teachers can help all students see themselves as writers by providing opportunities for authentic expression.

Perfect for teachers, coaches, and caregivers looking to restore creativity and joy to writing instruction while balancing curricular demands.

#GreenbeltWriting #JoyWrite #RalphFletcher #WritersCraft #WritersNotebook #WritingMentor #LowStakesWriting #WritingWorkshop #StudentChoice #AuthenticWriting #TeachersOfTwitter #TeachWriting #WritingTeacher #LiteracyMatters #WritingInstruction #ELA #ElementaryELA #StudentVoice #WritingJoy #CreativeWriting #WriteFromTheHeart #WritersIdentity #WritingCommunity #ReclaimWriting #TeacherLife #EdChat #LiteracyEducation #ChoiceMatters #StudentEngagement #WritingFreedom

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.