On today’s episode: education scholar and author, Yong Zhao

Zhao is an education professor at the University of Kansas and at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. His work focuses on technology and globalization’s impact on education. His latest book, co-authored with fellow KU professor Rick Ginsberg, is Duck and Cover which explores the outdated and ill-informed ideas that plague our school system and how we can rethink them.

Topics:

• 02:30 How ‘chance’ can become opportunity
• 08:38 The problem with education reforms in the U.S.
• 12:03 How the concept of the ‘achievement gap’ hurts students
• 15:30 Entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom
• 19:45 Giving teachers agency in reform efforts
• 21:30 How Chat GPT can help students

On today’s episode: founder and executive director of Press Pass NYC Lara Bergen

Bergen is a former educator and the founder and executive director of Press Pass NYC, an organization that offers support, training, resources, and opportunities for New York City public schools to create journalism classrooms and student newspapers.

Topics:

• 02:13 The power of children book writing
• 06:42 Starting a school newspaper with students
• 09:50 Bringing journalistic learning to under-resourced schools
• 14:58 How Press Pass NYC works with teachers and students

On today’s episode: educator and public speaker Sarah Frayer

Frayer is an award winning educator, consultant, curriculum developer and the CEO of the APTI Model, an education consulting firm that offers evidence-based, social-emotional learning strategies and tools. She’s also co-founder of Reflective Pages, a nonprofit that aims to build muliticultural and comprehensive curriculums in schools.

Topics:

• 01:56 Teaching as a calling
• 04:44 Advocating for your needs
• 09:48 The APTI Model and social-emotional learning
• 11:26 Helping teachers acknowledge bias
• 14:32 The power of community service
• 16:39 Reflective Pages
• 17:38 “You’re your child’s first teacher”

For more information on Frayer’s work, you can visit the APTI Model website at aptimodel.com.

On today’s episode: special education professor and researcher Rhonda Nese

Nese is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon College of Education. Her research focuses on reducing exclusionary school disciplinary practices. She also provides technical assistance to state, district and school level teams across the nation.

Topics

• 02:08 Implicit bias explained
• 05:06 Unpacking the school-to-prison pipeline
• 08:08 Helping teachers understand the “why” behind behavior
• 11:45 Alternatives to suspension
• 14:56 Helping students re-adjust to the classroom post-Covid
• 17:00 How parents can advocate

For more information on Nese’s work, you can visit her website neselab.org or follow her on Twitter at @nese_lab.

On today’s episode: English professor at Arizona State University Jessica Early

Early is an English professor at Arizona State University. She’s also the director of the Central Arizona writing Project at ASU, and a former high school English teacher. Her latest book, Next Generation Genres, offers educators an alternative framework for writing instruction, one that offers compelling writing genres like op-eds, profiles, and podcasts, all relevant to students.

Topics

• 02:00 Why we should move beyond 5-paragraph essays
• 03:40 Genres vs modes
• 06:23 Bringing non-fiction writing into the classroom
• 11:20 The Turning Point essay
• 14:27 Allowing students to write for impact
• 16:56 Navigating censorship

On today’s episode: Former special education teacher Betsy Ballard

Ballard is a retired teacher who taught in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a family and consumer science teacher and also in special education. For years, she’s worked to support parents trying to navigate bureaucratic systems to get appropriate services for their children.

Topics

• 01:58 Challenges for special education students during Covid
• 04:56 Empowering parents with knowledge
• 09:00 How to effectively advocate for students
• 12:30 Assumptions students of color face
• 15:33 Resources for parents

For more information or questions, you can reach Betsy Ballard at [email protected].

On today’s episode: Former special education teacher Betsy Ballard

Ballard is a retired teacher who taught in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a family and consumer science teacher and also in special education. For years, she’s worked to support parents trying to navigate bureaucratic systems to get appropriate services for their children.

Topics

• 02:13 Special education systems vary across states
• 06:23 How students “fall through the cracks”
• 09:22 The benefits of mainstreaming classes
• 12:30 IEP legalese and the problem with just checking boxes

For more information or questions, you can reach Betsy Ballard at [email protected].

On today’s episode: Education professor and consultant William Kist

Kist is an education professor emeritus at Kent State University, an education consultant, and a former high school English teacher. For over 20 years, he’s worked with schools and districts on a national level, with a focus on integrating technology in the classroom. His book, Curating a Literacy Life, gives teachers and parents resources to help students make sense of their media landscape.

Topics

• 02:00 Bringing New Media into the English classroom
• 04:00 Embracing the smartphone
• 10:03 The Curation Model explained
• 13:23 Teaching students boundaries
• 16:36 Online learning’s potential
• 20:48 AI in the classroom
• 23:00 Listen to your child’s music

Follow William Kist on Twitter @williamkist.

On today’s podcast: Former New York Times Learning Network editor Katherine Schulten

Schulten was editor-in-chief of the New York Times Learning Network, which publishes free teaching resources for middle and high school teachers and students. She’s also the author of the recent book Coming of Age in 2020, a compilation of writing and artwork submitted by students that reflects how youth across the country coped during a tumultuous year.

Topics

• 02:08 Explaining journalism basics in the digital age
• 07:00 JLI and journalistic learning
• 08:56 Approaching hot-button topics in the classroom
• 13:56 The future of journalism and AI chatbots
• 18:00 What’s next for Katherine and the power of journaling

On today’s podcast: Former New York Times Learning Network editor Katherine Schulten

Schulten was editor-in-chief of the New York Times Learning Network, which publishes free teaching resources for middle and high school teachers and students. She’s also the author of the recent book Coming of Age in 2020, a compilation of writing and artwork submitted by students that reflects how youth across the country coped during a tumultuous year.

Topics:

• 03:00 Origins of Coming of Age in 2020 and elevating student voice
• 08:09 Understanding the engaged generation
• 11:00 “Pulling out the phone” and the challenges of talking face-to-face
• 16:12 How the Times reaches students everywhere