Little Things First: Recent Episodes
Tracy Vandeventer/James Martin
Two buddies with years of educational experience chat it out about all things teaching and learning. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tracyandjim/support
While you're waiting for more LITTLE THINGS FIRST, why not try Jim's other podcast with Rachel called YES AND KNOW? It's an educational podcast focused on the binaries that often plague education--and how to deal with them. If you like YES AND KNOW, please subscribe!
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Dr. Sarah Thomas and Dr. Larry Parker collaborated on an article that listens to students and what their experience have been in the secondary setting. They share little things that make a difference in helping our young people feel heard and truly improving education.
Additional resources recommended by Dr. Parker:
George Theoharis (2009). The schools our children deserve: 7 Keys to equity, social justice and school reform. New York: Teachers College Press;
Rosa Rivera-McCutchen (2021). Radical care: Leading for Justice in Urban schools. New York: Teachers College Press.
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It's important to teach kids writing--teachers everywhere understand this. But what if mastering the art and craft of writing is about more than just learning the associated skills? What if it requires a kind of writing mindset that makes writing possible for all kids? Author and current teacher Chris Hall takes Jim and Rachel into the mindsets that he's discovered are vital to moving kids from casual writers to authentic authors.
Get Chris's book here!
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Little Things is back for a temporary time! Joining Jim is guest co-host Rachel Nance to discuss all things education. Mike Anderson returns to the podcast this week with his latest book TACKLING THE MOTIVATION CRISIS that looks at some of the reasons we currently need extrinsic rewards to keep our students going and what works even better. Mr. Anderson also discusses how we can continue to have pizza parties and not sabotage intrinsic motivation. Do intrinsic motivations work for all kids? And what if we didn't need to decide between the extrinsic and intrinsic polarity currently facing us in education? This informative podcast will give you insights into little things you can do to capture the natural curiosities that kids bring with them to school.
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Tackling the Motivation Crisis Book
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Little Things is back for a limited time! Tracy Vandeventer (who goes on hiatus after this episode) and Jim Martin visit with the new Superintendent of Sal Lake City School District in an episode recorded last summer but never released. Dr. Gadson discusses his approach to leading an urban district that is majority-minority and closing opportunity gaps. He discusses his vision for the future, how to navigate improvements in the age of a pandemic, and the role of race and diversity. Special thanks to Yandary Chatwin for coordinating this interview!
Next week: Jim and guest host Rachel Nance interview Mike Anderson about extrinsic and intrinsic rewards!
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Stacey Green of Stockton, Kansas was recently recognized as a Distinguished {Principal of the Year through the National Association of Elementary School Principals, after first being recognized as a state principal of the year. Ms. Green talks about her recipes for success, from personal coaching to a move from regular faculty meetings to "stand-up" check-ins. Ms. Green's school has undergone a transformation as they've explored their vision, mission , and core values, reflected in being TIGER ready. There are also opportunities for individuals to bring forward ideas to pilot, which have empowered faculty and staff. Listen in on Ms. Green's success story!!
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What are some little things schools can do to positively impact family engagement? Drs. Mavis Sanders and Claudia Galindo have been studying the topic for years, and their new book REVIEWING THE SUCCESS OF FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN THE US walks us through the success of community schools throughout the nation. You don't have to have a community school to benefit from this episode. Dr. Sanders and Dr. Galindo tell us the little things that get families involved in meaningful, respectful, and culturally-relevant ways. This was such an engaging talk, we just couldn't stop visiting!
Find their book here
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Michelle Love-Day has been a teacher and an administrator. She has worked at the district level and now has unveiled a supplemental schooling experience for Black youth that focuses on Black history and culture. This new schooling experience is being called the Rise Virtual Academy. Michele has worked hard to diversify her teaching ranks and to ensure that students learn the culture and history that is often missing in traditional schools. What can educators and schools learn about the little things that make a difference for Students and Communities of Color? How should educators counter the attacks on critical race theory as a ruse for suppressing all multicultural education?
https://www.risevirtualacademy.com
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Dr. Susan Hall has been studying reading for many years now and has started her own company--the 95% Group--focused on improving reading outcomes for all students. Dr. Hall's programs are being used by districts and schools across the country as they transition to a more research-based approach to reading and literacy instruction. After such a volatile year with COVID-19, Dr. Hall is very concerned about starting the coming school year right, with a focus on accelerated results for students who need remediation. She recommends that some of her materials be used for all students, regardless of reading ability, as a way to transition into grade level core this fall. Find out more on this week's episode!
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This week, Tracy and Jim talk with Dr. Don Vu, who has released his book LIFE, LITERACY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. A refugee himself, Dr. Vu has learned firsthand and through his scholarship what it takes to support refugee and immigrant youth in their literacy development. He reflects on the little things that will make a difference now as well as the practices we currently employ in the name of literacy teaching and learning that may get in the way.
LITTLE THINGS FIRST will premiere new episodes every two weeks beginning today. The next new episode will air June 22.
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Dr. Shannon Wanless has written about psychological safety in education, and Tracy and Jim dig deep to find out what exactly it looks like. Dr. Wanless explains that there is fear psychological safety could be overused or misunderstood in education and in general circles. She stresses that our goal is not to create a safe space for everyone but to create a space where humanity is centered and where everyone has the opportunity to express their true feelings, whether they be unsafe, anxious, or fearful. Tracy inquires about the course Dr. Wanless has created with her colleagues about attentional practices. What are attentional practices? Find out from this episode. Finally, can school systems adapt to better represent a culture of safety and humanity? Dr. Wanless thinks that may not be entirely necessary. Get ready to be inspired!
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This week, Tracy and Jim chat with the creator of THE MAIN IDEA Jennifer David-Lang. Ms. David-Lang is well-known in leadership circles for her intricate book summaries on every leadership topic under the sun. You don't have time to read that professional book? Don't worry--likely Jen has a summary for it. The summaries also include ways leaders can operationalize the texts into professional learning for their staffs. In addition, Ms. David-Lang has used time away during the pandemic to create Masterminds groups, mini-PLCs of leaders from across the country who can work together in solving problems of practice. Finally, Ms. David-Lang and one of her colleagues Kim Marshall (a former LITTLE THINGS FIRST podcast guest) have just published their latest Marshall Memo collection and are excited to launch a website funded in part by the Gates Foundation to make these compilations available to the masses. themainidea.net Jenn@themainidea.net littlethings1st.com
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On today's podcast, Tracy and Jim interview Dr. Mara Tieken, a scholar of rural education. who has published a book called WHY RURAL SCHOOLS MATTER. Here, Dr. Tieken discusses what she has learned about the topic and the little things that make a difference in rural settings. A major misnomer of rural settings is that they are predominantly white; however, demographics are quickly changing and equity needs to be prioritized. Are you in an urban or suburban setting and think this podcast is not for you? Find out why you should care about rural schools!
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Tracy and Jim re-interview Karin Chenoweth, one of our first podcast guests, to discuss her new book DISTRICTS THAT SUCCEED about the role that districts play in systemic change and sustainability. Karin talks about some of the flatlining that has occurred across the nation especially in reading, except for recent rising scores in Mississippi. She discusses some of the work Mississippi has specifically been doing with regard to the science of reading, a topic that Karin has explored on her podcast EXTRAORDINARY DISTRICTS.
https://edtrust.org/extraordinary-districts/
How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research
CCSSO's A Nation of Readers
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This week, we interview award-winning middle school principal Jeremy LaCrosse, the principal of Altona Middle in Colorado. In this episode, we discuss the school's move toward inquiry-based learning practices, providing choices to students in their own learning. We also discuss the role of design thinking in making learning more personalized. At Altona, Jeremy and his staff have made technology an amplifier of this learning process and have truly created an environment of risk-tasking, among the entire community, where innovation is celebrated.
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Eric Sheninger is a national coach, author, and educational expert who talks about change in education and how to embrace an environment that might look different from that with which we are comfortable. Tracy, Jim and Eric discuss everything from personalized learning, competency-based grading, cell phones in the classroom (bring your own device), and modeling the learning that we expect.
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Joel Asiala is the award-winning Principal at Horizons Alternative High School in Michigan. In this podcast, he shares how he is using a trauma-informed approach to change the trajectories of his students and how he is influencing the direction of high schools in his area. Mr. Asiala discusses his team;'s student-first approach that really focuses on the whole child. Find out what little things Principal Asiala and Horizons are discovering make a difference for some of our harder-to-reach students.
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In January, controversy rocked the quiet school district of Murray Utah as a student asked his teacher to read one of his books to the class. The book happened to be one of Kyle Luckoff's Max adventures featuring a child identifying as transgender. The move sparked a controversy that threatened to challenge an equity book program in Murray School District. Similar reactions have taken place elsewhere across the country, leaving Tracy and Jim to wonder, "What are the little things that educators ought to be doing to ensure that all voices are represented in the classroom?" A former school librarian, Kyle Luckoff shares his perspectives and stories with "Little Things First."
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Dr. Kevin Leichtman spent years teaching and collected many stories of impact through those years. While many educators keep those stories locked away, Dr. Leichtman decided to use them for good. He interviewed ten of his former students to discuss how schools made a difference for them. In this journey, Dr. Leichtman discovered the importance of student voice and found out, from the students themselves, how school can do a better job of centering student voices for more equitable school environments. He published these ten stories in THE PERFECT TEN, a book that just came out this month.
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Tracy attended the ESEA Conference and walked away with inspiration from principal colleagues Lynn Allen and Meaghan Jerr. The two principals have found ways to enact little, inexpensive changes that make a huge difference. Sound familiar? We thought so too, making Principals Allen and Jerr the perfect guests! Find out what they have discovered that can add to our repertoire of "little things." littlethings1st.com
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Today, Tracy and Jim interview Dr. Tron Young, the middle school principal of the year out of Illinois. Dr. Young tells us about the little things that make the difference, especially in the formative middle school years. Listen to what he does to turn the first teacher day back into something special, for his staff and his students. Also, Dr. Young tells Tracy and Jim how he identifies students that the staff has solid connections with and those students who require a little more attention. A truly inspirational interview that you don't want to miss!
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Last week, Tracy and Jim discussed the text TRUST MATTERS, which helps schools and leaders prioritize the building of trust in their work to improve schools. Tracy and Jim shared their thoughts about the book, but what does the actual author have to say? This week, Dr. Megan Tschannen-Moran talks about her book which is now in its second edition. She talks about the key to trust which is balancing task and relationship. What does this mean exactly? Find out in this episode!
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It's time for another book club! We hope you will join us for TRUST MATTERS, a book by Megan Tschannen-Moran, that explores how to go beyond relationships to deep and lasting trust. Without trust, nothing else matters. Tracy and Jim chat about the book this week and chew on the deep concepts it presents. Next week, we talk to the author to see if our understandings and applications measure up to Dr. Tschannen-Moran's intentions. Join us?
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Dr. Julian (Joe) Elliott has been studying dyslexia for decades and has come to the realization that we simply don't have any solid ways of determining if a child is in fact dyslexic. The response to students diagnosed with dyslexia is the same as a child identified as having reading difficulties. According to Dr. Elliott, more quality time is served by focusing on the best ways to support all struggling readers rather than identifying some students as dyslexic. Dr. Elliott also worries that the concept of dyslexia has been politicized, creating potential inequities in the ways we serve children. Dr. Elliott is a professor of educational psychology in the UK at the University of Durham.
It's Time to Be Scientific about Dyslexia article from Reading Research Quarterly
The Dyslexia Debate book
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Coutney Monterecy is a state principal of the year and national distinguished principal in Providence, Rhode Island who has a unique way of addressing the needs of English Language Learners in her school. In addition, she discusses her efforts, along with her district, of ensuring that school partnerships (with businesses and agencies from the community) are carefully aligned with the needs of her school. Some principals can attest to the importance of school-comnnunjity relationships. However, these relationships must be well-managed to ensure that they meet the needs of students. Meet Courtney who is making a tremendous difference as a school leader!
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Dr. Amy Lyon has been researching and writing about grit for several years now. What are the little things that a teacher and school can do to build, strengthen , and/or promote grit? What about kids who already come with gritty backgrounds and experiences? How can we use what they already know to enhance their academic grit?
Reach out to Dr. Lyon at bitofgrit@gmail.com.
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Are you wondering if you should and how to bring up the recent Capitol riots with students in your class? As an educational leader, how do you we support teachers to safely explore politically-charged issues? Robert Austin, who works as a Program Specialist in K-12 Social Studies at the Utah State Board of Education, discusses some of the resources teachers might use to discuss the Capitol riot and the subsequent impeachment with students. This is a difficult political time, and Mr. Austin stresses educators have an obligation to create space for discussion so that students feel safe to find their own voices.
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Dr. Howard Fields is a national distinguished award-winning principal who is described in his biography as a "courageous" leader. He tells Tracy and Jim what this means to him. He also talks about his attempts at centering student passions in the schooling experience. He and his staff sponsored several Passion Days throughout the year, a break from the regular curriculum but a deep dive into the interests of everyone on campus. According to Dr. Fields, passions are at the heart of students' future problem solving and creativity skills. Be inspired by the work of this courageous leader!
SBE21.com
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Amy Denney is an award-winning principal from Sioux City, Iowa who details her experience bringing three separate schools together as one and how she built cohesion between three separate communties. She also discusses some of her efforts, along with the district, to create model classrooms and professional learning opportunities for teachers through observation and reflection. Don't miss this Season 3 premiere episode!
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Matthew (Matt) Moyer is the Pennsylvania Distinguished Principal of the Year. We talk to him about his success as a sixteen-year principal in the same school he attended as a child! He discusses relationships and his philosophy of "every classroom, every day" where he tries to visit every classroom every day even if it's just for a momentary check-in. We dig deep into what makes this veteran such a success and what we all can learn about leading in today's changing educational climate.
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Rusty Mathis is a new principal in Texas, although she is not new to administration having served for many years as an assistant principal. Rusty tells us about her experiences leading in this unique time, what she has learned, and what supports new principals like her need to be successful.
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Dr. Doug Fisher and his colleagues have been at the forefront of the latest educational research including working with Nancy Frey and John Hattie on books about teacher clarity and assessment-capable learners in all subject areas. Most recently, he and his colleagues have turned to distance learning and how we can take what we know about pedagogy into the distance learning setting. He discusses what he has learned about teaching from afar and what the legacy of distance education might be.
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https://www.fisherandfrey.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/FisherandFrey
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Drs. Kylene Beers and Robert Probst have been working together for years. Listeners may be familiar with some of their previous works like NOTICE AND NOTE and DISRUPTING THINKING. Out new today, their latest book is a departure of sorts as they look at the purposes and passions of reading and how we can get young people excited about reading. Dr. Beers and Dr. Probst delve into what it means to be a reader for critical thinking and for betterment off our citizenry. FORGED BY READING is available December 8th on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Reading-Power-Literate-Life/dp/1338670905/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=KYLENE+BEERS&qid=1607295749&sr=8-1.
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Carrie Weldon never intended to be the principal of an elementary school. A secondary specialist, Carrie was surprised when her district asked her to take over Ashley Elementary. Carrie probably had little idea at the time how much of an impact she would have on the school. Ashley Elementary is located in a rural area of Utah called Vernal and is a Title I school with an emerging population of English Language Learners (ELLs). Early on, Carrie noticed that her ELLs were performing and making progress less well than other student groups. It was this knowledge that set her on the way to making improvements that would get her school on the national map. Listen to how she did it in this episode.
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Dr. Paul Gorski has been writing about equity and social justice for years. His latest article in "Educational Leadership" takes a look at how schools might reinforce trauma through practices that are meant to be trauma-informed. In our interview, Dr. Gorski discusses some of the little ways educators might avoid the trap of hurting rather than helping students they are intending to help.
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Shonielle Roberson and her staff at New Stanley Elementary have found a recipe for success. One of their strategies is use of an electronic data board. They also use PLCs strategically as a way of building teacher capacity through intentional work and practice. Using the text LEVERAGE LEADERSHIP (Bambrick Santoro) as a guide, the New Stanley faculty creates assessment exemplars and then practices delivery of instruction, providing one another with feedback. Ms. Roberson makes it all sound easy, but it really involves some heavy lifting. Hear how she does this and other strategies she uses to keep student learning at the center of her school's ongoing improvement efforts.
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WE'RE BACK! After a two week break, we have some terrific guests lined up in the coming weeks including talks with Douglas Fisher, Paul Gorski, and Kylene Beers and Rob Probst of NOTICE AND NOTE fame! Stay tuned!
This week, we talk with Dr. Dana Winters. This episode is a follow-up to the interview we did with Dr. Junlei Li of the Fred Rogers Center about simple interactions, those powerful human-to-human developmental interactions that bring out the best in one another. Dr. Winters takes Dr. Li's interview one step further, applying simple interactions to the K-12 setting. What little things can educators do to prioritize human relationships while at the same time advancing student learning and achievement? Doing both simultaneously is not only do-able, it's preferable! Find out how!
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We are taking a two-week break as we prepare some awesome upcoming episodes and will be back on November 10th to share those with you. Thanks for your support! See you soon! Littlethings1st.com
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Journalist Natalie Wexler has uncovered what may be wrong with our comprehension reading instruction. She contends that a focus on comprehension skills has led us down the wrong path. There is something far more profound that can be used to address comprehension difficulties in schools, that some reading programs have already started to address. Find out what that is on this week's episode.
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nataliewexler.com
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/resources/social-studies-instruction-and-reading-comprehension
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Tracy and Jim are both in new positions this new school year--Tracy in a state level position and Jim as a principal/teacher in a rural district. They both share some learning in this season of distance education models and their hybrids. Jim is currently teaching his students in a virtual format while his school is out for two weeks. Tracy is trying to learn new ways of supporting principals and teachers in successfully enacting distance learning. They discuss the topic and share some little things teachers and schools might try tomorrow to make their distance teaching efforts more impactful.
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https://sites.google.com/view/rtwdistancelearning/home
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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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Dr. Douglas Reeves has been an educational leader, author, and consultant for years. He is known throughout education circles for his expertise. His latest book, Achieving Equity and Excellence, carries on this tradition by making sure our schools exemplify excellence through the needs of all learners. Dr. Reeves shares some of the little things that leaders and educators can do to balance equity and excellence to reach high standards.
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The murder of George Floyd shocked communities across the nation and led to many protests. Some have wondered--what will education do to address this movement?Schools have yet to grapple with some of the consequences of the most recent events, and educators need to be thinking about how we emerge as better and more equitable. The Minneapolis Board of Education has taken the bold move to sever ties with the Minneapolis police department. Police have been a mainstay in many school systems and schools, leading to much written about the school-to-prison pipeline. Board Chair Kim Ellison and Student Member Nathaniel Genene reflect on what led to this big decision and some little things school systems should be doing to effectively respond to #BlackLivesMatter in the months to come.
Read the article here.
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Pete Hall has been a teacher, a principal, a consultant, and an author, having written a variety of books including books on trauma-informed schooling. His latest work, Pursuing Greatness, takes a look at supporting teachers as they guide their own professional learning through self-reflection. Mr. Hall's inspirational words come at a time when we are transitioning into a new normal, following school closures due to COVID. It is a great time to think about how we gear up differently for the new year with a commitment to our own personal learning and development.
Journal for Educators
McRel.org
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Josie Hernandez-Gutierrez is our guest on today's podcast that looks at the competencies needed for sustained school reform in some of our toughest schools. Leaders across the country are going to be faced with challenging returns when students come back to school, in whatever form, this fall. According to Dr. Hernandez-Gutierrez, this is going to require tight systems and structures, a prerequisite for any change effort. What is required of a turnaround leader? How is this different from leaders in less challenging sites? Dr. Hernandez-Gutierrez breaks this down for us. Whatever the set of competencies, positive school change focused on culture and instructional infrastructure relies on strong leadership. Dr. Hernandez-Gutierrez is the current Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in Waco Independent School District.
Read more about turnaround principal and teacher competencies at https://publicimpact.com/school-turnarounds/turnarounds-within-schools/turnaround-competencies-and-actions-principals-and-teachers/
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Dr. Kiana Pendleton is an award-winning principal out of Laurel, Mississippi where she runs a magnet school for the arts. Some have said that it's impossible to focus on the arts and still adhere to common core standards. Not the case, Dr. Pendleton has discovered. She has assembled an amazing team of educators and arts specialists who have a focused vision on student success. The arts are centered in an integrated way, earning the school its first-ever A-rating.
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If you've seen the documentary WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR about Mr. Rogers, you are probably familiar with the face of Dr. Junlei Li, formerly of the Fred Rogers Center and a current education professor at Harvard. Many of us have grown up with Mr. Rogers and appreciate the impact he has had on audiences. However, Mr. Rogers' impact extends far beyond television including the research world. Dr. Li is a researcher who has studied some key relational takeaways from the work of Mr. Rogers. These simple interactions bloom from a place of helpful appreciation rather than helpful critique. You will be inspired!
Please subscribe to our You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhtH7JjxnPQ.
https://www.simpleinteractions.org
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We speak once again to John Arthur, who we first visited with during season 1 about his social justice approach to education. This time, John tells us his impressions of the Black Lives Matter movement and how he sees this impacting education for the good. John Arthur is the current Salt Lake City School District Teacher of the Year.
Recordings were taken from a Salt Lake City Black Lives Matter protest/rally held on June 14, 2020.
Find John Arthur's videos on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=9thevermore.
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Stephan Seabury is a high school teacher at a charter school in Utah who came to our attention through an article published in The Salt Lake Tribune about the need for teacher leadership. Mr. Seabury discusses how important this is especially in light of the coronavirus closures and how to best resume work with students in the fall. While this episode was recorded on May 8, 2020, the content has even more implications for the voice needed from teacher leaders in a Black Lives Matter context. What role will educators play in addressing social justice?
https://hopestreetgroup.org/teacher-fellows/utteacherfellows/
Find the transcript and other related content at: littlethings1st.com
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Rebecca Becker is a special educator and behavior specialist out of Ogden School District in Utah. We catch her on a camping trip to tell us her insights about behavior management in schools. Ms. Becker makes a connection between emotional regulation and screen time, providing us with recommendations for helping kids navigate emotions without screens. She has recommendations for using role play asa tool for building behavior muscle memory and listening to what kids' behaviors are communicating. With behavior management a growing a concern in schools across the United States, this is a critical episode for all educators to listen to.
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This episode was recorded during the week when George Floyd was murdered in Minnesota by a White police officer. This was followed by protests in many different states across the nation. Ms. Steiner refers to this during her interview.
Public Impact has been serving urban and rural schools for many years, helping them rethink what is possible in schools. Opportunity Culture is a subset of Public Impact that explores ways to increase the reach of our best teachers. is it time to rethink our model of instructional coaching? Research shows that instructional coaches spend very little time working directly with teachers to improve instruction. Opportunity Culture involves multi-classroom leaders who teach students and support teachers simultaneously, all within the constraints of a school's regular budget. We discuss the potential of an Opportunity Culture with Public Impact's Lucy Steiner.
https://www.opportunityculture.org
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Curtis Linton, who has been called a cultural archaeologist, has been studying classrooms for years. His work has taken him into the world of courageous conversations about race and equity. Here, Mr. Curtis tells some very personal stories about growing up Mormon and trans-racial adoption and how these issues have helped shape his perspectives on equity. Curtis shares some ideas for engaging difference in the classroom by normalizing it, tapping into emotions as a way to impact change, making deliberate choices about the texts we use and the ways we use those texts, and working on culture and practice in tandem.
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Dr. Amy Parks is a elementary education scholar at Michigan State University where she has studied mathematics teaching, especially in the primary grades. Dr. Parks most recently wrote an article for The Mathematics Teacher in which she calls for more joy in mathematics teaching for young children. In this episode, she discusses the difference between joy and fun, how to cultivate joy in math class and beyond, and how to find personal joy in math and the work of teaching. Dr. Parks has a novel coming out this January, a young adult fiction novel aptly titled The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Weirdness-Almost-Kiss-Noelle-Parks-ebook/dp/B0858Y4GVC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+quantum+physics+Amy+parks&qid=1589759803&sr=8-1-fkmr1.
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This is part 4 of 4 of a series focused specifically on the educational effects of the coronavirus.
Mike Flynn is a professor at Mount Holyoke and a leader in math education, having written articles and books on the topic. He regrets not being a better math teacher earlier and urges educators to learn the differences between concrete, representational, and abstract mathematical thinking. He believes that too many educators expect students to move too quickly through these models of thinking to abstraction, leaving young people with incomplete math comprehension. How can we improve the math comprehension of students? How can we build fluency that emphasizes knowing from memory rather than memorizing?
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mathleadership.org
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This is part 3 of a four-part series on how to support educators in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Anderson is an educational consultant who has written extensively about student choice, communicating with students, and teacher well-being. He synthesizes all of these topics, including how to handle homework, in this podcast. He discusses how we can approach these issues during and after a pandemic. Mr. Anderson. stresses the importance of building a self-care routine into the routines and habits of schooling. He also recommends integrating social and emotional learning with core content areas for largest impact.
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leadinggreatlearning.com
CASEL.org
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This is episode 2 of a four-part series that Tracy and Jim host to address the coronavirus pandemic and the current state of education.
Adam Mihlebergel is an instructional, leader out of talked with ASCD recently about whole0-child leadership in a crisis and how he and his school district are handling these unique times. He discusses what whole-child leadership is and how we can all be a little more whole-child centered and now and in the future. He also discusses the little things that make a difference, including well thought-out communication. According to Mr. Mihelbergel, we will need to rely on one another's expertise in figuring out the new, better normal that hopefully emerges as a result of our collective and individual, unique experiences.
To watch this episode, visit: https://youtu.be/qdda1o_RUsU
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This starts a series of 4 episodes that Tracy and Jim host to address the coronavirus pandemic and the current state of education.
Dr. Monica Burns has written a book TASKS BEFORE APPS through ASCD and also has a podcast called the Easy Ed Tech Podcast. She recently wrote a blog for ASCD's Inservice addressing ways to avoid overwhelming educators during this time. Dr. Burns offers some of those suggestions about how to navigate this unique situation that we all find ourselves in and how to take our learning into the future for better long-term educational experiences with technology.
watch the interview at: https://youtu.be/Vwkeb6kAwnk
classtechtips.com
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Jenna Feldman and Amber Celley are principals in Solen School District and are 2018 recipients of the ESEA National, Distinguished Schools award. They work closely together and have seen tremendous success in building staff leadership, connecting with families and community, identifying power standards and need-to-knows, and raising graduation rates. They share their journeys from teachers in Solen to principals and how they inspire greatness from their staff and community. www.littlethings1st.com
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Kim Marshall is a former teacher and principal who has spent the last several years compiling research articles into THE MARSHALL MEMO. His memo features summaries of articles so they are accessible to leaders and educators who don't have time to digest the full articles. Mr. Marshall has also spent a great deal of his professional life studying teacher evaluation, its effectiveness, and ways to strengthen its impact on student learning. He talks about the little things we can do to make teacher evaluation more impactful!
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Zaretta Hammond's most famous work is her book Culturally-Responsive Teaching and The Brain. What does culturally-responsive teaching have to do with neuroscience? Everything, it turns out! Ms. Hammond explains the difference between multicultural education, social justice teaching, culturally-relevant pedagogy, and culturally-responsive teaching. She stresses that cultural responsiveness is not about a program or a toolkit. Instead, it is about the ways that we engage with students, building upon schema, to help them carry the cognitive load.
Some highlights:
So what we've done is we've actually created this magical thinking around the tools and the methodology of culturally responsive practice versus understanding the science of learning behind it.
...the way inequity was designed was to underdevelop cognitive capacity of Black and Brown and Indigenous children
You're becoming the personal trainer of their cognitive development. But remember the first step of that trainer-personal trainer relationship with a new client is building rapport.
Errors are information, not confirmation of low intelligence. This is something teachers need to be saying and doing.
...culturally responsive teaching is an integrated set of processes, structures, and interactions that over time build the students' capacity. We can't keep talking about it like it's things that you can just reach in a bag and actually get and ...pull out.
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Matthew Kay is a teacher, an author, and a columnist whose book entitled NOT LIGHT, BUT FIRE: HOW TO LEAD MEANINGFUL RACE CONVERSATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM addresses the how behind race conversations in classrooms and schools. Mr. Kay doesn't want to convince you that race conversations are necessary, if you aren't already a believer. Instead, he wants to help those who see the importance of race conversations and aren't sure how to approach them. Of course, there is no easy silver bullet. But Mr. Kay offers us some little ways that we can start to make progress toward better conversations around race. Last, Mr. Kay wrote an article about administrators who collect lesson plans and how this practice can be improved so that it isn't met with a collective "eye-roll" and ends up better meeting student needs.
For more information or for transcripts of this interview, visit www.littlethings1st.com.
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Brad Smith never intended to enter the education realm. He was a lawyer by trade, albeit a concerned citizen. Mr. Smith talks about how he got roped into educational politics and how this took him on a multi-year journey to the Superintendency of Ogden School District in Utah and eventually to the highest position in the state--State Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Smith talks about what he learned from this journey that can help others make some I'm portent steps to lasting educational reform.
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Stay tuned until the end of this episode for a special invitation from Tracy and Jim!
Social Studies has taken a backseat in recent years to subject areas that are core tested. This has been detrimental to our commitment to raise worldly young people ready to tackle the challenges of the world in proactive ways. Dr. Ruchi Rangnath has written three books that take a close look at social studies as an instrument for social justice teaching in classrooms and schools. Social studies has the potential to engage students in powerful ways, most noteworthy by inspiring their sense of purpose and fairness. Find out the little things we can start doing now to reenergize social studies for social justice!
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Tracy and Jim read THE PROGRESS PRINCIPLE by Teresa Amibile and Steven Kramer and talk about its implications for educational reform. It seems Tracy and Jim's theory about little things first comes with some empirical evidence. In this case, the evidence is out of the business and management world but with incredible ties to the work educators do every day. Find out how Tracy and Jim interpret key points from the book! Join the discussion by at the Little Things First Facebook page or by submitting a message!
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Stay tuned until the end of this episode for a special invitation from Tracy and Jim!
Social Studies has taken a backseat in recent years to subject areas that are core tested. This has been detrimental to our commitment to raise worldly young people ready to tackle the challenges of the world in proactive ways. Dr. Ruchi Rangnath has written three books that take a close look at social studies as an instrument for social justice teaching in classrooms and schools. Social studies has the potential to engage students in powerful ways, most noteworthy by inspiring their sense of purpose and fairness. Find out the little things we can start doing now to reenergize social studies for social justice!
www.littlethings1st.com
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Jessica Vidal claims Utah as her home, but in working for Ed Direction, she has had the opportunity to glimpse the inner workings of school systems across the United States. In particular, Jessica described some of the little things she has seen successful in professional learning community (PLC) meetings. Jessica talks about her experiences and learnings and shares some protocols for success that can be replicated elsewhere.
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Tracy and Jim are back at it--another chat and chew. If you loved our episode on rigor, you are going to relish our discussion about accountability, which has really gotten a bad rap in education circles. We unpack the concept in hopes that accountability can help us take the next positive steps in education reform. Who is your accountability partner? Who can we turn to when we need a little dose of accountability? How do we build up our own ability to hold ourselves accountable? We explore all of these issues. We would love to hear YOUR take on accountability! Send us a message.
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What are the little things that make a difference in coaching? There are things that coaches, principals, district personnel, and teachers can do to maximize the coaching impact. Dr. Amy Illingworth has documented this in her book THE COACH ADVENTURE that takes readers literally on a journey through a coach's potential impact in schools.
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Dr. Emily Hodge talks with Tracy and Jim about tracking in schools and the ways that tracks serving struggling students undermine their progress. Dr. Hodge shares ways to incorporate high expectations into all tracks. What is the difference between tracking and differentiation? Dr. Hodge explains it all.
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Teacher stress is at an all-time high. Teachers are particularly subject to high stress levels in urban schools and districts. Yes, it is a stressful job, but at what cost? Dr. Chris McCarthy of the University of Texas at Austin has been studying about the topic for years and talks with Tracy and Jim about possible ways to address it proactively.
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Tracy and Jim interview the creator of The Daily STEM and The Stem Everyday Podcast Chris Woods about the national in STEM teaching. What are the little things that schools and teachers can do to embrace STEM teaching? How do educators build on student interest to generate engagement? Mr. Woods shares some off his approaches as a classroom teacher and what he has learned about STEM to take it to the next level in your school.
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Rachel Nance is a Utah consultant who has spent her entire education career advocating for equity and excellence in schools. She has worked as a middle school ESL teacher, a coach, an assistant principal, and a principal. Former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited her school because of the outstanding work being done there. Ms. Nance talks about her current work as a consultant and how she uses coaching and feedback as a tool to affect transformational change in schools.
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Jim Sporleder is known across the country for his work at Lincoln High School, chronicled in the film "Paper Tigers" showing his commitment to trauma-informed education. This approach changed the way he thought about this work as a principal. Tracy and Jim interview him to find out why he moved towards a more trauma-informed approach, stories of how it changed his work, and where he thinks the movement is headed.
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In our final episode of 2019 (!), we interview teacher Heather Campbell, a second-career teacher who has experienced three different schools and three different leaders. The leaders have had strengths and weaknesses, but Heather has learned some little things her principals do that make her work easier and more do-able. We learn what those little things are today.
We have enjoyed bringing you season 1 of "Little Things First" and will be back on January 7th with all new episodes as part of season 2! Thanks for your support! Happy holidays!!
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Ross Cooper learned differently. This was the impetus for his own interest in project-based learning, an initiative to help students be more engaged in relevant activities in the classroom and beyond. What are the little things educators can do to bring project-based initiatives to life? Mr. Cooper, author of Hacking Project-Based Learning, tells us how.
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Psychological safety is a phrase becoming well known in business and management circles. So why hasn't it become more prominent in education? Leadership coach Beth Strathman of Firebrand Consulting talks about the need for psychological safety in all organizations and what leaders can do to make it a reality.
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What is a Principal in Action? How are principals in action redefining what it essentially means to be a principal? All instructional leaders and teachers will want to listen to this episode about how principals can support a school's progress by changing what they fundamentally do every day. In this second of a two-part series, we interview the co-author of the new book Principals in Action Jay Posick about how he has stayed fresh in his role as principal even after 13 years.
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What is a Principal in Action? How are principals in action redefining what it essentially means to be a principal? All instructional leaders and teachers will want to listen to this episode about how principals can support a school's progress by changing what they fundamentally do every day. Mark French is the co-author of the new book Principals in Action. We interview him this week and follow up with his co-author Jay Posick next week.
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Tracy and Jim sit with 10 teachers as part of a breakout session at November 2nd's EdCamp Utah. What do teachers say when asked to identify the little things that make a difference in their work? You may be surprised!
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Sandra K. Cortez is the principal of Mary and Frank Yturria Elementary, which recently won the Gold Medal from the National Center for Urban School Transformation our of San Diego State. The school is located in Texas near the border. We talk to Ms. Cortez about those little things that have made the gold-medal difference at her school. Hint: it has something to do with chess.
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In educational buzz speak, rigor is one of those words that has permeated our ranks. Since the introduction of the common core, there has been more talk about educational rigor. What makes curricula rigorous? And why does it matter for our students? How do educators respond when faced with raising the rigor in their classrooms? Tracy and Jim discuss this current topic.
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We interview Jared Covili, one of the coordinators of EdCamp Utah, scheduled for November 2 at Rowland Hall in Utah. Beyond the immediacy of this upcoming event, EdCamps are a professional learning opportunity taking the nation by storm. They are a way for educators to have more say over their professional learning options. What is an EdCamp, and how is it different than traditional professional development--and why might it be a better option?
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Jim was able to attend the Utah Pride Center's Educator Conference at East High School last month. During this conference, he learned many things that can support LGBTQ+ youth in schools. As he finished the conference for the day, he chatted with Amanda Darrow of the Utah Pride Center who shared her insights about the little things we should all be doing in schools to make them better for youth who identify as LGBTQ+.
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Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh is a former Utah Education Association President and a Utah Teacher of the Year. She continues to be an ambassador of education at the state and national levels. Ms. Gallagher-Fishbaugh recently wrote an op-ed explaining the ways that teacher voice is left out of the educational decision-making process. What would including teacher voice in educational decisions look like?
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Flexible seating, with different kinds of chairs and configurations than what we are used to seeing in classrooms, is on the surge. But what does the research say? Is it effective? Should it be one of the little things schools invest in to affect change? Co-hosts Tracy and Jim debate.
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Abrams Elementary was a recent national Distinguished School Award winner, one of only 68 schools across the country. Situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Abrams has been led by Lois Skaggs, its dynamic principal, who talks about their recipe for success.
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Ross Lunceford has been recognized nationally for his work in Title I schools. He has worked in Ogden School District and has much to share about how to affect positive change. Ross was recently featured as a principal to watch in the latest edition of Driven By Data by Paul Bambrock Santoyo about how we can use data to make significant changes in our schools.
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John Arthur has been teaching in one of the most highly-impacted schools in Salt Lake for many years. During that time, he has established himself as a true advocate for social justice education, prioritizing the experiences of his students. He has put their interests front and center in the creation of several videos, the most recent a response to national immigration policies. Where do these relevant issues fit in a tight curriculum and what are the effects?
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Today, we interview reporter Karin Chenoweth about what she has discovered in successful schools across the country. Her findings have been assembled into four books, the latest focusing on systemic efforts at school reform. What are the little things that can happen at the school system level to change outcomes for young people? Ms. Chenoweth shares her wisdom in an extended episode.
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Last week, we talked with Debbie Bolden out of Alabama and found out her secrets to effective leadership, prioritizing the little things. This week, we continue our interview with Principal Bolden and discover some of the other leadership moves she has employed to make a significant difference in every school she has been in.
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Deborah (Debbie) Bolden has been written about in books talking about the nation's most effective principals. We wanted to find out what she does daily, what things she chooses to pay attention to, that make such a big difference. Interestingly, Debbie is the originator of this podcast's title "Little Things First." She heralds the little things that make a big difference. We seek to uncover those little things that make a big difference in MNs. Bolden's leadership.
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Janice Bradley has been in school reform for decades. She is the author of two books about school change, and she is the Associate Director at the University of Utah Education Policy Center. Dr. Bradley has been working with local schools and districts to enact sustainable change focused on improving the professional learning opportunities of educators.
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