The whenthewindblows's Podcast: Recent Episodes
whenthewindblows
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. Thank you, Sean, I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-host is Ed Long
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- You are a volunteer. Why Epic? What excites you about this model over your local B&M? Why not try to be on that board?
- What should be expected of a board member at Epic?
- Magic Wand - What is your number one priority you’d still like to see resolved at Epic?
- The aspirations were created last school year. What is your opinion of the work we are doing now, how would you like to see us manage or push to them in the future?
- What does a future-ready grad mean to you and the board?
Governance doesn’t deal in the how.
It deals in the why and the what.
It empowers the education team to excel at the how as they achieve clear whats for very valued whys.
Please tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Lightening Round
Sweet or Savory?
Fav day of the week?
Nickname your parents call or called you?
Books or audiobooks?
Audiobooks or podcasts?
No show notes for today. We are bringing you an episode that we guest hosted with Charter Connect.
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today we have Dr Patricia Cook on the show.
- What inspired you to become a professor of teaching?
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- How do you accommodate different learning styles in your adult classes?
- How are students involved in this learning process?
- Can you share a specific experience or candidate that you found particularly rewarding as a leader of this program?
- How do you stay current with developments in the field of teaching and education?
Tune in next week when we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-host is Jacob Rosecrants.
- HB1569 was a bill you authored, and was signed into law…what is this bill/law? How should parents and teachers understand it? How can they initiate it?
- Understanding play…talk to me about the value of Play when it comes to education
- Do you believe that executive function skills are developed in play?
- Same Q but with soft skills
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2234191930205661
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-host is Kara Jamet C.A.L.T (Certified Academic Language Therapist, Epic teacher and now Epic principal.
- What is dyslexia?
- Oklahoma passed the Dyslexia screening bill that is now in effect this year. What was this bill designed for? What doesn't it do?
My daughter is dyslexic - Remediation was killing her love of learning. If you aren't careful, you get people’s minds thinking more about failure prevention. Cheating was my method of this…than about making it bigger, better, more peaceful, more astounding.
Interventions -
You're not broken, but you're not amazing yet. So we play to her strengths and manage around her weaknesses. I try to leave space for her to make her mistakes and to model what it is I am doing.
This is soooo far from what I thought I would be doing at her age.
- Podcasting
- Presenting with visuals
- Video production
- Why don’t you show me
I didn’t know or find out I was dyslexic until I was in my late 30’s. But I knew my weaknesses long before then. I am a doer. I will get my hands dirty and do all kinds of heavy lifting, but I also found that surrounding myself with people that were smarter than me in the areas I was weak was necessary.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show.
- Ruthlessly Cut away the unimportant
- You have time for what you make time for
- Plan and Set Timelines
- Tap into inspiration, but watch for the double-edged sword
- Books
- Journaling
- Tiktok
- podcasts
- Remove productivity Pitstops
- FB, Insta, TikTok
- Create Barriers to entry, don't be too accessible
- Optimize time pockets, keeping a book, podcast, journal
All right, that is all the time we have for today. Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts
- Who are you and what is your role in education?
- Passion gave us the light bulb and put us on the moon. Jen, what are you passionate about?
- What are the characteristics/mindsets of a passionate person?
- How do you currently cultivate passion in your classroom?
- What kind of barriers prevent passion in ourselves and our students?
- How does emphasizing passion in the classroom help develop a growth mindset in our students?
Word Association game
- Monopoly
- Museums
- Ice
- Tupperware
- Flip Flop
- Elevator
- Video Games
- Motorcycles
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...a podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show.
Pull yourself up by the bootstraps - It takes a village, I didn't do it alone
GenX - The world through a small box -short cuts but I don't think so
Tiktok
- Gary Vaynerchuk - Gary Vee
- Hank Green - Crash course
- Motiversity
- Motivation Mindset
- GB and Me
- Elyse Myers
- Vinh Giang
Youtube
- TedEd
- Crashcourse
- Tyler DeWitt
- Bozeman Science
- WiseCrack - Thug Notes Season 1
- Scott Haselwood
- How to Adult
Podcasts
- James Altucher
- Tony Robbins
- Revisionist History - Malcolm Gladwell
- WorkLife with Adam Grant
- A Little Off Topic - Speak Creative
My Youtube Channel
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Evaluating Last Year
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
We build up understanding through our experience in the world. The process of reflection helps us to develop our understanding more deeply and to make our intuitive knowledge shareable with others. ... It provides the opportunity to step back and take a look at what our work means to us and our communities.
- What kind of questions do you ask when you are looking to truly evaluate the ups and downs of the year?
- Do you ever ask yourself, What are you avoiding? What are you focusing your energy on?
- How do you know if you are on the right path here?
- How are you helping your colleagues (teachers, parents, students) achieve their goals?
- How are you not helping or even hindering their progress?
- What was the hardest truth you ever uncovered during your reflection?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-host is Erica Nilsson.
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- What do you think when you hear someone say “I'm just not a math person”? Are there math-minded people?
- Why do people hate math?
- What are your go to books for math?
- What’s up with this new math? Common Core
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Resources:
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/blog/article/12-questions-to-get-your-students-talking-math/
https://www.gettingsmart.com/2016/01/08/talking-math-100-questions-that-help-promote-mathematical-discourse/
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- Extrinsic and intrinsic, but also Introjected and Identified
- Introjected motivation is an internalized motivation like intrinsic motivation, but it is a form of motivation resulting from the feeling pressured to perform in order to gain appreciation from individuals of importance such as parents or bosses.
- Identified motivation refers to a form of motivation which occurs as understanding or feeling the need to perform or accomplish some task but not yet acting on this need. Quitting Smoking
- Why do you think its so hard at times to find motivation?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Developing Feedback Loops
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Bart, how are you today? What has been your biggest surprise this year...good, bad, and ugly?
- I have asked you to talk about feedback loops...What are feedback loops?
- You taught me about developing feedback loops with the people I manage. I have taken this into my HOME...Why are feedback loops so important.
- We are using surveys this year to manage feedback loops. We plan to send a few out this year that are the same so we can see how we are doing at transparency, teaching, customer service, and such...What do you expect to see from families? Teachers?
- What makes a feedback loop fail? successful?
- How do families begin setting this up in their homes? How do teachers do this with families?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Growth Mindset and Vulnerability
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- What is Growth Mindset to you?
- What qualities are needed or found in people to make a growth mindset successful?
- How can a teacher or parent foster this in a student?
- How can a school administrator foster GM in a teacher?
- How do you celebrate with a student when you recognize they have overcome negative talk or mindset?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Resources:
4-6th grade PBL project
Novels the teach Growth Mindset
https://youtu.be/75GFzikmRY0
https://youtu.be/KUWn_TJTrnU
Mojo and Growth Mindset1
Mojo and Growth Mindset 2
Mojo and Growth Mindset 3
Mojo and Growth Mindset 4
Mojo and Growth Mindset 5
https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/growth-mindset-resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm12JKhNnWY
https://www.khanacademy.org/resources/parents-mentors-1/helping-your-child/a/growth-mindset-lesson-plan
https://www.mindsetkit.org/topics/about-growth-mindset
https://www.edutopia.org/article/growth-mindset-resources
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- Teachers, you had jobs and careers before coming to EPIC...what were you doing before? How do you think that previous job will lend a hand to your current role?
- Why are you choosing to teach when so many teachers are leaving the profession?
- Dr Cook, what does the training look like?
- What has been the most eye opening experience since you have become a teacher?
- What has been the most rewarding experience?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
My grandparents were born in 1931 and 1937. They have been married for 66 years and have three children. In Kansas and now Missouri they grew up here in middle America, but they have traveled everywhere in their retirement.
- Tatum: Grandpa. You were born in 1931, but I dont have a whole lot of details from before I was 10 so lets start there. In 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed. What can you remember about this time? What did your parents say or do as a result?
- Jolene: Grandpa you were 19 when the Korean War started. Were you required to serve back then? Were you a part of that war?
- Tatum: Grandma, we are taught in my government class that in the early ’50s the Supreme court ruled in Brown vs Board of Education. This was a Kansas court case that finally said segregation of schools was no longer lawful. Do you recall the overwhelming feelings of the country at the time?
- Tatum: Now grandpa, in Germany in the late 50s, the country was divided. The east was a government of communist rule, which is the idea of a common governmental property, common wages, each paid according to the set rate of worth. The west was trying to be more free, even though they were called fascists by the east and at a height of tension the east German army put up a wall. It was barbed wire at first and then concrete and blocks were put into place. It was called the iron curtain. Did it look like we were headed to war again?
- Jolene: But the wall came down. I know that...when did that happen?
- Jolene: Ok Grandma. What did you think about John F Kennedy? You were like 26 or 27 at the time. Did you have kids yet? Where were you when he was killed in Texas?
- Tatum: Same question but with Martina Luther king jr...where were you and what was the mood of the nation?
- Jolene: Grandpa The moon landing was something that Mr Kennedy said we would do but he never got to see it. Can you recall what sort of tension was in the air before we landed on the moon but while we were in the space race with Russia and China?
- Jolene: Where were the two of you when we landed on the moon? Did you watch it on TV or listen to the radio?
- Tatum: Last question. I wasn’t born yet. Tell me about 9/11.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Taking Action Isn’t the Goal, Being Strategic Is
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-host is
the Founder and Executive Chairman of GiANT,
You have the Prairie at Post which is one of the coolest ideas
The author of 5 books, working on another.
an entrepreneur w 6 other companies
Jeremie Kubicek. Happy belated birthday sir!
- Who are you and what do you do?
- Why do companies always feel the need to take action?
- In your book, you talk about bringing high challenges coupled with high support when working with people...How do you strategically set goals?
- How long should you wait to see if the plan is working?
- How do you decide to tweak the goal by adding or subtracting a variable vs throwing the goal to the junkyard and starting over?
- What role should reflection take in our goal setting and planning?
- What are some personal strategies you use for reflection?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Resources:
https://www.amazon.com/100X-Leader-Become-Someone-Following/dp/1119519446
https://www.amazon.com/5-Voices-audiobook/dp/B01MTDA9IB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=5+voices&qid=1632928310&s=books&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M08F5BM?plink=5MFRcutzyN3gH3yp&ref=adblp13npsbx_0_0_im
You and the family can take the assessment giant.tv/jk
Pivot. PivOT. PIVOT!
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role here at Epic?
Principal Development Specialist
- Letting formative assessments drive instruction...Why did you choose this topic?
Assess real-time student comprehension, learning needs, and academic progress during a lesson, unit, course, or time period/
Formative is for learning/Summative are of learning
Helps us modify teaching and learning activities
Teachers sometimes say they don’t have time to assess students along the way. They fear sacrificing coverage and insist they must move on quickly. Yet in the rush to cover more, students are actually learning less. Without time to reflect on and interact meaningfully with new information, students are unlikely to retain much of what is "covered".
These don’t all have to be formative that are given on a program. MC offers great ones to look at, but we can do more things simple as an exit ticket from a lesson, a paragraph/classroom polls, admit tickets/think-pair-share
I allow my Tate to make presentations when she asks to show what she knows.
- How long do you give it before you PIVOT?
After we look at the results, we must differentiate instruction even more if it’s not working. (Teacher story about too many Fs)
Give very direct, instructive feedback, and make it an iterative process where student voice is a large part of how we assess them with reflection and self-assessment. That partnership between what’s going on for them as learners and what we’re seeing as educators comes together to help them start to set goals and move on, progress along their own learning.”
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Attention vs Intention
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role at Epic
- You and I were hiding behind a desk this summer during the lunch hour and we were talking about our kids. I shared that my daughters were struggling and then you opened up about your kids. You made me cry.
Attention - notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important.
Intention - a determination to act in a certain way
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You shared with me a Youtube video. It was a lecture from Dr. Russel Barclay and was 3 hours long and took me two weeks to finish. I’m questioning my own attention now. What were some of your most poignant takeaways from this video?
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Your problem isn’t about knowing what to do… it’s doing what you know. These kids can be so bright. It’s about performance, not skill.
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Meds. When Tate was in 4th grade….Ms Monica...We are at Epic now. Are there or were there unintended consequences or rewards for this diagnosis for your family?
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The problem is a diminished capacity in executive functioning...spectrum slight to severe. Not an excuse for diminished accountability - I have seen way too many parents go the opposite way of accountability.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCAGc-rkIfo&t=1026s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tpB-B8BXk0
Passion-Based Edu
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- Passion gave us the light bulb and put us on the moon. What are you passionate about?
- How did you develop your passion?
- What are the characteristics/mindsets of a passionate person?
- Can passion be taught? Why or why not?
- How do you currently cultivate passion in your principals? Teachers? Students??
- What kind of barriers prevent passion in ourselves and our students?
Tyler Dewitt Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj3EXpr5v35g3peVWnVLoew Danica McKellar math books - https://www.amazon.com/Danica-McKellar/e/B001JP7Z7G
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
RIT, Interventions, and what comes next
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- So this time of year people start freaking out a bit about benchmark scores and placement…What is RTI? - Book Quote
- How can parents, guardians, and caregivers help with the RTI process
- We are in the last tier of RTI now with my own kiddos. What happens next?
Resources: https://www.understood.org/articles/en/understanding-response-to-intervention
Book: The One World Schoolhouse - Salman Khan
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Welcome back to season 2 of WWB - for those listeners who haven’t heard your episodes from last year...Who are you and how long have you been at Epic?
- What were your biggest challenges last year?
- What were your biggest wins last year?
- This year Epic is launching a new campaign called #EpicUp to Level Up. What is this?
EPIC Up aims to raise student outcomes and engagement by challenging and intrinsically incentivizing faculty, staff, parents, and students, rallying them around a common cause. It does this through the psychology of gamification, connecting generations through gaming lexicon. Mario-like characters illuminate the path for how everyone can level up. And while the campaign doesn't dictate how each person will level up, it does provide resources, suggestions, and collaborative infrastructure so that all of us, most importantly our students, experience meaningful growth this year.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
- So...Was this last session good or bad in terms of what we can expect as we move into the 21-22 school year?
- Policymakers and non EPIC educators do not yet have the needed rigorous evidence to answer some seemingly basic questions about when, how and under what conditions online learning can be deployed cost-effectively.
- The two of you are going to try something new this year across the state.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
What’s Best for Kids
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role at EPIC?
- At EPIC we offer so much choice and flexibility for kids because we believe that is whats best...How do you set “the best” goals for a kiddo?
- How do we get our kids to be more excited and engaged in their learning?
- Conversations on “What’s best” often bring the debate of student work. What’s your stance on retakes and late work?
- What can we expect from this year?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Rigor, Relevance, Relationships
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
1. Who are you and what is your role at EPIC?
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You spoke at a teacher training conference about rigor, relevance, and relationships...what do these mean to you?
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Can you have one of these and not another, what happens?
4. What is your plan as Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, to ensure all teachers are working under this framework?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Self Pacing...is it for everyone?
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
-
Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
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Epic is so different. Let’s define pacing and self pacing.
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Why is Self Pacing so important?
Gretchen: Educational environments that foster self-efficacy develop skills that last a lifetime. Students should be given the chance to self-regulate and gain the pride of managing themselves and their learning.
Erin: Self-pacing gives students the opportunity to experience the feeling of true mastery, because they are given enough time and support to get there. For students who haven’t often experienced that joy, it can have profound effects on their confidence.
We can also add here that these kids are typical better prepared for college.
We have to build a culture of responsible independent students
- Do you think self pacing can have a negative impact on student mastery?
Gretchen: Not all students can regulate on their own. When students get behind and are forced to complete a high volume of work in a short period of time, their retention suffers. Students retain best at a steady consistent pace.
- How do you motivate students who are behind pace?
Gretchen: Sometimes student get frozen with an overwhelming feeling. I would often sit with my student side-by-side and support them until they were caught up enough to feel confident to continue on at a consistent pace. I also helped my students make a calendar/schedule if needed. Not everyone is naturally organized and not everyone works best from 8-5 so understanding how much time and when to focus can motivate students to stay on track.
Erin: Sometimes a frank convo about the pace they are on and if it continues ho wlong it will take to complete what is in front of them i.e. If you stay on this pace it will take two years to complete 10th grade.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role at EPIC?
- Director of Specialty Courses
World Language
Epic Live Teacher Cooperative Learning Groups
NEW Epic Live Math Department
Before that, I was am Epic teacher for 5.5 years
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At EPIC we offer so much choice and flexibility for kids because we believe that is what's best...How do you set goals for a kiddo? Are they a part of that process?
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What are some non-negotiables you try to stand by when setting the goals and expectations?
Epic Essentials
Staying on Pace
Daily Reading
SeeSaw
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Now, you participate in the EpicLive Classes do all of you students attend too?
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How do we get our kids to be more excited and engaged in their learning?
Ownership
help them find successes along the way
Celebrate wins
Study Music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qap5aO4i9A
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Co-ConstructED Success
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
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Who are you and what is your role at EPIC?
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I asked for the two of you because you both had quite an extensive planning process throughout the summer months. Susan, I followed your plan on year with my youngest because your kiddos were always so successful. Tell me first how you go about choosing a curriculum and whether or not to go beyond that curriculum with a family.
- You need to choose a curriculum online vs offline that works for the student and parent.
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I have seen a few complaints from families on FB about having too many places to go to check on the schoolwork...How does the kiddo keep up with all of the different logins and places to go to do their schoolwork?
- Erin, will any of our new systems help address the different places needed to login? Do you know if we will still have Clever next year?
- Recommendation: Have a list of everything that needs to be accomplished in the day. Place it in a plastic page protector and use a dry erase marker to mark off what has been completed each day.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” ~ Peter Drucker
How do we manage our culture in a way that maximizes student learning?
- Address the culture of the family (large vs small, homebodies vs travelers, belief system, special needs, etc.) in the ILP.
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Address the culture at large
- Easily Discouraged
- Emphasize Controllables
- Effort
- Character Character First (Oklahoma Company)
- Address Learning Style (through supplements)
- Science
- Generation Genius - new to Epic with ExactPath purchase
- Math
- Saxon Math with Nicole the Math Lady
- Saxon Math with My Math Assistant now with video instruction (Oklahoma Dad). Note - online placement tests.
- Social Studies
- Crash Course or Liberty Kids alignment (Summer Neel)
- Studies Weekly
- ELA
- EIW - video based ELA instruction
- IEW (Oklahoma company)
- No Red Ink (Epic Essentials/ACT Prep)
- Bing, Bang, Bongo - writing
- All About Reading - (Dyslexia) note previous podcast
- Remediation/Standards Mastery Check
- IXL
- Epic Essentials - Freckle (OK Standards aligned this year), MindPlay, Dreambox
- MasteryConnect
- Social
- EpicLive
- CivilCourse (collaboration with teacher outside of Epic, addresses civil discourse/ELA Essay) Lee Roland was helpful - note previous podcast
- Science
- Emphasize Controllables
- Easily Discouraged
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Easily Distracted
- Planbook - or PLP (Teacher prep)
- Time Management Strategies (Teacher instruct) “kill the squirrel”
- Lisa Johnson - note previous podcast
- GTD (Get Things Done) for teens by David Allen
- Capture
- Clarify
- Organize
- Reflect
- Engage
- Google platform instruction
- Curriculum Login Sheet (teach how to bookmark), Clever QR Badge (addresses Erin’s question 3)
2021-2022 - “Wherever you are, be all there . . .” ~ Jim Elliot
Evaluating Last Year
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are
- Who are you and what is your role in Epic?
We build up understanding through our experience in the world. The process of reflection helps us to develop our understanding more deeply and to make our intuitive knowledge shareable with others. ... It provides the opportunity to step back and take a look at what our work means to us and our communities.
- What kind of questions do you ask when you are looking to truly evaluate the ups and downs of the year?
- What are you avoiding?
- What are you focusing your energy in?
- How are you helping your colleagues achieve their goals?
- How are you not helping or even hindering their progress?
- How might you be contributing to your least enjoyable relationship at work?
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How could you have been more effective in a recent meeting?
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What was the hardest truth you ever uncovered during your reflection?
Add to that that I thought a couple of years of super hard work deserved me getting promotions over other people. I’ve come to realize that I’m still only a 12 year old educator and there are probably things I still don’t know. And what a great realization to realize you don’t know everything and that you can still learn
- Do you have a moment of reflection that brought you to a place of humility?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Season 2 Showcase
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show.
Who are you and what is your role in Epic? I am Erin Barnes, host of the show. Reminder of what this show is supposed to be about A look ahead - seasons of EPIC
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Leadership
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
I’m committed to a set of principles but I’m flexible with a plan on how we get there
Psychological safety is about being able to take risks and not being afraid of what’s going to happen. I could tell when you walked into the room but not a lot changed. Without psychological safety creativity cannot happen.
Kodak, firefly festival, blackberry, leadership… ILP and teaching strategies…they are the same.
Churn for turnover in your roster, in your teachers, in your department. Escalation of commitment.
This is what I would do if I were facing your decision. You need mentors you can go to to ask objectively about a scenario or a situation. Leading in a silo or departmental he is not for the greater good of the organization if other groups get affected by your decisions...Rapid Evaluators
As leaders of your students life and potential… Leaders of a team… Leaders of a school or a company…You cannot just focus on your own goals, you have to decide whether it’s the greater good for the entire team.
Once you’ve given an evaluation, and honest evaluation you can decide whether your goals are aligned with the mission and goals of the team
Sometimes pulling the plug on a project isn’t about failure at all. It’s about creating success for the organization instead of doubling down on your investment and pulling into a bigger trap.
At google X employees receive a bonus for mitigating their losses and pulling the plug on a project when they know it’s going to fail
If you punish failure while you also simultaneously know that it’s in evitable what kind of culture are you creating
As a matter of fact if you punished for failure people will do everything in their power to prove they’re not failing and will fall into the trap
Hollywood and literature have set us up for some pretty serious failure. The heroes journey is all about one setback after another in the protagonist story.
We are not always the protagonist. Sometimes we’re just the person that interacts with the protagonist
Adam Grant says if you’re channeling your inner Katniss Everdean, Enigo ManToya, or Forrest Gump you might need to rethink your decision because you could easily be Wiley coyote chasing the ever elusive road runner
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Daring and Brave Leadership
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
- on the radar - target on your back -
How do you decide you have thick enough skin to be an innovator?
What is the most difficult part about leading a progressive/innovative school?
If I am an employee that is courageous and daring, but I have a boss that doesn't get it...how do I manage up? Or is it right to manage up? How do I keep from appearing defiant?
My style is to challenge the status quo always. I am always finding mole hills and deciding or forecasting whether or not they have the potential to become a mountain. ( (fault lines)...
What are some assertive or aggressive approaches or practices an educator could do to push the meter...even beyond the low hanging fruit.
Learning Fund...extremely innovative, but the haters believe that you are just creating more privilege and widening the gap between the haves and have nots. What do you say to this group?
Competing priorities - Rumble starters -
- I hear you, but that isnt my experience. Can you walk me through what you saw that is leading you to this belief?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Virtual Leadership
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
You wrote a book! What made you do this? Gosh was the timing pretty impeccable
Buy the Book
What is the most difficult part about leading a progressive/innovative school?
Basketball football references
The key to a good manager is recognizing and developing someone’s strengths and managing to their weaknesses. How does a new manager or boss begin to find a direct report’s strengths?
If I am an employee that is courageous, but I have a boss that doesn't get it...how do I manage up? Or is it right to manage up? How do I keep from appearing defiant? Can a leader be nudged to take off the armor?
Are there any qualities that do not “work” for leaders who want to foster a culture of innovation?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Dismantling the Industrial Model of Edu
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Marshall: Who are you? How long have you been in Edu? 8 Years - Grew up in school
Giant leadership...gear 4...I asked you what topic…Why is this topic one that you proposed? I love the functionality of things that I care about. School is really important to me and I want to see it work well for students and for teachers. Watching my mom and grandmother teach really showed me what part of this model has some holes. Further, in grad school I was exposed to this clip of school compared to a factory and it was almost indistinguishable. Couldn’t tell the difference.
What sort of things or approaches do you think keep us stuck in our approach to education?
- School calendar
- Teacher Pay
- Curriculum and hidden curriculum/agendas
- Push to University
- Teacher Prep and support
- Homogenized “Finish Line”
- Decision makers “went through it”
- Fear of the unknown
- Desire to hold on to power
If there is anything this pandemic has taught us, its that our learning curve for the digital wasnt where we thought it was...also we were able to overcome those obstacles fairly quickly. We still have random cat filters that go viral.
We are in year 10 of this break from the “Normal” and still trying to improve. How do we move to this a little more broadly without wrecking education? We have to know and trust “our people”. What do they need? Some of the most innovative school practices are coming from schools who just seek to know their people better.
Books:
One World School house, by Sal Khan
A Different Kind of Teacher, by John Taylor Gatto
Depression coming with Online learning...nope.
Teacher pay is one of the first topics that can really piss of educators. Performance based pay is tricky...it is currently being done differently by EPIC, is it right? How can it be improved? Again, I think we have to know our people and what “performance” looks like. I think we’re doing the right thing by including teachers in that process and really factoring that in to performance based pay. It is tricky because these are humans that are imperfect.
If considered the PH.D. a couple of time this last year? You??
What enduring question would you base your research around? I actually just started a doctorate program very recently and am landing on a dissertation topic...somewhere around “innovative practices for struggling schools and for marginalized communities.”
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Black History Month
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Lee...for 30 years you have been a super hero...an educator. What keeps you in this world?
You were born in 1959...this is the year Motown Records was formed, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Temptations...Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis finishes recording "Kind of Blue" and it becomes the best-selling jazz album in history..."A Raisin in the Sun," a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, opens on Broadway. This play is the first Broadway show to be produced by a Black woman and went on to be made into a movie a few years later. MLKjr and Malcolm X are alive and in the height of their civil rights teachings, speaking, and activating. Kind of an amazing year to be born. We can think back on these great things and romanticize this time in history, but the fact remains that you still couldn't sit next to me in a restaurant or drink at my water fountain
Ok, Its Black History Month. You’re black. Is having an episode set apart right now from the rest and you a black man as my special guest even appropriate anymore?
The last thing I want is for this episode to be a token episode that fills a BHM requirement. This is not the first time I have had you one the show nor will the next time be February of 2022.
FACT: As recently as the 2016–2017 school year, East Side High School in Cleveland, Mississippi, was practically all black: 359 of 360 students were African-American.
Theoretical question: when will we ever be fully integrated?
Research the Kansas City Star -
Fact: President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Would the teenage Lee Roland be proud of the work that adult Lee Roland is doing?
Room 222
What advice would you give to the teenagers living through the movements of today? Wokeness & BLM
Research Ideas for teaching about BHM
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Online Fatigue and Burnout Busters
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Scott: Who are you? How long have you been involved in the world of Edu?
You are now an eduLeader in the ivory tower, but you and I used to be the superheroes...teachers. You were flipping edu, tell me about that process.
What is the biggest struggle you are facing when your kiddos are not in the building?
Zoom Sweet Spots:
Meetings between Ts and Ps are typically no more than an hour
Meetings between Ts and their Ss no more than 30 minutes unless…
HAVE AN AGENDA
Online Curriculum:
Article from Oct 2020 https://medium.com/ideadeco/yes-online-fatigue-is-real-92288269117b
“For every minute spent online, you should have 5 minutes offline
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Making the most of your time
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Beth, Who are you? How long have you been involved in the world of Edu? What made you choose to come to EPIC?
Making the most of your time...day, week, month
Prime your day with happiness of breathing
Beth: You have an interesting approach to teaching this year due to the pandemic. Tell us what you were doing last year and how you have multiplied your time this year.
I like to package lessons...cross curricular
Do things that excite me...or if its not a task for me or school adding spin or flare to the task.
Take mental breaks. I like to have 1 min dance parties...gets the blood flowing, oxygen
Staying positive
How do you instruct a family with multiple kiddos to navigate their Epic Essentials, curriculum, and Meetings with you. It can leave parents feeling like they are only teaching all day long.
Your focus is key in making the most of youR TIME.
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Healthy Habits and Motivation
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Who are you? How long have you been involved in the world of Edu? What made you choose to come to EPIC?
Book Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Noticing, Wanting, doing, liking.
Some good habits: Eat well, sleep, brush your teeth...But what are some healthy habits when it comes to work life balance?
Do you have any bad habits?
Hate to admit, but I had a habit of smoking. Started in HS and went through about 24 yrs old...quit the first time...trav laid off quitting the second time...SWEETS still haunt me
Do you have any really good habits?
What role do you think motivation plays in habit making?
The WHY is all important. $ is not a why, it is a result. Simon Sinek, infinite game.
Simple “results” do not drive behavior. The why does.
Do we lack motivation? Or lack clarity..? Take decision making away, and add “if not, then what?”
My girls want to be doctors...new habits for school
- Test anxiety, Study habits, Motivation, and performance
https://search.proquest.com/openview/108a26a3afbec228b3f9a5e3c85d91c3/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1056401
Test anxiety and study habits were associated positively with academic success and there was no association with achivement motivation.
- Note cards with vocab, definitions, and examples
Learning to play the guitar around a campfire was something that motivated me...I began learning and without thinking the process became habitual. High motivation makes the habit loop easy to happen...nearly unconscious.
William James (father of American Philosophy)- “Belief in the ability to change is the foundation of the ability to change.”
Talk to me about self buy-in when it comes to motivation or habit making/breaking.
Tony Robbins/Sara Blakley podcast episode:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tony-robbins-podcast/id1098413063?i=1000467901109
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Living in Confusion
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Confusion. the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something.
Since March I believe we have all probably been living here. Adley Stump is a FB famous influencer and made the funniest video… Woman makes a parody announcement about Coronavirus safety
Let see if we can make a parody of our own. You need to do your core and EE
EE and homework help, that all you need to do…
Write this paper and read this book...and mindplay and Dreambox
Make sure you log into Google Classroom and work that PLP
Did you do your mastery Connect? Where is the work in your core???
Add to that the things that are added in the home...well, dishes are gonna be home ec lesson today
Bible study is our history lesson today
Go outside and play...I need you to go outside and play...its PE!
Its no wonder we...kids included are living in this state of confusion and appear as they are not going with the flow.
9 yr school schedule. 10:10, 11:30, 1:30
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v2rPr11dmKcMkS__pBM8P-siphaiK_FqK2kJY_lrbAM/edit#gid=0
“The time and energy required for effective vision communication are directly related to the clarity and simplicity of the message. Communication seems to work best when it is so direct and so simple that it has a sort of elegance. The challenge of simple and direct communication is that it requires great clarity of thought plus more than a little courage. It’s much harder to be clear and concise than overcomplicated and wordy.”
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John Kotter, Leading Change
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Psychological Safety - a climate in which people feel free to express relevant thoughts and feelings.
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A benefit of psychological safety is that it enables clarity of thought.
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When the brain is activated by fear, it has less neural processing power for exploration, design, or analysis.
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Amy Edmondson, Teaming
According to Deloitte, decision paralysis brought on by the inability to choose between options is typically the result of cognitive overload and fatigue.
Students- I don’t even know where to begin (EE, Core, PLP, Google Classroom, Shmoop)
Parents- So many kids, jobs, appointments, precautions, emails, calls, texts…
Teachers- Benchmarking, Zoom Calls, Grades, Meetings, Grades, Reports, Grades
Admin- MPRs, Meetings, Data Management, Parent conferences, Emails, Texts, Calls
Confusion….result of cognitive overload and fatigue (and 2020). Where do we even begin...decision paralysis has reared its ugly head across the board this year.
What do we do? We need clarity. Clarity from our leaders, teachers, parents, within ourselves.
- Prioritize (Consistently)
- Write things down and communicate them well (in a variety of ways/mediums)
- Take a mental break (walk outside, get up, isolate, brain break (GoNoodle on Clever, I even do it with my kids)
- Communicate with those above you if you are not receiving clarity
- Clear is kind. We want it and love to extend it. Sometimes it’s hard to know if our messaging is convoluted or clear. It’s a two-way street. Never assume.
- Dedicated area for work and dedicated area for play
- Dedicated time for work and dedicated time for play (on your Google Calendar)
- Give grace. Extend grace. We are all doing our best. Let’s reduce the confusion and clutter together.
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Being Coachable and teaching Coachability
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Who are you? How long have you been involved in the world of Edu? What made you choose to come to EPIC?
Our topic today is being coachable and teaching coachability.
Google defines this as: Coachability, quite simply, means that a person is receptive to feedback, to receiving constructive criticism, and will use that feedback and constructive criticism to improve her or his workplace performance.
Why is being coachable so important?
How much of being coachable is a mindset issue?
What are some strategies you have used to become more coachable?
Now, you coach coaches...has this changed the way you now approach coachability?
How quickly can you tell if a person is going to be easily coached?
Can coachability be measured?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Diversity and Inclusion
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Who are you? How long have you been in Edu? And what brought you to EPIC?
We do not turn away students, but are we inclusive and diverse
It seems as if there is a never ending quest for diversity and inclusion, where are we already meeting these needs?
https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/06/27/duke-coach-mike-krzyzewski-black-lives-matter-granderson-nr-sot-vpx.cnn
What is the plan to improve EPIC from where we are to where we need to be?
- Consider equivalent experiences and projects
Ok rural schools and maybe even some suburban districts arent very diverse, What is your biggest piece of advice for getting started with diversity and inclusion?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Who are you? How long have you been at EPIC?
What position do you currently hold and what do you love about this job?
What kinds of tools to we collect data from?
What do we do with all of this data?
How do you have a discussion with a family around the data from these tools?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
VOTe
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
Who: What: When: Where: Why: How
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
What are we even able to vote on tomorrow?
Presidential Race
SQ 805
SQ 814
Executive -Corporation Commission - what is this?
Legislative - U.S. House of representatives - 5 districts - plus the race for US Senate
Judicial - Supreme (3), Criminal Appeals (2), and Civil Appeals (3)
State Legislative - 21 districts with opposition - Mine is district 30
https://okvoterguide.com/candidates/state-legislative/
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Being an Advocate or Edvocate
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education.
This week we talk advocating... next we will have Brant Cale and Todd Thomsen on the podcast again to talk about the vote RIGHT around the corner.
Advocating or being an advocate - What is it?
Student, parent, teacher, principal, MDI, Asst Supts, Supt
To date there has been a one-sided story being told. Is there an agenda being set by the people telling the story right now?
We already know who loses, but who benefits from closing EPIC Charter School?
What is effective or ineffective when it comes to people calling their legislators?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Bullying Awareness Month
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. …I asked a few of the most vocal parents on Facebook to help me come up with this outline.
Who: What:
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
Sean: This is Anti-bullying awareness month. What percentage of the kiddos that come to our school have through SM or through surveys have identified as being bullied in their previous school?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ordinary-courage/201011/the-cruelty-crisis-bullying-isnt-school-problem-its-national-pastime?fbclid=IwAR11vSl900aF_2I_mQf19qKOy92rc9cuE5Ci4SftGrmrKBTUIBu9SlNCpR0
Clayton: You were the first student story we made. You have kind of been immortalized as this 14 year old kid. What have you been up to since that video?
Clayton: What message do you have for those that say “bullying has been around for forever...I was bullied and I just sucked it up”
Clayton: Do you have any clue or do you ever look up those bullies on FB to compare your stories?
Sean: You have seen soooooo many of these stories come through in the last 10 years; what are some stories that stick out in your head?
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Chewing the fat with the Supt
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. Today’s topic is a mixed bag of your questions…I asked a few of the most vocal parents on Facebook to help me come up with this outline.
Who: What:
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
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So many new students, parents, and teachers this year. How do you plan to ensure they are all trained the EPIC way?
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Ok, what’s the deal with that audit? We #standwithEPIC but what should we tell our friends?
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How would you answer the families that say “How do I get a kid to PLP, E2, Core curriculum, AceIt, SHMOOP, HWH, ICAP, Google Classroom, EPIC live, Zoom and benchmarks?” What is required? This seems like so much.
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Whats one last thing you want to say to the admin, teachers, parents and students out there
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Content Creation vs Content consumption
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. Today’s topic Digital Sandboxes vs Content Creating Machines
Who: What:
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
Why this topic?
There are only 3 types of content: written, audio, visual. It’s been this way for thousands of years. We literally only have 3 choices.
What has changed are the platforms. Instead of newspapers or TV, the platforms of today are Instagram, YouTube(vlogging),Tiktok, Podcasts, Blogging, Insta, Alone Challenge
What type of tools are needed to create content?
Cell phones,
Cameras
Paper and pencil
Computer
Etc…..
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Disrupting Education
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education
Who: What:
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
Not to be melodramatic, but I felt called into education when I was in the 8th grade. I was immediately discouraged by my aunt, who was a 30 year career teacher. She said I was too much of a non-conformist to be a teacher. I would never make it. Well….she was right. I struggled with following the rules all throughout my career. Interestingly enough, that rebellious, disruptive way of doing things was the reason I was asked to come to Epic.
Why this topic?
- Disrupting Education...give us your definition of what it is.
I know it sounds cliche, but being willing to do what’s best for kids, no matter what or at all costs. So many educators will spout off that they are in for the kids, but they always stop short of doing it because of the fear of not having enough money. I remember when I was a new superintendent, I was spouting off in front of my colleagues that I was not concerned with the next year or having enough money, that I was going to do what was best for kids right now. A superintendent from a small school in Eastern OK stood up in front of everyone, and said Scot Trower, you’re an idiot if you think you’ll ever last as a superintendent with a mindset like that. They all laughed at me, told me I’ll learn the hard way. Well it just pissed me off and I set out to prove them wrong. That year I launched the state's first Apple Macbook Pro 1:1 laptop initiative for every student in my school and ended the year with a record fund balance, the highest carry over in the school's history.
- What are the characteristics/mindsets of a disruptor?
I think the primary characteristic or mindset of a disrupter is someone that doesn’t care what the status quo thinks. Not just the willingness to go against the grain, but one who seeks opportunities to disrupt. I would liken it to someone that is an adrenaline junky. That person that gets their thrills by climbing a mountain freestyle. It's the thrill of it.
A big characteristic of a disruptor that cannot be left out is the willingness to not only think outside the box, but the willingness to blow the box up so you’re never tempted to get back in. Disruption happens when you are doing things that are not the norm.
Another mindset is being willing to get rid of low performing educators. We only have a very short time to impact a students life. If we put up with bad teachers for politics or because they are tenured, we are hurting the child. We have to set the tone and create a culture of an expectation of excellence. Which includes bad teachers gotta go.
Finally, the last thing a disruptive educator has to have is to be willing to fail and regroup, not afraid to try something new. I remember when I first started teaching I was teaching government, specifically the Bill of Rights to a bunch of inner city, alternative school students. I met the students where they were and made the Bill of Rights into a rap. We were clapping our hands and stomping our feet to the beat of the rap. The teacher down the hall filed a complaint on me because I was being too noisy. There was no way kids could learn with that kind of noise and nonsense.
- Why do you think we garner so much hate or descent from the rest of the edu world?
The rest of the edu word can’t compete with us. Whether its budget constraints (which are really priorities), or they just don’t have the intestinal fortitude to make hard decisions because of self preservation. That’s really what it boils down to. Self preservation. If you are going to be a disruptor, you will fight a lot of battles. If you are not willing to die on the battlefield, then you aren’t a disrupter. The key to being a successful disrupter is to learn from those instances where you failed and to go to the next battle better prepared.
The secret sauce is even though I may have died on the battlefield while disrupting the status quo, my students still experienced the victory. They had opportunities provided to them that they would have never gotten if not for the battle that ensued. So even though I had to move on to the next battle (school), the students still won.
The thing about working for Epic is that it is expected for me to be disruptive. The problem is that it’s hard to be more disruptive than Ben Harris or David Chaney. I love that when I bring a disruptive idea to them, they take it and add their own spin, making it even more disruptive.
The Book - Disrupting Class by Clayton Christensen - https://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Class-Disruptive-Innovation-Change/dp/0071592067
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
So Many Opportunities NEXTSTEP- P's T's S's
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
- Education growing up was a safe place for me as a student because I grew up in an abusive home and we moved every few months. Seeing how teachers showed me love, compassion, and grace changed me. It helped shape me. As I got older I realized I wanted to replicate that with students so going into Education was an easy decision. Coming to Epic was a journey I am forever grateful for, but just through working with students in various capacities and having passion for helping high school students to see their full potential no matter their history, past, or situation was a perfect fit for working in the Epic model.
Why did you suggest this topic?
- In life we all have a Next Step, the beginning process is pretty simple. In elementary school we start learning about community helpers. For example, doctors, nurses, police, firefighters. Then our next step is middle school and we start connecting the dots of the people in our life. For example, my neighbor is a nurse or my aunt is a police officer. Then by the time we reach high school we should have a better concept of career options and which ones we feel connected to or interested in. However, many students are unsure early in their high school career. So at Epic we start the real journey with the Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP) to begin taking career and interest assessments to begin learning what careers will leverage their personal strengths and interests. Then we work to ensure by the time they reach 11th and 12th grade they are participating in an area which better helps prepare them for their next step in an area aligned to their career or college interest.
CareerTech -- Students at Epic are enrolled at career tech sites all across the state in many different programs. We have students pursuing computer coding, engineering, cosmetology, culinary arts. While in high school they are learning skills and earning a certificate. Interested students should begin researching what career tech programs they may be interested in applying for anytime between 8th-10th grade. Generally students apply for CT during 10th grade year of high school.
Concurrent -- Students at Epic are enrolled all across the student at local colleges and universities taking college coursework which allows the student to earn both high school and college credits at the same time.
AP -- Epic is offering some AP coursework this year which is another way for a student to prepare for the rigor of college and allows them the opportunity to test out of college coursework.
Internships -- Students seeking hands on experience in a certain career or industry can participate in an internship. This can allow a student to gain experience which either helps them eliminate certain career fields or gets them even more excited about certain career fields. Students who participate in an internship can earn high school credit. ENN OPP
This year we are launching “Find your Future Fridays” and the Department of College and Career Readiness will be hosting a weekly time for students, parents, and Epic staff to come join us on varying topics all year from enrollment in career tech or concurrent enrollment, hearing industry leaders share out from the industry on in demand jobs, FASFA, scholarships, and so much more! Do not miss these opportunities to connect and grow in all things College and Career Readiness! We are here to help students find their Next Steps after high school!
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
of Students
of Teachers
10,000 K Ss last year…
25k+ Ss this year
Grace - A’s, T’s, Ps - There are soooooo many kids signed up right now because this option was better than the other one that was presented to them. We already know it will not be right for everyone. We already know that being self driven, persistent, a problem solver are keys to EPIC success.
Virtual learning is hard. As to Bs and Cs
A teacher filled with love and understanding over spreadsheets and to-do lists. The standards do matter and we will teach them, but it will require the village to do it. This
We are not a school without problems. We try really hard to shut out the noise of the haters and do the job ahead of us. We know that nothing of consequence can get done without a little bit of courage and a heck of a lot of grit.
We have graduated a west point scholar and a student 6 months into a prison sentence. We have graduated more 19-21 year olds AND more 15 and 16 year old than any other school in the state.
The tyranny of how is our biggest challenge at Epic...and not just this pandemic school year.
Teacher question: How do you teach every grade level and every subject to every student? How do you satisfy the requirements of the world of standardization in an environment of personalization?
You need a strategy
You need to train your brain and the brain of the kiddos, students, and families we work with to be, keep, and stay flexible. When a plan isnt working around here, we dont keep trying to force our way...we try to find a new way.
You have got to keep the state of your being in a constant state of gratitude for the ability to think outside of the box. We are NOT the status quo. For 10 years we have and will continue to push every boundary in front of us to do what’s best for students. Period.
I’m here to make a scene. Paint a picture. Disrupt what is downright ridiculous and archaic in this day and age.
Those that came before me fought too hard to see me squander any opportunity I have to remake what is out of date.
I give my all to the projects I know have great potential. I give myself room to make mistakes in public. I know that paying attention to the quality of my presence is more powerful than trying to be perfect.
I want people to feel my heart in all I do, whether or not they are impressed with what I got right is none of my business. I know that practice is essential.
Preparedness is priceless.
But without witnessing the moment, they’ll most likely fly by without me actually enjoying them. Each opportunity that I get to show the world what I’ve got is only going to come once. I want to enjoy it.
There will be pressure, but I can learn to roll with that too. There will be chaos, but every creative moment is a full-on mess. There will be moments of epic doubt, but those are usually a good sign. What monument was ever built without a little reconstruction?
When it comes to your school can you identify the legislation that would impact your school? Do you have a relationship with the people that lead your district/state?
Policy Chat - Wins and Loses
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in world of education
How did you get involved in Politics? What made you bring those skills and knowledge to Epic?
Why did I suggest this topic?
- HB 2905 - Truancy - People (other educators) really thought the lawmakers stuck it to EPIC when this bill was passed.
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Classcraft and Motivation Engagement Learning
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are:
Kylie Trower
Travis Barnes
Kari Prevett
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
Kylie
Kari
Travis
Kari: What is Classcraft?
Travis: WHy do you think Gamification in Education is so important?
Kylie, tell me what EPIC has done in its partnership with Classcraft this year.
Daily Oklahoman Article https://oklahoman.com/article/5667051/in-oklahoma-remote-learning-goes-to-the-next-level
You and your team enter The Ruined Lands. They sprawl before you, thick with overgrown plants that conceal wild animals shrieking from afar. You and the other enter the ruined lands with you mission. The King of Karaz has told you of a corruption that is sprawling across the land. It is up to you all to try and end the corruption and bring peace to the islands again. You hold the maps of the land, Talik having the knowledge of the Mages, Alster with Haden has new shields that are holding well. They will protect you from the dangerous corruption, but you don't dare touch anything for fear of alerting some ferocious beast.
As you explore your surroundings, you start to wonder if this task is impossible. How will you even begin to cure the corruption or stop it from spreading? You only hope the child of light can help you!
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
1.3 Misconceptions and Myths
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are:
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
Why I suggested this topic?
Co-founder David Chaney had to make a public statement on 7/29 about people putting words in his mouth, Co founder Ben Harris made a video addressing teachers telling them “chin up”, Jennifer Palmer is about to drop an article about EPIC Ca as if their laws pertain to Ok...
How much of your job is putting out fires that people have set...people who have no clue the law states or situation may be?
What are some of the misconceptions?
Schools will lose funding if kids enroll in EPIC during the pandemic
Epic teachers never see their students
EPIC kids are all behind when they leave EPIC
Parents get $1000 cash
We are a public school when we want and a private school when it suits us
Colleges hesitate or dont accept EPIC students.
HS credits will not be accepted bc we arent accredited.
Epic steals the left over learning fund when students leave or graduate
EPIC has the lowest graduation rates
EPIC takes away the rights and freedoms of homeschoolers
Epic embezzels
EPIC has ghost students to boost their numbers
That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world
Adaptability/Growth Mindset
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education
How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?
PR background - unfulfilled
Love for missions and working with students
Alt Cert - Cutting edge of what the future of education looks like
Why did you suggest this topic?
Pace of change on the rise. Problem - adapt or die.
The solution -creating and sustaining change in a volatile environment requires creative leadership.How do we develop leadership capabilities (competitive capacity and lifelong learning….or the adoption of a growth mindset)
Growth Mindset - a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods, or notations held by a person or group of people that arise out of a person's worldview or philosophy of life. Happiness and Grit and cheap...do a physical exercise on this...whats it look like or feel like? We train our brain for this. You are not stuck.
Living with intention. Creating space for incremental change through learning, reflection, and application. Eradicating or moving through fear. Collaborating with others for honest feedback. Open to new ideas and discovery of multiple perspectives. Never expecting to know it all. Always on a quest to discover more. As educators we MUST model this. Embody this. Before expecting this of our teams, students, families, etc.
Book - John Cotter -
Overcoming Childhood trauma - the solution to helping them most lies in their stories.
Tatum with fraction, decimals, percents
Parents have new plans coming at them based on whether or not the original plan is working
Teachers have new plans each year, add a new curriculum they arent used to, Epic Esspenials,
Administrators - Growth at 50-60% each year. How on earth can you forecast for this? How do you put plans into place for this?
Neural associations or pathways may need to be retraced to allow for positivity. Surfing and learning story from Tony Robbins (Day 3 Module 2)
Thats all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
When the Wind Blows
Back to School Bootcamp
Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show and today’s co-hosts are:
Special Guest: Whitney Farmer, Regina Bell and Skylar Shanks
- How did you get involved in edu? Epic?
Whitney - VBS, Church Camp Counselor. I needed my gifts and talents to be utilized and I had the desire to be developed and poured into. I also had to get outside of the box that my students and I were being shoved into.
Regina- 30 years, needed a change, one on one relationships,
- This back to school might be one of the most different starts. How does a new teacher and a new student navigate this?
Whitney: Put kids first and prioritize learning, be kind to others and be kind to yourself, work hard.
- Skyler: What is the best advice you can give students for the start of this school year?
make a schedule, know exactly what your going to do each day, that helped me a lot. make lots of goals & don’t over stress. ask your teacher questions if you don’t understand something.
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Regina: What is the best advice you can give students for the start of this school year (estab routine)
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Whitney and Regina: What do parents need to know about this school year... New and vets?
Parents need to know that they must lock arms with their teacher. This means communicating often.. What is working, what isn’t working, where can we pivot to make learning and growth occur? We believe in a partnership between the student, the parent and the teacher. Please know that we don’t hire teachers just because they can do this job, we hire people who believe in our mission. Your teacher is prioritizing your child’s education, meeting them where they are and pushing them to be the very best they can be! Growth is hard. Learning is hard. Your teacher will provide you with the tools you need and guide you as we all navigate this journey together.
Edutopia article linked in the notes: Building Productive Relationships With Parents
https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategy-building-productive-relationships-parents?utm_content=linkpos3&utm_campaign=weekly-2020-07-22&utm_source=edu-legacy&utm_medium=email
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Skylar: what should parents do to help their kids be successful this year. Do check ins with them, some kids can stay on task better than others, so that may mean daily or weekly. Keep them on pace. The more uplifting you are the harder they will want to work.
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Workspaces: Dedicated spaces - Beds...anyplace CAN work but its up to the parent, student and teacher to find that space.
We have all heard that that Francis Beacon quote
‘Knowledge is power” But I challenge that notion, knowledge is only potential power. You have to put it into action for it to have any kind of lasting impact.
Thats all the time we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops.
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
Introductions
Special Guest: Josh Brock, the CFO of EPIC
How did you get involved in edu?
At the admin retreat last year you told a story to the group that sat the tone for me last year…
The Story
Why the podcast?
How can this story set the tone for dealing with all the questions and haters?
Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.