BEAS Academy: Recent Episodes
BEAS Academy
BEAS Academy co-founders Pete Stirling and Barbra Williams discuss ways to re-imagine education for the next generation, making school fun, and other educational issues.
This week we welcomed our first guest to the podcast to speak about the educating young people, the traditions surrounding Dia de los muertos, and keeping traditions alive for the younger generations.
We continue our Halloween/ Día de los Muertos celebration with an Irish fairy tale about a poor young man from Donegal and his encounter with a troop of fairies at their annual Halloween party.
Pete and Barbra discuss the various ways the BEAS Academy educational garden lab and outdoor classroom act as a third teacher and enhances learning by creating a interest in science & community engagement while building character and a deeper connection with the earth.
In this story-time episode, we present an original story about a young lady who is mourning the death of her brother when an older woman from a village teaches her about Día de los Muertos and invites her to celebrate the holiday with her and her family.
Un cuento original sobre una niña quien están llorando la muerte de su hermano cuando una mujer de un pueblo les enseña las tradiciones de Día de los Muertos y le invita celebrar la fiesta con su familia en el pueblo.
Pete and Barbra discuss diversity and inclusion the BEAS Academy way. We cover recognizing all forms of diversity, creating a culture of teamwork in the classroom, learning what value you can bring to the table, and understanding ourselves as Americans through the cultures that make up America.
Pete and Barbra discuss the origins of Halloween and taking the opportunity to teach about culture on holidays. The Traveller and the Well (time marker 13:00) is an Irish ghost story that re-told (and embellished) from memory by Pete. *may be slightly scary to younger audiences
This week we start Story Time with the tale of the Golden Goats, a Swedish fairytale, about three brother's magical encounter with a fairy and his golden goats. After Pete and Barbra discuss the tale as well as the importance of cultivating your gifts, making the most out of what you have and focusing your attention on your projects rather than on the fruits of your labor. The Golden Goats is approx. 3rd grade but appropriate for all ages. Discussion begins at time marker 11:18
Pete and Barbra discuss the importance having an active imagination into adulthood, keeping kids' imagination alive, and re-invigorating it in adults. During the story time, at time marker 20:00, Pete reads an original tale called THE FAIRY HOUSE about a secret house in the woods and its magical inhabitants.
In this episode, we change our format to include a story time where we tell the African tale of the Caterpillar's voice (adapted by us) with a brief discussion afterward. This story is a story of courage and how perception shapes actions and reveals our true courage.
The Caterpillars Voice begins and 4:22
Please visit our website: https://beasacademy.org/
Clip of men stealing meat from lions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDubMeNlSxc
Pete and Barbra discuss the BEAS Academy original Social Emotional Learning program, how developing strong social and emotional skills give kids an advantage in their education pursuit, and creating an educational space design for maximum success.
This week Pete puts Barbra in her discomfort zone to talk about sports, building character in competition, the educational value of a quality youth athletic program, and whether or not chess is a sport.
There's a whole new world inside every book, but you have to open it to see it. This week we talk about how to instill a love of reading in young students that keeps them reading into adulthood and ways to help young children "crack the code".
Pete and Barbra talk teaching character, learning through adversity, and being our best through finding our role on the team.
Pete and Barbra wax patriotic as they discuss the 4th of July, being a good citizen, the importance of a civics education, and rocket's red glare of Sacramento's enthusiastic back yard bomb throwers.
Pete and Barbra discuss the heated debate between Teacher-led instruction vs Student-centered models and pros and cons of each.
Welcome to BEAS Academy! We're taking the first steps of building BEAS Academy and invite you along with us. Today we introduce ourselves and talk about finding a child's interests in school, nurturing those interests, and making learning fun.