166 episodes

We are powering education up by empowering you! Join us to talk about everything education with the hosts and weekly interviews. We will interview teachers to find out what makes great teachers and how we can all grow together. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/poweredup/support

powerED Up Ken Ehrmann

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 22 Ratings

We are powering education up by empowering you! Join us to talk about everything education with the hosts and weekly interviews. We will interview teachers to find out what makes great teachers and how we can all grow together. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/poweredup/support

    166: The Importance of Inclusive Education

    166: The Importance of Inclusive Education

    Summary

    Diana Fannon, a director of special education, discusses her career journey from being a classroom teacher to a school psychologist and administrator. She emphasizes the importance of inclusive education and the need for teachers to be familiar with special education accommodations and modifications. Diana also highlights the significance of universal design for learning and creating a welcoming and accessible learning environment for all students. The conversation touches on the challenges faced by teachers in implementing inclusive practices and the need for ongoing professional learning and support. The conversation explores the challenges and strategies of inclusive education, with a focus on special education and the importance of collaboration and communication between teachers, administrators, and parents. The guests discuss the difficulties of balancing the needs of students with disabilities in general education classrooms and the limited time and resources available for special education support. They also highlight the significance of frequent contact with parents, transparency, and preparation in the process of assessing, identifying, and placing students in effective programs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of high expectations for all students and the power of inclusive experiences in fostering growth and success.

    Takeaways


    Inclusive education requires teachers to create a welcoming and accessible learning environment for all students.


    Teachers should be familiar with special education accommodations and modifications and know how to implement them in the classroom.


    Universal design for learning can help address the diverse needs of students and create a more inclusive learning experience.


    Professional learning and support are essential for teachers to effectively implement inclusive practices.


    Understanding the standards and curriculum is crucial for special education teachers to support students in accessing grade-level content. Collaboration and communication between teachers, administrators, and parents are crucial in ensuring the success of inclusive education.


    Balancing the needs of students with disabilities in general education classrooms can be challenging due to limited time and resources.


    Frequent contact with parents, transparency, and preparation are essential in the process of assessing, identifying, and placing students in effective programs.


    Having high expectations for all students and providing inclusive experiences can foster growth and success.



    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction and Career Journey


    03:07 Challenges of Classroom Teaching and Transition to School Psychology


    08:05 Implementing Accommodations and Modifications


    10:56 Creating a Welcoming and Accessible Learning Environment


    13:10 The Need for Ongoing Professional Learning


    15:13 Supporting Students in Accessing Grade-Level Content


    30:02 Assessing, Identifying, and Placing Students


    33:58 Supporting Teachers and Schools


    36:31 Innovation and Growth in Education



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    • 58 min
    165: Integrating Reading and Writing for Deeper Learning

    165: Integrating Reading and Writing for Deeper Learning

    Andrea Haas, an experienced educator, discusses the importance of building relationships in teaching and the role of trust in mentoring and coaching. She shares strategies for creating a positive classroom culture and fostering meaningful conversations through turn and talk activities. Andrea also highlights the need for improved teacher preparation programs and the challenges of implementing scripted programs. She emphasizes the importance of integrating content areas for deeper learning and the value of observing students in the classroom. In this conversation, Andrea discusses the importance of empowering students to co-teach and serve each other in the classroom. They also explore the changing family structures and the role of communication between families and schools. The conversation touches on the purpose of homework and the need for effective communication between teachers and parents. Andrea emphasizes the integration of reading and writing and the importance of teaching students critical thinking skills. They also discuss strategies for giving students enough time to read and write. The conversation concludes with a focus on continual growth and innovation in teaching.



    Takeaways


    Building relationships is essential in teaching and mentoring.
    Creating a positive classroom culture involves giving students a voice and choice in their learning environment.
    Explicit instruction and gradual release of responsibility are key in teaching turn and talk skills.
    Teacher preparation programs should include more practicum time and residency programs to better prepare new teachers.
    Balancing scripted programs with teacher autonomy is crucial for effective teaching.
    Integrating content areas can lead to deeper learning and meaningful connections for students.
    Observing students is an important aspect of the art of teaching. Empowering students to co-teach and serve each other in the classroom can create a strong classroom community and minimize behavioral issues.
    Effective communication between families and schools is crucial, especially in the context of changing family structures.
    The purpose of homework should be carefully considered, and teachers should provide parents with clear guidelines and expectations.
    Integrating reading and writing helps students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of texts.
    Teachers should prioritize giving students enough time to read and write, utilizing small group instruction and independent work time.
    Continual growth and innovation are essential for teachers to meet the changing needs of students and create engaging learning experiences.



    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    01:03 Teaching Experience and Transition

    04:13 Building Trust and Communication in First Grade

    05:17 Creating a Community in the Classroom

    06:40 Teaching Turn and Talk Skills

    08:46 The Role of the Teacher in Classroom Design

    09:14 The Impact of Classroom Setup on Classroom Culture

    10:38 Explicit Instruction for Turn and Talk

    13:32 Gradual Release of Responsibility in Turn and Talk

    16:20 Improving Teacher Preparation Programs

    22:47 Balancing Scripted Programs and Teacher Autonomy

    26:05 The Art of Teaching and Program Implementation

    31:07 The Limitations of Program-Based Teaching

    32:31 Integrating Content Areas for Deeper Learning

    33:20 The Importance of Observing Students

    33:44 Empowering Students to Co-Teach

    34:38 Changing Family Structures and Communication

    35:41 The Role of Parents in Literacy

    36:55 The Purpose of Homework

    39:20 Effective Communication with Parents

    45:37 The Integration of Reading and Writing

    49:53 Giving Students Time to Read and Write

    53:00 The Importance of Writing in Reading

    56:06 Building Relationships and Having Fun





    Website: www.elmtreeed.com 



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    • 1 hr 7 min
    164: Cross-Curricular Learning with Middle School MBA

    164: Cross-Curricular Learning with Middle School MBA

    John Foster, the founder of Middle School MBA, discusses the value of teaching business and economics in schools. He explains how Middle School MBA integrates business, economics, and entrepreneurship into the curriculum, providing students with real-world skills and knowledge. Foster emphasizes the importance of cross-curricular learning and the role of teachers in facilitating authentic learning experiences. He also shares insights into the learning curve for teachers and offers advice for incorporating business education into the classroom. Overall, Middle School MBA aims to empower students to navigate the complexities of the business world and make informed decisions. The conversation explores the challenges educators face and how they can find motivation in moments of struggle. It also discusses the importance of taking lessons to the next level and adopting new teaching strategies.

    Takeaways:


    Teaching business and economics in schools provides students with real-world skills and knowledge.


    Integrating business education into the curriculum can be done through cross-curricular learning and authentic learning experiences.


    Teachers play a crucial role in facilitating meaningful learning experiences and helping students understand the big picture.


    Middle School MBA aims to empower students to navigate the complexities of the business world and make informed decisions. Educators should remember their impact on students and draw energy from seeing them grow and progress.


    Taking a creative edge and adopting new teaching strategies can help teachers take lessons to the next level.


    Finding motivation in moments of struggle is essential for educators to overcome challenges and continue making a difference in students' lives.



    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction and Background


    03:09 The Value of Teaching Business and Economics in Schools


    09:33 The Relevance of Business Education in Middle School


    11:41 Implementing Middle School MBA in the Classroom


    14:48 Integration of Middle School MBA into the Curriculum


    18:44 The Learning Curve for Teachers


    25:31 Lesson Lens: A Lesson in Building a Profit and Loss Statement


    36:22 Bringing Real-World Application into the Classroom


    46:14 The Importance of Understanding the Big Picture


    48:34 Finding Motivation in Moments of Struggle


    49:12 Taking Lessons to the Next Level



    Website: middleschoolmba.com

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    • 57 min
    163: The Story of Education Starts with the Story of a Child

    163: The Story of Education Starts with the Story of a Child

    In this conversation, Jeffrey Benson discusses his extensive experience working with challenging students and the importance of creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment. He emphasizes the need for repetition and progress in student growth and highlights the role of teachers in supporting and advocating for their students. Benson also addresses the limitations of standardized testing and the importance of prioritizing life skills and the implicit curriculum. He concludes by emphasizing the value of being explicit in teaching and modeling desired behaviors and values. In this conversation, Jeffrey Benson shares insights and advice on creating a culture of excellence in schools, becoming confident and creative educators, and powering through moments of struggle. He emphasizes the importance of listening to students, finding joy in teaching, and providing opportunities for mastery. Benson also discusses the three-year timeline for teachers and principals to develop competence and offers guidance on fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation in education.

    Takeaways


    Create a safe and inclusive classroom environment for all students, especially those who face challenges.


    Focus on repetition and progress in student growth, understanding that each student learns at their own pace.


    Teachers play a crucial role in supporting and advocating for their students, helping them develop life skills and a sense of responsibility.


    Standardized testing has limitations and should not be the sole measure of student success.


    Be explicit in teaching and modeling desired behaviors and values to create a positive classroom culture. Create a culture of excellence by explicitly defining and modeling the values and behaviors that are expected in the school.


    It takes three years for teachers and principals to develop competence in their roles, with the first year focused on survival, the second year on refining, and the third year on competency.


    During moments of struggle, go back and repeat lessons to help students reach mastery and experience success.


    Teachers who constantly seek to change, innovate, and adopt new teaching strategies are often those who find joy in teaching and have a growth mindset.


    Foster a culture of collaboration by providing opportunities for teachers to talk shop, share ideas, and receive mentorship and supervision.


    To continue learning with Jeffrey Benson, visit his website jeffreybenson.org and reach out to him for conversations and mentorship.



    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    02:39 Working with Challenging Students

    06:58 Gaining Confidence in Working with Challenging Students

    10:41 The Importance of Repetition and Progress

    12:33 The Role of Teachers in Student Growth

    16:25 Dealing with Instability and Setbacks

    22:22 The Limitations of Standardized Testing

    34:52 Prioritizing Life Skills and Implicit Curriculum

    43:04 The Importance of Being Explicit

    44:28 Creating a Culture of Excellence

    46:23 Becoming Confident and Creative Educators

    51:34 Advice for Teachers and Principals

    53:02 Powering Through Moments of Struggle

    54:49 Seeking Innovation in Teaching

    56:34 Fostering a Culture of Collaboration

    57:41 Continuing to Learn with Jeffrey Benson

    Website: www.JeffreyBenson.org 

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    • 1 hr 10 min
    162: Find the Joy in Teaching andModel Our Best for Students

    162: Find the Joy in Teaching andModel Our Best for Students

    In this conversation, Sarah Painter discusses the challenges teachers face before and during the pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of reflecting on teaching practices and finding ways to simplify and prioritize tasks. Sarah also highlights the need for self-care and the importance of setting boundaries that work for each individual. She encourages teachers to know themselves and their priorities and to involve others in the reflection process. Sarah shares insights on MTSS and the role of educators in supporting students. She concludes by discussing the value of seizing opportunities to lead and building alliances with parents and caregivers.



    Takeaways


    Reflect on your teaching practices and find ways to simplify and prioritize tasks.
    Take care of yourself and set boundaries that work for you.
    Know yourself and your priorities, and involve others in the reflection process.
    Seize opportunities to lead and build alliances with parents and caregivers.


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    • 1 hr 23 min
    161: Sketchnoting for Student and Teacher Success

    161: Sketchnoting for Student and Teacher Success

    Summary

    Ashton Rodenhiser, a professional live illustrator and graphic facilitator, discusses the power of visual communication and the process of graphic facilitation. She explains how she got into graphic facilitation and the tools she uses for her work. Ashton also introduces the concept of sketchnoting and shares how it can be taught to students. She emphasizes the importance of providing students with the freedom to doodle and draw while setting parameters to ensure the focus remains on learning. Ashton highlights the benefits of sketchnoting, including improved retention of information and the ability to make connections. In this conversation, Ashton Rodenhiser discusses the benefits of sketchnoting in the classroom and provides practical advice for teachers. She emphasizes the importance of allowing students the opportunity to sketchnote and encourages teachers to change their delivery of information to promote thinking and visual processing. Ashton also highlights the flexibility of sketchnoting and the various ways it can be incorporated into different subjects. She suggests celebrating and supporting all forms of creativity and advises teachers to persevere through rejection and reconnect with their why to overcome moments of stress. Ashton concludes by recommending her book, 'The Beginner's Guide to Sketchnoting,' and inviting teachers to join the sketchnoting community at sketchnote.school.



    Takeaways


    Graphic facilitation involves creating visual representations of conversations and group processes.


    Sketchnoting is a form of visual note-taking that can help improve retention of information and make connections.


    Teachers can introduce sketchnoting to students by teaching basic drawing elements and encouraging them to use lines, shapes, and icons to represent information.


    Doodling and sketchnoting can enhance learning and focus, but it's important to set expectations and parameters to ensure the focus remains on the content being learned. Encouraging students to sketchnote can enhance their learning experience by promoting visual thinking and processing.


    Changing the delivery of information to a more creative and storytelling format can engage students and encourage deeper understanding.


    Sketchnoting can be applied in various subjects and can be adapted to suit different learning styles and preferences.


    Balancing creativity and productivity is important when incorporating sketchnoting in the classroom.


    Embracing imperfection and understanding that sketchnoting skills develop over time can help teachers and students overcome self-doubt and fear of rejection.


    Teachers can find resources and support for learning and implementing sketchnoting in the book 'The Beginner's Guide to Sketchnoting' and the sketchnoting community at sketchnote.school.



    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    02:10 Facilitation and Graphic Facilitation

    06:14 Process of Graphic Facilitation

    10:45 Tools and Setup for Graphic Facilitation

    14:22 The Power of Visual Communication

    16:06 Introduction to Sketchnoting

    19:21 Teaching Sketchnoting to Students

    29:49 Encouraging Doodling and Sketchnoting

    36:51 Benefits and Applications of Sketchnoting

    41:06 Encouraging Students to Sketchnote

    42:04 Changing Delivery of Information

    43:03 Creating an Environment for Visual Thinking

    44:39 Applying Sketchnoting in Different Subjects

    45:34 Balancing Creativity and Productivity

    46:21 Different Approaches to Sketchnoting

    49:14 Flexibility in Sketchnoting

    50:36 The Best Thing a Teacher Can Do

    52:42 Overcoming Stress as an Educator

    55:21 Advice for Teachers Trying Sketchnoting

    57:32 Embracing Imperfection in Sketchnoting

    58:27 Resources for Learning Sketchnoting



    Twitter: @mindseyeccf

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    • 1 hr 7 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
22 Ratings

22 Ratings

FloridaTOY ,

Joy Stories

Ken and Matt have provided a space for educators to share their successes. This podcast focuses on the good things happening in our classrooms, schools, and districts while shining a spotlight on the amazing work educators are engaging in. This is exactly what we need to hear right now.

Ryanburgh ,

Great podcast for educators

Ken and Matt are great podcast hosts, and their format is perfect – just two friends talking about what interests them, what makes them curious, and what matters most in education. Perfect for the drive to and from school!

SamBovat ,

Motivating!

Ken and Matt are living in the world of teaching alongside guests like me. That is what makes this podcast so motivating- they get it! They understand and appreciate the struggles and successes. I was happy that my situation was of interest being in a small rural Vermont school. What is commonplace for many teachers here is not typical elsewhere. These guys were great to talk to and made me feel comfortable and heard. Thank you!

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