The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast Jennifer Gonzalez

Our classrooms have the potential to be spaces where we learn how to have conversations about challenging topics with respect, curiosity, and kindness. Contrary to the voices that say race is not an appropriate topic for school, in this episode we're saying just the opposite. My guests are Matthew Kay, author of the book, Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom, and Jennifer Orr, Kay's co-author of the follow-up book, We're Gonna Keep On Talking: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Elementary Classroom. I talked with Matt and Jen about the value of discussion as a teaching tool, the elements that are necessary for creating a healthy ecosystem for race conversations, some strategies for having these conversations in organic and authentic ways, and a message for teachers working in states that are hostile to conversations about race.
Thanks to NoRedInk and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode.
You can find links to both books and a full transcript of our conversation at cultofpedagogy.com/classroom-conversations-about-race/.

I have no new strategies or tools or books to share with you this week. Nothing new to implement. Just a simple call to action for administrators to start giving your teachers more specific, genuine positive feedback. They need it. 
Thanks to NoRedInk and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode.
You can read this podcast as a post at cultofpedagogy.com/your-teachers-need-a-win/.

Cooperative learning can be a powerful learning strategy, but only if it works well. In this episode Connie Hamilton, author of Hacking Group Work, returns to the podcast to share 17 small changes you can try that will make group work more effective in your classroom.
Thanks to EVERFI and Verizon Innovative Learning HQ for sponsoring this episode.
You can read a full transcript of this podcast at cultofpedagogy.com/group-work-17-tweaks/.

At a time when student behaviors and attitudes seem more troubling than ever before, we may need to approach their behavior in a different way, too. In this episode, Alex Shevrin Venet returns to talk about unconditional positive regard, a philosophy that offers students care no matter what — they don't have to earn it, and nothing they do can make it go away. This approach can transform some of the most difficult student-teacher relationships, but it's not easy. Venet shows us how it works, why it works, and how teachers can get the support they need to navigate it. 
Thanks to Listenwise and EVERFI for sponsoring this episode.
Read the full transcript and find links to Alex's book, Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education at cultofpedagogy.com/unconditional-positive-regard/.

Giving students time for reflection on their learning is so good for them: It builds their metacognitive capacity, it teaches them to take agency for their own learning, and it helps them and YOU see more clearly what they have learned and what they need next. But when we have so much other stuff to do, reflection often gets shoved out of the way. In this episode, high school teacher Marcus Luther returns to share a simple, completely free system he developed for giving students regular time for self-reflection. It's a year-long document we're calling a Learning Story.  
Thanks to Listenwise and EVERFI for sponsoring this episode.
Read Marcus's full blog post about this strategies, view images, and grab a free Learning Story template at cultofpedagogy.com/learning-stories.
 
 

When it comes to teaching kids how to read, what is the big debate about? And what does research say we should be doing? In this episode, literacy expert Jen Serravallo and researcher Dr. Kelly Cartwright help us understand the different perspectives on effective reading instruction and what research says teachers and school leaders should be doing now to help kids learn to read.
Thanks to EVERFI and Verizon Innovative Learning HQ for sponsoring this episode.
You can read a full transcript of this podcast at cultofpedagogy.com/reading-instruction/.