Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Latest Episodes:

Season 8 of Shifting Schools Podcast - Trailer Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Season 8 of the Shifting Schools Podcast! This season, we're diving deeper into the topics that matter most to educators, with a special focus on practical strategies and innovative approaches. Get ready for new mini-series that tackle some of the most pressing issues in education today, including Generative AI—how it's reshaping the classroom and empowering both teachers and students—and Chronic Absenteeism, where we'll explore actionable solutions to keep students engaged and in school.

We're thrilled to be back with more insights, expert interviews, and thought-provoking discussions designed to equip you with the tools you need to navigate the evolving educational landscape. Don't miss out on this exciting new season—subscribe now and join us on the journey to transform education for the better.

Make sure to tune in and stay ahead of the curve with Shifting Schools, where we help you prepare students for their future, not our past.

Website: pod.shiftingschools.com Community: camp.shiftingschools.com Free Resources: shiftingschools.com Instagram: @shiftingschoolspod X: @shiftingschools

352: Practical advice for a more playful childhood Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Jackie Mader

Jackie Mader is a senior early childhood reporter at The Hechinger Report, where she has reported on a range of topics including teacher preparation, special education and policies that impact young children and families. Her work has appeared in newspapers and outlets nationwide, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, USA TODAY, TIME and NBC News and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, The New York Press Club, the Education Writers Association and The Newswomen's Club of New York, among others. In 2021, she was one of two American journalists chosen for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma's Early Childhood Development Fellowship and during the 2023-24 academic year, she researched and reported on child care policy as a Spencer Fellow at the Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Prior to journalism, she worked as a special education teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://x.com/jackiemader

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

351: Skateboarding as a tool for change Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with a remarkable leader with Skateistan, Hala Khalaf.

Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for education and empowerment. It started with a few children in Kabul who were curious about skateboarding and has now grown into a global movement. The organization focuses on providing fun and inclusive spaces for children and at-risk youth to learn, play, and shape their futures. Skateistan has also created the Good Push Alliance, a social skate network that connects over a thousand skate projects worldwide. The organization emphasizes the importance of play and the valuable life skills that can be learned through skateboarding.

🎙️Connect with them to learn more:

https://skateistan.org/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

350: The Power of Process-Oriented Play Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Nawal Qarooni.

🎙️Connect with our guest and check out her book:

https://nqcliteracy.org/

https://x.com/nqcliteracy?lang=en

Chapters

00:00 Empowering Children Through Choices and Leadership 02:28 The Role of Play in Decision-Making and Learning 04:17 Libraries as Community Centers for Play 07:41 Communicating the Value of Play to the Broader Community 12:55 The Power of Process-Oriented Play

Link from Nawal

https://www.loc.gov/programs/library-of-congress-literacy-awards/about-this-program/advisory-board/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

349: What is the Impact of Play on Relationships? Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Courtney McLeod.

Courtney is an award-winning speaker and a professional life and leadership coach. Her super power is helping people experience and achieve things they never thought possible and she does this work through one-on-one and group coaching programs. She loves leading corporate team-building events and workshops designed to positively impact participants. Courtney infuses fun and playfulness into all aspects of the work she does because she believes in the transformative power of play.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

www.kick-assladies.com

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

348: How do you define 'play'? Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Dr. Paul Davarsi. Play and learning (aren't they the same thing?) are his twin passions, and lie at the heart of everything he does. Paul teaches about games and play at the University of Toronto, where he is a founding member of the PlayLab. Paul makes games and playful experiences in his role as CEO and co-founder of Gold Bug Interactive, and he bring players together as the Executive Director of the Serious Play Conference. While based in Canada, Paul works with organizations around the world, including UNESCO, the US Department of Education, and diverse NGOs and cultural institutions. His work has been featured on PBS, NPR, CBC, the Huffington Post, and Polygon, among others.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://seriousplayconf.com/

https://goldbuginteractive.com/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

347: Learning self-regulation through the process of co-regulation Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Dr. Peg Oliveira. Dr. Oliveira is a child development expert and an activist. Since receiving her doctorate in developmental psychology from Brandeis University, Dr. Oliveira has advocated for fair pay for early childhood educators, child care assistance for working parents and equitable access to high quality education.

Peg is currently the founding director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center. Peg navigated the transition of the historic Gesell Institute, a respected nonprofit child advocacy organization since 1950, into the Yale Child Study Center to honor Dr. Arnold Gesell, the founder of the Yale Child Study Center. Prior to her work with Gesell, Peg was a Senior Policy Fellow with CT Voices for Children as well as a consultant to the CT Office of Early Childhood and other child advocacy organizations.

Peg is a member the Board of Directors of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA, and was the founding director of 108 Monkeys, a nonprofit yoga service organization.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://www.gesell-yale.org/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

346: Do you understand your personal play identity? Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Acey Holmes.

Acey Holmes is the founder of BoredLess, this week she discusses the importance of play for adults and its impact on social connection, work culture, and personal well-being. She addresses the myth that play is only for children and emphasizes the benefits of play across the lifespan. Acey shares insights on playful work design, non-cringy icebreakers, and the concept of personal play identities. She provides practical advice for incorporating play into daily life and highlights the significance of unstructured free play for children.

🎙️Take this episode further and learn more about our guest and explore her non-cringey questions:

https://playfulworkdesign.com/about

https://playfulworkdesign.com/blog/non-cringey-questions-to-start-meetings

Want to map out your personal plans for having a more playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

345: Ready to have some 'hard fun'? Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Sharon Lauricella, Ph.D. and T. Keith Edmunds about "Hard Fun," and Ludic pedagogy.

🎙️Take this episode further by exploring the book from this week's guests:

https://niagarapencentre.com/shop/product/ludic-pedagogy-by-sharon-lauricella-hardcover-indigo-chapters-coles-80eb19

Want to map out your personal plans for having a more playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

344: Play as a catalyst for innovation Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

This week's conversation challenges the myth that play is only for young children and emphasizes its value for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults. Sandra Chow is here and she highlights the role of play in professional development and collaboration, sharing examples from her own experiences. She emphasizes the need for accessible play spaces and suggests incorporating play into different environments, such as classrooms and libraries.

Sandra Chow is the Director of Digital and Innovative Learning at Keystone Academy in Beijing. She is dedicated to preparing the next generation for their future. With over 20 years of experience as an educator in Canada and internationally, she strives to prepare students and train educators to be instructional creators in a global community.

She is an ISTE Certified Educator, Apple Distinguished Educator and Professional Learning Specialist, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and Google Certified Coach, Innovator, and Trainer, as well as a Global Competence and GCAA Certified Practitioner. Her experience as a professional accountant, educational consultant, and cross-cultural educator provides her with a unique perspective as a leader. She strives to prepare students and train educators to learn, teach, collaborate and create in a globally competitive society.

🎙️Connect with our guest and check our recommendation from her