I Watched Kids Learn to Read (and it was beautiful)
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
10/10/22
•25m
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In this S2E5 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, reading intervention specialist Linda Farrell reveals the assessment-driven approach that's helping struggling readers across America. From her unique journey as a former investment banker turned reading expert, Linda shares game-changing strategies that every educator and parent needs to know.
What You'll Learn:
✅ The critical difference between teaching typical vs. struggling readers
✅ How proper assessment drives effective teaching (not guessing!)
✅ Why early intervention before age 8 is crucial for student success
✅ The Simple View of Reading that transforms instructional strategies
✅ Free assessment tools you can use immediately
Perfect for: teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, school counselors seeking effective teaching methods and professional development.
Linda's work demonstrates how proper assessment leads to targeted instruction, improved student engagement, and lasting student success. Her Reading Rockets video series shows real results with real kids, proving that with the right approach, we can help every child become a thriving student.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Linda Farrell
1:26 Inspiring Educator: Rossi King
4:24 Linda's Journey: From Investment Banking to Reading
9:49 Red Flags for Parents
11:29 Reading Rockets Video Series
16:59 What Would You Change About Education?
19:42 Favorite Assessment Tools
22:07 Success Stories That Change Lives
Episode Mentions:
- Louisa C. Moats, Ed.D.
- Decoding Dyslexia
- Looking at Reading Interventions Video Series on Reading Rockets
- The Simple View of Reading
- Readsters® Complimentary Assessment Resources
Articles by Linda Farrell:
- The Simple View of Reading
- First Rule of Reading: Keep Your Eyes on the Words
- Helping Students Keep Their Eyes on the Words
Webinars by Linda Farrell:
- The Simple View of Reading
- Using Decodable Books and Early Leveled Readers Appropriately
- Using Decodables and Leveled Readers
- Linda Farrel Balanced literacy vs systematic reading on Vimeo
- CCSS Reading Foundational Skills: What’s There and What’s Missing? - Linda Farrell on Vimeo
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Unmasking the Hidden Biases in Our Classrooms
October 3, 2022
•39m
In this S2E4 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation with Dr. Fabiola Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified, discover why traditional one-shot implicit bias training doesn't work and learn the proven 30-hour method that's transforming schools across California. Fabiola reveals the psychological safety framework that's revolutionizing classroom management, student engagement, and school culture.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• The 6 outcomes of adult learning (andragogy) that transform professional development
• How to create psychological safety for difficult conversations about classroom behavior
• The Cognitive Bias Codex: 180 ways your brain affects student discipline decisions
• Otto Scharmer's listening framework for inclusive teaching and culturally responsive teaching
• Why grading zeros harm student motivation and what to do instead
• The IKEA Effect and Decoy Effect in education strategies
This isn't just theory - it's practical teacher coaching that addresses disruptive students, low engagement, managing students, and building an anti-bias teaching approach. Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, principal strategies, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, and anyone focused on equity in education.
🎬 Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Fabiola Bagula
2:35 - The Mr. Rowie Story: Teacher Impact That Lasts
5:13 - Why Traditional Bias Training Fails
8:12 - Building Psychological Safety for Behavior Strategies
10:04 - The Foundation: Trust Without Shame
12:31 - Andragogy: How Adults Actually Learn
15:22 - Setting Up Professional Development Sessions
17:42 - Constructivist Listening & Theory U
21:09 - The Four Levels of Listening
23:42 - Introducing the Cognitive Bias Codex
26:00 - The Decoy Effect in Classroom Management
26:48 - The IKEA Effect and Student Participation
27:46 - Biases That Harm: Empathy and Just World Effect
30:15 - Grading Systems and Student Discipline
34:32 - Book Banning and Student Belonging
37:00 - Closing Thoughts on Education Transformation
Research & Researchers Mentioned Throughout the Episode:
- San Diego Unified School District
- Story Corps & One Small Step
- Malcolm Knowles’ Six Assumptions & Four Principles
- Constructivist Listening
- Otto Scharmer’s:
- Cognitive Bias Codex
- Student Panel Identity Interviews
Publications by Dr. Fabiola Bagula:
- Belonging and Being Enough within Latinas Leading Schools
- Leadership and Latina topics: https://bagula.medium.com/
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
How to Stop Point-Chasing & Start Learning
October 17, 2022
•44m
In this S2E6 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, Sarah M. Zerwin reveals why traditional grading systems are failing our students and how to create classrooms where real learning thrives. Discover how one master educator transformed her classroom by eliminating the "points for compliance" system that's been damaging student motivation and engagement for decades. Sarah shares practical strategies that work across all grade levels and content areas.
🔥 What You'll Learn:
• Why traditional grading systems reward compliance over learning
• The historical origins of our broken educational measurement system
• How to shift from evaluation to meaningful feedback that inspires students
• Practical strategies for managing the gradebook without destroying student motivation
• The coaching metaphor that will revolutionize your teaching approach
• How to navigate district requirements while prioritizing student engagement
Sarah's approach addresses low engagement by focusing on intrinsic student motivation rather than external rewards. Her methods support culturally responsive teaching, equity in education, and creating inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Sarah M. Zerwin
2:19 The Problem with Point-Chasing Behaviors
5:11 Historical Origins of Traditional Grading
8:14 Compliance vs. Proficiency in Education
10:47 Navigating District Obstacles to Change
13:12 The Myth of Standards-Based Grading
15:16 The Coach-Athlete Teaching Metaphor
18:14 What's Actually Required vs. Phantom Policy
20:48 Reimagining Assignments Without Reinventing Everything
24:59 How to Use Your Gradebook Differently
31:56 Redefining Feedback as Description, Not Evaluation
35:46 Sharing the Feedback Load with Students
39:29 Spreading Pointless Grading Across Content Areas
42:15 Final Thoughts on Process Over Product
Episode Mentions:
- Sarah’s Website Resource Page: Point-less Grading in General, Language Arts, Science, and Math; Teaching Writing; Teaching Reading; Workshop
- Alfie Kohn - The Case Against Grades
- Phantom Policy
- Learning Goals (AP Lit / 9th-12th Grades)
- Grading Explanations (LA 12 / AP Lit)
- For Students and Caregivers:
- Infinite Campus Gradebook
- Developing Grading and Reporting Systems for Student Learning
- Point-Less: An English Teacher’s Guide to More Meaningful Grading (2020)
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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