Season 2 Schoolutions Trailer
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
08/22/22
•2m
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I am thrilled to share that Season 2 of Schoolutions Podcast will kick off this September with the new school year. For new listeners, my name is Olivia Wahl, and as your host, I will continue connecting you with others that have creative solutions to issues we face in public education. Over Season 1's 20 episodes, guests shared their stories and ideas around an incredible variety of topics. Give them a listen if you haven't already. This season's guests will offer their expertise, teaching us about:
- using tools and strategies to change how we listen to each other
- the courage it takes to teach and to know when to quit
- nurturing equity-centered, reflective learning
- what universities are seeking in candidates graduating from public high schools
- combating school violence and bullying
- understanding speech pathology and reading interventions
- engaging in rich tasks that nurture thinking about math
- student activism
- and so much more
Please follow, share, give a review and look for new episodes every Monday. As a veteran teacher, educational consultant, and mom of two boys in public schools, we're in this together! Parker J. Palmer's words from his book, The Courage to Teach, capture the essence of this podcast - he says - "This is for those who have good days and bad, and whose bad days bring the suffering that comes only from something one loves. It is for us who refuse to harden our hearts because we love learners, learning, and the teaching life. When you love your work that much—and many teachers do—the only way to get out of trouble is to go deeper in. We must enter, not evade, the tangles of teaching so we can understand them better and negotiate them with more grace, not only to guard our own spirits but also to serve our students well."
And with that said - here's to finding inspiration together throughout Schoolutions Podcast, Season 2!
Get solutions from Schoolutions!
#solutionsfromschoolutions #schoolutionsinspires #schoolutionspodcast
Previous Episode
The Award-Winning School Farm That Uses 95% Less Water
June 27, 2022
•19m
In this S1E20 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, discover how (former) Principal David Friedrich revolutionized his elementary school through innovative vertical farming and farm-to-school programs. In this inspiring conversation, learn how Hopewell Elementary School secured $25,000 in grants to build a customized vertical farm that's 2-3 times larger than Princeton University's model!
What You'll Learn:
✅ How vertical farming brings Next-Generation Science Standards to life
✅ Innovative teaching strategies that integrate STEM across all grade levels
✅ How to transform school culture through nutrition and hands-on learning
✅ Professional development approaches that don't overwhelm teachers
✅ Building parent involvement through cooking classes and community events
✅ School leadership strategies for securing grants and community partnerships
✅ Creating inclusive teaching environments that serve the whole child
This farm-to-school program uses 95% less water than traditional farming while growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and strawberries that students help cultivate and then enjoy in their cafeteria. From preschool through 5th grade, every student participates in hands-on STEM learning that connects to real-world applications.
Perfect for: teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, instructional leaders, school counselors, and anyone interested in education transformation, school improvement, and student success.
Featured Topics: student engagement, active learning, instructional strategies, innovative teaching, school leadership, parent communication, family partnerships, education at home, inspiring students, empowered educators, teacher impact, and creating thriving students through experiential learning.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to David Friedrich & Hopewell Elementary
02:59 What is the Vertical Farming Initiative?
05:09 Why "Vertical" Farming? The Science Behind It
05:58 How Students Access the Program (Pre-K through 5th Grade)
06:37 Top Tomato Award & Farm-to-School Recognition
07:24 From Classroom to Cafeteria: The Implementation Journey
09:22 Impact of COVID & Current Status
10:16 Virtual Cooking Classes During the Pandemic
11:22 Top Chef Enrichment Program
12:39 Cross-Curricular Impact on Literacy & Math
13:25 Future Plans & Expansion
15:24 Community Events: Farm-to-School Day & Parent Lunch
16:39 Community Partnerships & Giving Back
18:00 The Power of Relationships in Education
- Vertical farming project partners with school (2016)
- Hopewell Elementary School Awarded $10,000 STEM/Sustainability Grant for Vertical Gardening Initiative (2018)
- President Biden Honors 117 Individuals and Organizations with Highest U.S. Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers and Mentors (2022)
- GFP Graduate, Helen Corveleyn, Awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2022)
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
Being 'Pro-Kid' in 2024: What Teachers REALLY Need to Know
September 12, 2022
•48m
In this S2E1 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies interview, join education expert Cornelius Minor for this powerful conversation about revolutionizing classroom management, student engagement, and inclusive teaching. Discover why traditional behavior strategies fail and learn the "radical listening" approach that transforms disruptive students into engaged learners.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why student behavior is communication, not defiance - game-changing classroom behavior insights
✅ The "heavy presence, light touch" technique for managing students without controlling them
✅ How to shift from being a good employee to being an effective teacher (even when it means bending rules)
✅ Practical student discipline alternatives that build connection instead of punishment
✅ The curriculum changes that eliminate most classroom management issues
✅ Why low engagement signals problems with instruction, not students
✅ Innovative teaching strategies for culturally responsive teaching and equity in education
✅ How to develop a pro-kid mindset that transforms school culture
Minor shares real stories of education transformation, from reducing office referrals through relevant curriculum to inspiring students through authentic teacher modeling. Learn how "presencing" creates thriving students and discover why the best professional development starts with truly seeing the whole child.
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 Introduction to Cornelius Minor & "We Got This"
4:18 Educators Who Inspired Cornelius: Fannie Lou Hamer & Carter G. Woodson
7:45 Do We Still "Got This" in 2024? Current Education Challenges
10:17 What is Radical Listening? Beyond Traditional Student Engagement
14:46 "Heavy Presence, Light Touch" - Presencing in Classrooms
18:15 Disrupting the Status Quo: Why Rule-Breaking is Sometimes Necessary
21:48 Student Behavior as Communication, Not Defiance
26:49 Making Curriculum Work for Students: Real Classroom Transformations
32:28 Modeling Reading Behavior: The Power of Teacher Authenticity
37:22 Good Teacher vs. Good Employee: Navigating Institutional Pressures
42:54 Lessons Learned: What Would Be Different in "We Got This" Today
46:16 Closing Thoughts on Being Radically Pro-Kid
- Carter G. Woodson
- Theory U: Presencing, Crossing the Threshold into the Field of the Future
- Yetta Goodman
- Carla Shalaby
- We (still) Got This: What It Takes to Be Radically Pro-Kid by Fran McVeigh (4/10/23)
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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