The Ancient Tribal Wisdom We Ignore in Modern Education
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
03/07/22
•19m
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Featured In
In this S1E5 interview, Dr. Anthony Craig (Yakama Nation) shares how he transformed his school by bringing Native elders into classrooms as cultural guides, creating a revolutionary approach to student engagement and classroom management.
This addressed the challenges of disruptive students and low engagement by pairing certified teachers with cultural guides from the Tulalip Tribe. Instead of traditional discipline methods that remove students from learning, they developed culturally responsive teaching strategies that kept ALL students engaged and motivated.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• How to handle difficult students without exclusion
• Why traditional classroom management often fails Native students
• The 'circling up' approach to student behavior
• How to create inclusive classrooms that honor community wisdom
• Professional development that transforms teaching practice
• Building authentic home-school connections with families
Ideal for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, and anyone seeking innovative teaching strategies to support student success. This isn't just about Native education - it's about creating inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms where all students thrive.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Anthony Craig
0:29 - Personal Story: What Inspired His Work
1:03 - The Most Inspiring Educator
2:05 - The Culture Mismatch Problem in Schools
3:08 - Understanding Critical Historicity in Education
4:18 - Introducing Cultural Guides into Schools
5:55 - Building Community Around Children
6:47 - How Cultural Guides and Teachers Collaborate
7:36 - Real Example: Transforming First Grade Engagement
9:33 - The Problem with Removing Students
10:18 - The 'Circling Up' Approach to Behavior
11:59 - Why This Approach is Complex and Nuanced
13:12 - Teachers Experiencing Tribal Community
14:56 - Learning from Ceremony and Tradition
16:36 - Seeing Students as Leaders, Not Problems
17:00 - Research Insights: Focusing on Future Possibilities
18:27 - Building Schools for Communities, Not Assimilation
19:16 - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
Dr. Craig's Published Writing:
- Tradition Becomes the Teacher: Community Events Enrich Educators’ Professional Learning.
- Classroom Teachers and Cultural Guides: Collaborating to Transform Teaching and Learning Through the Use of Traditional Tribal Knowledge.
- Transforming Teaching and Learning Through Indigenous Strengths and Ways of Knowing.
- Indigenous Knowledges to Transform Public Education.
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
How Young Writers Use Their Voices to Reach Authentic Audiences
February 28, 2022
•17m
In this powerful S1E4 interview, hear how Jake Chernikoff and Alex McConduit transformed disengaged writers into published authors during virtual learning. Jake and Alex share their groundbreaking approach to student engagement and student motivation through authentic publishing experiences.
🔥 What You'll Learn:
✅ How to turn low engagement into active learning through real-world projects
✅ Behavior strategies that inspire students through meaningful work
✅ Effective teaching methods for student participation and attention in class
✅ Innovation teaching techniques for inclusive classrooms and culturally responsive teaching
✅ Professional learning insights for teacher coaching and instructional coaching
✅ Parent involvement strategies and home-school connection building
✅ Education strategies that create lasting student success and thriving students
This inspiring conversation reveals how teacher mentors can support new teachers with pro-kid mindset approaches that focus on the whole child. Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, and instructional leaders seeking education transformation.
Featured Topics: classroom management, student discipline, managing students, classroom control, instructional strategies, lesson planning, teaching tips, teacher support, school leadership, school improvement, family partnerships, equity in education, empowered educators, inspired teaching, teacher impact
👥 Perfect for: Teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, school counselors
Episode Mentions:
- Big Boot Books (founded in 2010 by Alex)
- W.R.I.T.E. (Write, Read, Illustrate To Educate) - a youth publishing program designed to transform students into published authors
Alex’s Books:
- The Little Who Dat Who Didn't (2011)
- Thorn in My Horn (2013)
- Peter and the Pelican (2015)
- Snoballs for All (2015)
- Bloom: The Story of the World’s First Flower (2020)
Jake & Alex’s Book Collaborations (also with Irwan Awalludin & Arlo Chapple):
Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI)
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction & Guest Backgrounds
01:41 Inspiring Teachers Discussion
03:43 Henry's Writing Transformation Story
05:34 Choosing Activism as Writing Topic
08:17 Funding & Grant Strategies
11:36 Amazon Publishing Process
13:11 Managing Proceeds & Student Decisions
16:29 Final Thoughts & Impact
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
Secrets to Funding Creative Education Projects in Public Schools
March 21, 2022
•23m
In this S1E6 interview, discover how Executive Director Steve Manley and educator Joyce Putnam with the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) transformed the Ithaca City School District by creating innovative funding solutions that support teachers, boost student engagement, and strengthen parent involvement. In this inspiring episode, learn from Steve Joyce about building sustainable community partnerships that provide real resources for classrooms.
What You'll Learn:
• How to create independent school foundations that work alongside districts
• Three different grant types that fund everything from supplies to $10,000 projects
• Proven strategies for connecting classrooms to community partners
• Creative fundraising ideas beyond traditional events
• How to build home-school connections through collaborative programs
• Steps to enhance student engagement through experiential learning
• Ways to support new teachers and provide ongoing teacher support
Perfect for:
Teachers seeking additional classroom resources, education coaches looking for funding strategies, school administrators wanting to improve school culture, parents interested in supporting their schools, and anyone passionate about education transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- IPEI has supported innovative teaching methods for 25 years
- Grants range from $500-$10,000 supporting teacher impact and student success
- Community partnerships create lasting change in education
- Simple application processes with teacher coaching support
- Programs like "Kids Discover the Trail" build connections between schools
Episode Mentions:
Ithaca Public Education Initiative
- Mission, Vision, Values
- Staff and Board of Directors
- Grant Information & Applications
- Events:
- Kids Discover the Trail (KDT)
- Support IPEI
- Donate to IPEI
- Contact IPEI
Whether you're a teacher, parent, school leader, or education advocate, this conversation offers practical solutions for creating thriving students and empowered educators in your community.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to IPEI and Guests
1:12 - Inspiring Educators Discussion
2:53 - What is IPEI and How It Started
5:23 - Mission and Community Connections
7:26 - Real Impact Stories from Local Schools
8:13 - How to Apply for Grants
9:06 - Three Types of Grants Available
13:05 - Success Stories: 3D Printing and Ancient Civilizations
16:05 - Fundraising Events and Community Engagement
19:03 - Kids Discover the Trail Program
21:28 - Building School Connections and Final Thoughts
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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