Best Practices in Education
66 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsBest Practices in Education with Odyssey School offers professional resources, practical tools, and inspiring conversations for parents, teachers, and administrators who seek the best in education. In each episode we interview Odyssey teachers and others in the field of education who have lived experience to share.
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Episodes
Science of Reading in the Classroom - Part 1
January 05, 2024 17:00 - 7 minutes - 5.37 MBOdyssey Elementary Director Robin Skeen takes on a six part series of the science of reading and how it can be applied in the classroom and beyond. Part 1 is an introduction and overview of the program. Support the show
AVL Rise - Building Literacy and Reimagining the Classroom
July 15, 2022 18:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MBWe close out the third season of Best Practices in Education with special guests from AVL Rise, a peer-to-peer literacy and mentorship program based in Asheville, North Carolina, which is funded through OpenDoors Asheville. Program Director, David Kennedy, a Jamaican native, is a father, creative, music artist, writer, educator, and scholar. As an educator, he has over 7 years of experience at the primary, secondary and tertiary level as a Special Education and Social Studies teacher, also ...
Game Design and Curricular Implementation
June 24, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBGuest Host Elijah Allred is back to interview Intermediate teacher, Kylie Hulver. In this episode, Kylie talks about game design and how to create moments of joy and movement in the classroom, while building gross motor skills and mental acuity for your students. Support the show
Training Spiritual Warriors: Secular Pathways to Development in Intermediate Classrooms
April 22, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBIntermediate Director, Kalyan Volpe, returns to the podcast to talk about his "Spiritual Warrior" intermediate program. Volpe defines spiritual cultivation in his classroom as the individual's attunement to their inner landscape and translating the information and knowledge taken from that attunement out into the physical world. It includes mindfulness practices, meditation, and developing inner attributes, such as focus and courage. Listen to learn more about how to inspire preteens and te...
Sign Language in the Classroom
March 12, 2022 00:00 - 12 minutes - 8.94 MBKindergarten teacher Samantha Sole shares about her journey to integrate sign language into the kindergarten classroom. Supporting students in using movement to communicate opens up new pathways in the brain for communication and understanding, and builds empathy for difference. Support the show
Student Feedback in the HS Classroom
February 11, 2022 15:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBOdyssey High math teacher, Grant Yost, reflects on why he prioritizes getting feedback from his students throughout the semester. He shares the strategies he uses to both elicit honest responses from students, as well as how to set clear boundaries about what feedback can and can't change about the classroom experience. Support the show
Settling and Energizing Students
January 14, 2022 19:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MB5th and 6th grade teacher, Kylie Hulver, talks about how to successfully settle and energize in the classroom. She uses silence and breath to support students in developing self-regulation. She uses energizers to teach skills that are translatable to content. Plug in to listen to the conversation she and guest host Elijah Allread share. Support the show
Partnerships: Bringing Community Support into the Classroom
December 17, 2021 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBTeachers often report feeling unsupported and financially challenged when seeking opportunities for their students. First and second grade teacher, Barbi Brittain, shares how cultivating community support can bring new opportunities to the classroom. An outside-the-box thinker, Barbi encourages teachers to make strategic partnerships that empower students and also make parents and community members feel a part of something bigger. Support the show
Teacher as Trickster in the Classroom
December 10, 2021 15:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBWhat does it mean to act in the role of teacher as (loving) antagonist? Intermediate Language Arts teacher Elijah Allred answers random questions offered by students. We laugh a lot. And we get into a deep conversation about how when teachers challenge their students, when they play the mischievous trickster, the developmental process gets rich and rewarding for our students. Support the show
Teaching Reading Comprehension in the Kindergarten Class
November 12, 2021 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.28 MBKindergarten teacher, Shirley Rotolo, talks about strategies to increase reading comprehension in students. She explores research based method from a practical standpoint, integrating Orton-Gillingham inspired practices with other strategies to get the best outcomes for her students. Support the show
The Wonders of Bird Watching
November 05, 2021 14:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBHigh School Science Teacher Andrew Rabin encourages science teachers of all ages to engage their students in bird watching. An experiential activity that brings core elements of science alive, birdwatching is fun, challenging, rewarding, and can be done without a significant cost to the classroom. Support the show
Welcome to Season 3! Let's Talk Learning Paths
October 15, 2021 14:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBElementary Program Director Robin Skeen talks to us about creating learning paths in the classroom. We'll get a quick how to and learn some resources to get started. A bonus: these paths provide teachers with the opportunity to move smoothly between remote and on site learning! Support the show
Teaching a Life Cycle Analysis Project in High School Science
September 17, 2021 14:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBTeaching students to become systems thinkers is a priority for high school scienc teacher, Andrew Rabin. In this episode, the last episode of Season Two, Andrew walks us through how to teach a life cycle analysis project in high school, what processes he uses, and what the value of this kind of project is. Support the show
Teaching Cultural Art
September 10, 2021 14:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBKindergarten teacher, Shirley Rotolo, uses cultural art to support her students in engaging their creativity and passion. She talks about ways to include cultural art during thematic units, creating pottery, visual art, and other 3-D sculptures to build curiosity about our diverse world. Support the show
Creating a Positive Learning Environment
July 23, 2021 14:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBHigh School math teacher Grant Yost shares strategies for how to create a positive learning environment. He encourages fellow teachers to assess their own favorite learning spaces and make changes in the classroom with an eye toward calm, creativity, and connection. Support the show
Navigating the New "Normal"
May 14, 2021 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBSpeech Language Pathologist and Emotional Intelligence Teacher, Stacey Crowley, makes a case for harnessing the moment to rethink the role education plays in the mental fitness of students and educators. She ties the 21st century skills employers require to the SEL skills we teach students today. Support the show
Storytelling for Transformation
April 22, 2021 14:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBIntermediate Program Director Kalyan Volpe shares how storytelling in the classroom builds relationship and promotes transformation. As a teacher who straddles the developmental divide between childhood and pre-teen and teen unfolding, Kalyan dives into the somewhat mystical process of supporting students through their individual journeys of becoming. Support the show
Finding Time through Self-Organization
April 01, 2021 14:00 - 13 minutes - 9.53 MBWe ask teachers to do so much! In this episode, Intermediate teacher (5-8) and Director, Alex Eren, shares about the organizational systems that save time and energy. Learn to make your classroom more organized, and your processes sleek and sophisticated--in both the physical and electronic world! Support the show
Self-Regulation and Discerning Discipline
March 17, 2021 03:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBJoin us on the most recent episode of Best Practices in Education. Elementary Director Craig Deutsch returns to the podcast to share how he uses self-regulation as an energy management strategy in the elementary classroom. According to Craig, helping students do the work in metacognition and self-reflection can make your classroom happier and more well-regulated. Tune in to learn more! Support the show
Self-Regulation and Discerning Discipline
March 17, 2021 03:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBJoin us on the most recent episode of Best Practices in Education. Elementary Director Craig Deutsch returns to the podcast to share how he uses self-regulation as an energy management strategy in the elementary classroom. According to Craig, helping students do the work in metacognition and self-reflection can make your classroom happier and more well-regulated. Tune in to learn more! Support the show
Jump, Build, Shout: Multimodal Learning Strategies in the Mathematics Classroom
March 05, 2021 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBIntermediate (5-7th) grade teacher, Kylie Hulver, shares her excitement in getting students to move their bodies and engage their spirits as part of the learning process. In Kylie's classroom, students jump, run, sing, or build lego creations to help them understand ratios and solve long division. We know learning engages a variety of intelligences. This episode can help you think about how to practice multimodal learning with students yourself. Support the show
Revising Curricular Expectations (in a Pandemic)
February 05, 2021 17:00 - 17 minutes - 11.7 MBThis year has presented educators with unexpected challenges at every turn. Some of us are teaching online. Some of us are teaching hybrid, and some of us have been on-site for most of the year. High School Director Gabriel Johnson shares a process for revising curriculum when teachers aren't able to meet all their learning objectives. Support the show
Using Graphic Novels in the Classroom
January 08, 2021 15:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBHigh School teacher Hadley Cluxton returns to the podcast to share how to successfully use graphic novels to reach students who learn through a variety of modalities. She offers an exhaustive list of resources, particularly for history teachers. Support the show
Guiding the Ship: School Administration Responsiveness in the Pandemic
December 19, 2020 19:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBExecutive Director Cory Adams talks about the preparation required to get the school ready to face the challenges of the pandemic. Support the show
Mastery Learning in the Classroom
November 28, 2020 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBSeason 2, Episode 2. 3rd and 4th grade teachers Robin Skeen and Carly Penny use a blended model to meet students where they are and challenge them to thoroughly understand, apply, and create by being metacognitive and resourceful. Look through the presentation at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HNUhXsC_NLm7tRpHCbrFqGOdp6WzghtjgkS-i7tRMFU/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Outdoor Learning in the Elementary during COVID-19
November 07, 2020 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBCOVID-19 has changed the way teachers do everything! In this episode, 1st grade teacher Selma Neel shares what it's like for her elementary classroom to move outdoors as teachers and students adjust to (mostly) all-weather school. Here's a link to the visual presentation as well. Support the show
Nuggets of Wisdom from Teaching during the Pandemic
October 31, 2020 18:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBIn the first episode of Season 2, teachers reflect on what they learned from teaching during the first days of the pandemic. Different voices tell unique stories and share insight. Support the show
Creating Connection in the Classroom
May 22, 2020 14:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBWhen we need it most, this teaching conversation is all about how love keeps learning going. Whether it's falling in love with poetry or cultivating love, connection, and safety among students, Dr. Richard Chess of UNC-Asheville shares how he introduces students to literature and each other. Support the show
Using Online Games in the Virtual Classroom
May 08, 2020 18:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBStudents need novel ways to interact with screens as we move to remote learning. High School Director Gabe Johnson talks about using games in the virtual classroom, what kinds of students they engage, and who gets left out of the equation. Support the show
Experiential Learning
April 25, 2020 02:00 - 12 minutes - 8.9 MBIntermediate teacher Jenny Einzig talks about experiential learning in the classroom and how it can really bring students alive. Support the show
Teaching Partnerships
April 10, 2020 14:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBAlex Eren and Kalyan Volpe, Intermediate teaching partners, talk about partnership. What does it take to have a strong partnership in the classroom? What does success look like? Check out their presentation to learn more: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TImiV98CWI8aXcqE04TruTD7Cykp5nRAnC5kD_aXIvw/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
School during a Global Pandemic
April 05, 2020 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBSound Designer River Guerguerian joins Executive Directors Cory Adams and Megan Martell in a remote interview to discuss how Odyssey is managing the transition to remote learning during the Coronavirus pandemic. Support the show
Cooking with Emotional Intelligence
March 14, 2020 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBStudio guest and chef Ashley Capps joins us to share about how important emotional intelligence is to the process of cooking and training others to cook. Ashley has worked at Five and Ten Restaurant in Athens, GA, Eleven Madison Park in New York, Farm and Sparrow Bakery in Asheville, and MG Road Bar and Lounge in Asheville, before moving to Buxton Hall. She served as the opening pastry chef for Rhubarb, an Asheville establishment named to Bon Appetit’s "Top 50 Best New Restaurants" and So...
Reading Aloud to Students
March 07, 2020 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBKindergarten Teacher Shirley Rotolo discusses the benefits of reading literature aloud in classrooms and at home to students through high school, offering title recommendations, and exploring her own relationship to literature as a multi-lingual educator. To learn more, check out the presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1F6BrDrXnGv7MHBMSkgs5EwUH-9kZN1xt2Rc4sn3PRuk/edit?usp=sharing Support the show (http://odysseycommunity.org/giving-to-odyssey/) Support the show
Bringing Your Interests Into the Classroom
February 29, 2020 15:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBFirst Grade teacher Craig Deutsch shares about how to bring your own interests into the classroom, using passion as a way to expand and connect with students. Teaching can be a demanding profession, and it's important for teachers to feel alive and excited about the material they teach. For more information, check out Craig's podcast below: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cRftXEg4NIiqW31qDatYvCpIqkXVP3he6QbIGxkbOxo/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Experiential Team Building
February 21, 2020 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11 MBOdyssey High teacher JP Bowers talks about how to guide students and faculty through experiential team building. She considers how connection informs relationship and impacts learning in both obvious and subtle ways. Support the show
Decolonizing History
February 14, 2020 14:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBHigh school social studies teacher Hadley Cluxton unpacks the complexities of teaching "histories" rather than "History" through a lens of decoloniality, pluriversality, and re-existence. She shares the theory behind this rebellious and vital perspective, defines these terms for those of us who are new to the conversation, and inspires us to embrace the conversation and the work to become better teachers. For more information, check out Hadley's Best Practice Presentation - Part 1 https://d...
Interpersonal Neurobiology and Early Childhood Education
February 07, 2020 15:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBPreschool Director Courtney Fincher speaks to the developments in the fields of interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, and polyvagal theory. She explores how to implement the information we're learning in these areas within the context of early childhood education. To learn more, check out the presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q13KUE84ZrJlF2oIq-NmP4YnHjHvlXUAvrILuAEgyKs/edit?usp=sharing Support the show (http://odysseycommunity.org/giving-to-odyssey/)
Interpersonal Neurobiology and Early Childhood Education
February 07, 2020 15:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBPreschool Director Courtney Fincher speaks to the developments in the fields of interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, and polyvagal theory. She explores how to implement the information we're learning in these areas within the context of early childhood education. To learn more, check out the presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q13KUE84ZrJlF2oIq-NmP4YnHjHvlXUAvrILuAEgyKs/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Solving Real World Problems
January 31, 2020 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBTeacher Pana Columbus talks about using six action levels to solve real world problems. She talks about teaching systemic disruptive action to address climate change. To learn more, check out Pana's presentation at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RRTsRRcFvP-fwfonXZG7ugTrwSRFrwJ7SrWHfcEdFPk/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Using the Integral Model with High School Students
January 24, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 8.98 MBHigh School Director Gabe Johnson gives an introduction to Communicative Action through the lens of the Integral Model. Along the way, he describes the AQAL, one of Integral's tools for navigating perspectives of consciousness. Here's a link to his brief presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MV8y0Q_mKFusB_jRpgGRoDnq0ZA-jeb9Q5ZvDt8sIm0/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Indigenous Wisdom in the Classroom
January 17, 2020 15:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBTa'rin'ii Isner, a 5th and 6th grade teacher, discusses her inspiration in teaching coming of age, the power of names, and cultivating a sense of purpose from indigenous Aboriginal and African cultures. "The Spirit of Intimacy" and "Welcoming Spirit Home," by Sobonfu Some A short video on the power of ritual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVx9LemV9s "The Healing Wisdom of Africa" and "Of Water and the Spirit," by Malidoma Some http://malidoma.com/main/ Check out more info in Tarinii'...
Podcasting with Students
January 10, 2020 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBCarly Penny explains her design thinking process in developing a Podcasting Project with her third and fourth grade students. Hear strategies for deepening standards to create authentic learning in an interdisciplinary style that can be applicable all year long. See Carly's presentation here: https://docs.google.com/a/odysseycommunity.org/presentation/d/102BpLqdfLM9vBXPfC2VT0EwYW79nUt4ihcKb-5CVcNA/edit?usp=drive_web Listen to a student podcast here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sbHhXDq...
Using the Integral Model with HS Students
January 05, 2020 21:00 - 13 minutes - 8.98 MBHigh School Director Gabe Johnson gives an introduction to Communicative Action through the lens of the Integral Model. Along the way, he describes the AQAL, one of Integral's tools for navigating perspectives of consciousness. Here's a link to his brief presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MV8y0Q_mKFusB_jRpgGRoDnq0ZA-jeb9Q5ZvDt8sIm0/edit?usp=sharing Support the show (http://odysseycommunity.org/giving-to-odyssey/)
Doing Authentic Science with Students
December 14, 2019 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBScience is not just what those people wearing white coats do in labs, and the scientific method isn't a linear process. What?! High school science teacher Andrew Rabin shares his process for exploring authentic science with students. To learn more, check out the link below: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fwCWoiYpXhsfAbeKdwutIxZFg6W5DJGUCkRTnXBzTA0/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
1.11: Podcasting with Students
December 10, 2019 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBCarly Penny explains her design thinking process in developing a Podcasting Project with her third and fourth grade students. Hear strategies for deepening standards to create authentic learning in an interdisciplinary style that can be applicable all year long. See Carly's presentation here: https://docs.google.com/a/odysseycommunity.org/presentation/d/102BpLqdfLM9vBXPfC2VT0EwYW79nUt4ihcKb-5CVcNA/edit?usp=drive_web Support the show
1.10: Doing Authentic Science with Students
December 10, 2019 14:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBScience is not just what those people wearing white coats do in labs, and the scientific method isn't a linear process. What?! High school science teacher Andrew Rabin shares his process for exploring authentic science with students. To learn more, check out the link below: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fwCWoiYpXhsfAbeKdwutIxZFg6W5DJGUCkRTnXBzTA0/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
Permission for Self Care
November 26, 2019 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.58 MBMiddle school teacher, Alex Eren, talks about the practice of self-care and its importance to teachers. She offers strategies and tips about how to make self-care happen even in the briefest moments. To learn more through Alex's presentation, click the link below. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iUjPcQ7kYxiCcIemwGQZOY_p91lykhKSX-1_mSYEEoM/edit?usp=sharing Support the show
1.9: Permission for Self Care
November 26, 2019 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.58 MBMiddle school teacher, Alex Eren, talks about the practice of self-care and its importance to teachers. She offers strategies and tips about how to make self-care happen even in the briefest moments. To learn more through Alex's presentation, click the link below. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iUjPcQ7kYxiCcIemwGQZOY_p91lykhKSX-1_mSYEEoM/edit?usp=sharing Support the show