K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

Why Are We Arguing About Professionalism?

January 12, 2012 23:29 - 11 minutes - 14 Bytes

Why is professionalism such a controversial subject among educators? Why is there a raging debate about whether some sectors of the education community qualify as professionals? What does professionalism really mean in the education field and, in practical terms, what does all of this mean to you on the front lines? Dr. Stephanie Feeney is Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Hawaii and author of "Professionalism in Early Childhood Education: Doing Our Best for Young Children....

The Dangers of Decision Making Fatigue, How Education Leaders Can Avoid Them

January 12, 2012 23:26 - 10 minutes - 14 Bytes

Principals and directors are on all day and often into the night, making decision after decision after decision. We know this is not a healthy practice, but who hasn't gotten into the rut of not taking breaks? Our guest says this practice can have profound consequences, compromising your ability to make sound decisions or even handle yourself in critical management situations. Learn more... Author Roy Baumiester is the Social Psychology Area Director and Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar. Self-c...

Who Are Your Trusted Advisors? Who Should They Be?

January 12, 2012 23:23 - 13 minutes - 14 Bytes

When it's time to make those tough leadership decisions who do you turn to for trusted advice? Is it always the same handful of people? When should you look outside of your trusted advisors? How do you determine who should be at the table to get the right advice, at the right time, to make to make the right decision? Bob Frisch, managing partner of The Strategic Offsites Group, is the author of "Who Really Makes the Big Decisions in Your Company?" and his latest book "Who's In The Room? How...

Radical School Cost Containment Strategies for Tough Financial Times

January 12, 2012 23:21 - 10 minutes - 14 Bytes

Savvy school business officials have already cut school budgets to the bone. But these financial times are requiring more radical strategies for cost containment. Our guest today has helped many school districts develop these radical cost-cuttings plans and shares his insights on today's program

3 Things Educators and Parents of Teens Should Know about Hate Groups

January 12, 2012 23:18 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

In this fascinating interview, a former skinhead takes us inside the process of how teens are recruited in school and why some teens are more susceptible than others. Listen and learn how to determine if teens are vulnerable. More importantly, learn how to help teens avoid the traps of hate groups, gangs and other cultural predators. Bryon Widner is a former skinhead and took part in the documentary, “Erasing Hate". Kathryn Stamoulis, PhD, is a counselor and educational psychologist. She ...

Helping Teens to Manage Their Emotional States

January 12, 2012 23:15 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

Our guest's research indicates that the heart has an intelligence of it's own. Understanding how the heart interacts with the mind and how to balance the two can help teens deal with various emotional issues. Learn how you can use this research to help your children manage their emotional states. Robert A. Rees, Ph.D., is Director of Education and Humanities at the Institute of HeartMath in Boulder Creek, California. Dr. Rees develops programs that reduce stress and increase resilience for s...

Good Bye NCLB, Hello What?

September 23, 2011 17:35 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

Finally, Schools Get Relief From No Child Left Behind, Three Strings Attached Today at the White House, senior administration officials released three requirements in President Obama's plan for states to get relief from No Child Left Behind. The plan provides flexibility, but comes with many conditions and aims to maintain a high bar. Not all schools will qualify. Those that don't will be stuck with the old rules. Listen now for details. .

Education Money Inside Obama's Job Act: Who will get what,when?

September 12, 2011 00:38 - 11 minutes - 14 Bytes

President Obama's recently proposed American Jobs Act includes some 60 billion dollars to save 280,000 teacher Jobs and repair dilapidated schools. If passed, how will the money be distributed, what will be the criteria, and will the money reach your school district in time to make a difference this year? Guests: Arne Duncan is the U.S Secretary of Education appointed by President Barack Obama. Melody C. Barnes is was chosen by President Barack Obama to serve as the Director of the D...

Teachers Demoralized: Getting the Grove Back

September 09, 2011 00:44 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

Historian and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch travels the nation speaking to educators and says that the depth of discouragement in the field is at an all time high. Why are so many educators demoralized? More importantly, how can those who feel this way recover their passion to make a difference? Diane has offers some great advice.. .

Let's Get Real About What Makes a Good Teacher

July 21, 2011 21:35 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

There's a lot of attention on evaluating teachers these days. The relentless pursuit to improve student achievement has put teacher performance under the microscope. But are we clear about what really makes a good teacher, how to measure good teaching and how to replicate it?

Testing and Accountability Trickle Down to Pre- K

July 01, 2011 19:07 - 11 minutes - 14 Bytes

The Obama Administration just released proposed competition criteria for the Race to The Top - Early Learning Challenge, directed at preschool and kindergarten children. Pre-K testing will be part of the initiative. How will this program impact teachers, care givers and early learning providers? What kinds of tests will preschool teachers have to administer to young children under this new program? What new criteria will be set in place for the early childhood work force?

Tough Questions on NCLB Flexibility Plan

June 15, 2011 16:10 - 7 minutes - 14 Bytes

In the past a sedentary lifestyle was something routinely associated with middle aged and older adults. Today, teens are increasingly less active and manifesting may of the maladies of inactivity-- obesity, poor health, depression. In this segment we look at what's driving the inactivity and how to get teen up and active.

Delusions of Gender: Debunking 3 Big Fat Myths About Teaching Boys Versus Teaching Girls

May 13, 2011 19:47 - 12 minutes - 14 Bytes

Are boys' brains and girls' brains fundamentally different? If there are differences, are they significant, and do they really matter in the context of teaching? In this segment our guests identify and attempt to debunk the big myths about teaching boys versus teaching girls.

Creating Praise Junkies: Are You Giving Children Too Much "Positive" Reinforcement?

May 05, 2011 17:30 - 10 minutes - 14 Bytes

"Great job!" "That was very good!" Teachers and parents use phrases like these everyday to give positive reinforcement to children. But are we creating praise-addicted children by giving them too much unwarranted, rote and excessive praise? Turns out that positive reinforcement can be negative. In this segment our guests give us the basics on how to get it right

Is Teaching Cursive Handwriting Still Important in This Digital Age?

April 08, 2011 18:06 - 11 minutes - 14 Bytes

Many believe that there is a correlation between the quality of a child's handwriting and their literacy and intelligence. Others assert that there is no relevant connection and, more importantly, that the advent of computers makes practicing handwriting less important.

Budget Cuts: Teachers or Students, Who Will Feel The Most Pain?

March 04, 2011 03:28 - 11 minutes - 14 Bytes

A state education funding crisis is looming. How will it impact students and teachers? How will states juggle available funds? In this segment Education Secretary Arne Duncan outlines opportunities for flexible use of federal education dollars and weighs in on teacher layoffs, program cuts and essential priorities.

3 Reasons Next Week May Be an Historic Turning Point in Public Education Reform

February 09, 2011 23:54 - 15 minutes - 14 Bytes

Next week hundreds of teams of school board presidents, school superintendents and teacher union leaders will converge at a "collaboration" conference in Denver. The event is being called historic by some education leaders. It is also being compared to the unprecedented breaking down of barriers among traditional adversaries that was orchestrated at this year's State of The Union address. Even some traditional cynics are acknowledging that next week could indeed be an historic turning point i...

End NCLB or Mend it? And Will The New Name Be "Every Child Counts?"

January 27, 2011 22:06 - 8 minutes - 21 Bytes

President Obama made it clear that education is a top priority during his State of the Union Address. But will the troubled No Child Left Behind program be repaired or replaced? In this segment U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is joined by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) in a national press call following the President’s address. They outline the changes ahead for NCLB and share, possibly for the first time, what the name of the new...

Has School Reform Been Taken Over By Bad Ideas?

January 19, 2011 13:59 - 13 minutes - 21 Bytes

Education historian Diane Ravitch points out the education has been in crisis every decade for over 100 years. But Ravitch says that this time the educational crisis is different and more profound, as public education is under attack from bad ideas.

OMG! National Standards For Kindergarten?

January 06, 2011 16:46 - 12 minutes - 21 Bytes

Are proposed national, common core standards developmentally appropriate at the kindergarten level? Class, wealth, social status, and implementation may all be factors. In this two-part series Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, defends the program to critics who argue that national standards are neither needed nor helpful.

Rethinking Phonics for the 21st Century

December 22, 2010 17:56 - 11 minutes - 21 Bytes

Phonics has been a controversial practice in the educational field for decades and opinion about the appropriate role of phonics has evolved. So here in the 21st century, what should educators be thinking about in terms of what constitutes effective and appropriate phonics instruction? Tune in and get up to date on the latest thinking on the subject of phonics.

Junk Science: Multiple Learning Styles Real or Bogus?

November 19, 2010 14:27 - 13 minutes - 21 Bytes

Some students are visual learners, some students are auditory learners, and others are kinesthetic learners. Right? Well, maybe not; at least the answer is not quite that simple. Our guests discuss recent research showing that commonly accepted notions about learning styles are wrong. Looks like it may be time to update your understanding of learning modalities.

Moving Forward to the Past

November 16, 2010 02:47 - 13 minutes - 21 Bytes

The power shift in Congress may mean significant changes for the education community. Funding priorities and the disposition of many popular and unpopular programs are up in the air. There is tremendous uncertainty about what lies ahead for teachers, students and classrooms. In search of clues, we talked with six informed education observers, to get their view of what's coming next. Consensus: We are about to move forward to the past.

Does Class Size Matter?

November 05, 2010 16:48 - 13 minutes - 21 Bytes

It is generally accepted wisdom that small classes produce better student outcomes than larger classes and there is data that supports this. There is also data that contradicts this notion, asserts that other factors have more impact on student outcomes and that the significance of class size is largely over rated. Tune in and join this discussion.

Overcoming Staff Division to Transform School Culture

October 25, 2010 22:39 - 10 minutes - 21 Bytes

School culture is critical argues Anthony Muhammad. Anthony believes that without a healthy school culture, no amount of structural change will produce positive results. In this segment we talk about the how principals can transform a toxic school culture.

Waiting for Superman: Fact or Fiction?

October 13, 2010 01:29 - 19 minutes - 21 Bytes

Education insiders say "Waiting for Superman," a heart-rending documentary/movie about the struggles five children face in pursuit of a good public school education, is grossly distorted, even dangerous. The movie has received high ratings from the public, but those inside education see a different picture. In this segment former U.S Assistant Secretary of Education, Diane Ravitch, and four education reporters aim to separate fact from fiction.

Is Your Child Overexposed to Sex?

October 09, 2010 07:35 - 12 minutes - 21 Bytes

Today's children are exposed to more sexual images and sexual messages than any other generation in history. They are consuming sexual messages on television, the radio, movies, billboards and on line at increasingly younger ages. What is the impact? How will this affect their sexual lives and ability to experience intimacy as they grow up? Many parents are deeply concerned. But do they really need to be?

Is The Public Bipolar on Public Education?

September 23, 2010 19:25 - 12 minutes - 21 Bytes

A recent survey of American views of public education paints a mixed and confusing picture. From grading performance to federal involvement, Americans appear uncertain about the state of public education and what's needed.

Cash Rewards for Academic Performance: A Good Idea?

September 03, 2010 17:42 - 12 minutes - 21 Bytes

The notion of offering incentives, including cash rewards, to motivate students to excel academically has arrested the imagination of educators eager to close the achievement gap. Are gold stars, Pizza or cold cash appropriate and effective ways to drive academic performance? Expert opinion and the data are mixed. Tune in and draw your own conclusions.

Education Reform: How Important Are Principals?

August 27, 2010 22:29 - 10 minutes - 21 Bytes

Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks with NAESP's executive director Gail Connelly on the role of principals in education reform. Duncan shares his thoughts on principal evaluations, managing with limited resources and amending No Child Left Behind.

Is Standardized Testing Producing a Creativity Crisis?

August 13, 2010 16:44 - 17 minutes - 21 Bytes

Are American students falling behind in their ability to think and solve problems creatively? Is the focus on standardized testing and high stakes accountability obscuring our ability to truly prepare students for work and life in the 21st century? Are testing and developing creativity mutually exclusive? What can teachers do to encourage creativity in a climate where the emphasis is on standardized testing?

Grading the Administration's Blueprint for Education

July 12, 2010 21:03 - 11 minutes - 21 Bytes

With the new administration we have a new blueprint for education. But our guest says that the new plan is even more unrealistic than the old plan. His comment on the plan's proposal to replace principals at under performing schools is particularly troublesome. Listen in as Rothstein makes a compelling case for rethinking the new one.

Inside Dolly Parton's Literacy Project

July 09, 2010 11:51 - 10 minutes - 21 Bytes

Dolly Parton's Literacy initiative is called the Imagination Library project. The program gives a book a month to over 600,000 children from zero until their fifth birthday. Beginning in Tennessee, the program now reaches over 1200 communities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Tune in and discover how this program is promoting literacy in the 21st century.

Handling Inappropriate Sexual Behavior in Early Childhood Settings

July 09, 2010 09:20 - 10 minutes - 21 Bytes

Increasingly early childhood professionals are being confronted with inappropriate sexual behaviors by the children in their care. We're seeing young children mimicking sexual acts, touching each other's body parts and displaying sexual curiosity far beyond their age. What is normal? What is not? What is developmentally appropriate? How should parents and early childhood professionals best handle these behaviors?

All The Children Are White. So What?

June 18, 2010 21:16 - 10 minutes - 21 Bytes

What if all the children in your program are white? All the teachers are white? Attracting staff and children of color may seem impossible. What if all the children are black? All the teachers are black? Should attracting teachers and children of other ethnicities be a priority? After 55 years of desegregation, segregated schools are alive and well. At this point does it really matter?

Gays In Education: Don't Ask Don't Tell?

June 06, 2010 00:28 - 13 minutes - 20 Bytes

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender educators are with us. Many have never heard this subject discussed openly...until now. Is don't ask, don't tell the education community's unwritten policy on LGBT educators? What should it be? Listen to this thoughtful, provocative and insightful segment, with commentary by Jay Mathews of the Washington Post.

When Children Fight: Promoting Conflict Resolution Among Young Children

June 04, 2010 11:48 - 9 minutes - 20 Bytes

When children fight, should you be a Paris peace negotiator or an Ultimate Fighting Challenge referee? Typically neither teachers nor parents are taught how to manage conflicts between children. Tune in now and get some solid, tested guidance on what to do when children are ready to rumble.

Change Agents:49 Ways to Get and Keep Control of Your Classrooms

May 16, 2010 15:52 - 18 minutes - 20 Bytes

Doug Lemov went out into the field to discover and thoroughly document what great teachers are doing in the toughest classrooms in the toughest neighborhoods in his community. His findings were distilled down to 49 specific techniques that can help create exceptional learning environments and provide useful insights to administrators, directors, teachers and parents.

Teaching Conundrum: Touching Children in the Classroom: Why No Touch Policies Are Harmful

April 28, 2010 12:15 - 9 minutes - 20 Bytes

Many teachers fear touching children and many schools have no touch policies. Our guests say that children need to be touched. In fact, they assert that low-touch-teaching retards children's development and creates social dysfunctions that can last a life time. In this segment we'll talk about embracing touching in the classrooms, why it's essential and consider the practical issues and risks. .

Teaching Strategies: Handling Young Students Who Just Won't Sit Still

April 21, 2010 12:18 - 12 minutes - 20 Bytes

Why won't Johnny just sit still? How can I teach a child who is constantly fidgeting and moving? In this segment our guests examine this problem and share a considerable amount of research challenging the notion that children need to sit still to learn. A new approach is offered along with specific teaching strategies.

Five keys to Helping Your Daughter Navigate The Sexual Minefield

April 14, 2010 12:14 - 10 minutes - 20 Bytes

Yes, we all survived the sexual revolution and turned out okay. News flash: The sexual landscape for teenagers today is exponentially more dangerous than what most fathers experienced in the 60's and 70s. Meeker shares solid, practical, advice for fathers on everything from helping your daughter set sexual boundaries, helping her delay sexual activity and teaching her how to respect and protect her mind, body and heart.

Teaching Strategies: Digital Media: Great Teaching Tool or Big Liability in the Classroom

April 01, 2010 18:13 - 12 minutes - 22 Bytes

Computers, learning software, gaming, and the use of Internet are tools that are growing in popularity in the early childhood classroom. But is digital media a wonderful asset in early childhood education, a distracting and harmful liability or somewhere between the two. Our distinguished guests offer some perspective.

Music Education is Fluff Right? WRONG! Why Music is Essential to Learning

March 22, 2010 18:11 - 11 minutes - 22 Bytes

Music education is considered fluff and superfluous in many education circles. But noted researcher Eric Jensen explains the connection between music and cognitive development and shows why music is essential to learning.

Nation of Wimps:How and Why We're Creating Psychologically Fragile Children

March 15, 2010 18:02 - 11 minutes - 22 Bytes

At one extreme there are satellite parents and at the other extreme are helicopter parents. How do we determine the right balance between being too involved in our children's education and development and being not involved enough? Three thoughtful parents and experts share their insights and offer some guidelines.

Dealing With The Unspoken Challenges Women Educators Face

March 08, 2010 17:56 - 11 minutes - 22 Bytes

Many of the biggest challenges women leaders in education face are taboo topics that are rarely openly discussed. This segment brings together three distinguished women in a heart to heart conversation about these unspoken challenges and how to deal with them.

SPECIAL: Fear of Men In Early Childhood Education

March 01, 2010 11:06 - 11 minutes - 22 Bytes

Whether it's on the quiet or in your face the fear of men in early education is widespread. Yes, it's difficult to quantify and talk about, but It's real. From parents, to administrators the fear of men who work with young children has a significant impact in classrooms and beyond. We brought together a parent, a male educator and an early education attorney to look at the fear and the reality of men in ECE.

Street Smart Lesson in Education From Around the World

February 17, 2010 01:21 - 10 minutes - 25 Bytes

Greg Mortenson has spent almost two decades traveling the world to promote community based education and literacy . Tune in as Greg shares some of the insights he has learned from his travels, with Gail Connelly, Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Have I Totally Screwed Up My Kid? Is It Too Late?

February 12, 2010 15:47 - 10 minutes - 25 Bytes

For many parents and teachers, the more books they read, the more programs they listen to and the more experts they watch, the more things they discover they have failed to do. This often leads to a persistent lingering question: have I totally messed up my kids? This segment provides some much needed answers!

ROOM FOR DEBATE:Has Spanking Received a Bad Rap?

February 05, 2010 02:25 - 10 minutes - 25 Bytes

In the shadow of parents and teachers increasingly wrestling with unruly behavior and intractable discipline problems comes a new study that raises questions about current attitudes on spanking. Recent research compared spanked children with non-spanked and, in some important developmental areas, spanked children were better off. So now what?

ROOM FOR DEBATE:ADHD: Medical Problem? Parenting Problem? Teaching Problem?

January 12, 2010 02:22 - 10 minutes - 25 Bytes

Is it possible that ADHD is really the result of poor parenting or misguided teaching? Is ADHD even a legitimate diagnosis, or have we simply "medicalized" what is typical child behavior under specific conditions? The issue is far from settled. Our two guests share very different views and both make a compelling case. Listen, get the facts and decide for yourself.

K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

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