MindShift Podcast
78 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 239 ratingsIt’s easy to see a child’s education as a path determined by grades, test scores and extra curricular activities. But genuine learning is about so much more than the points schools tally. MindShift explores the future of learning and how we raise our kids. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us @MindShiftKQED or visit us at MindShift.KQED.org. Take our audience survey! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7297739/b0436be7b132
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Episodes
Where Are All the School Buses?
April 09, 2024 10:00 - 23 minutesWe're sharing an episode from our friends at the Bay Curious podcast. California has fewer school buses than in other parts of the country. A survey conducted by the Federal Highway Administration found that nationally, almost 40% of school-aged kids ride a school bus. In California, that number is only 8%. KQED's Katrina Schwartz tracks down the reason why that number is so low. Want more great ideas about teaching and learning? Subscribe to the MindShift newsletter. https://www.kqed.org/ne...
How Much Phonemic Awareness Do Students Really Need?
March 12, 2024 10:00 - 22 minutesEducation journalist, Jill Barshay of the Hechinger Report, writes a weekly column about education research called “Proof Points.” She joins KQED's Ki Sung to discuss her latest piece about phonemic awareness and why this important skill, that's at the root of learning how to read, is so hotly debated.
5 Cognitive Biases that Shape Classroom Interactions - and How to Overcome Them
February 13, 2024 11:00 - 23 minutesEducator, Tricia Ebarvia advocates for a more complete way of seeing ourselves, one another and curricula. She just published a book titled “Get Free: Antibias Literacy Instruction for Stronger Readers, Writers, and Thinkers." She joins KQED's Ki Sung in conversation to unpack bias, which is all around us, and to share tips on how teachers can enable students to improve their reading and writing skills.
Bettina Love Explains How Policy Ended a 'Glorious' Era in Black Ed
January 09, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutesIn "Punished for Dreaming," Bettina Love reflects on a 'glorious' era in Black education, unraveling historical nuances and consequences of policy decisions that led to its decline. Through insightful analysis, she navigates the challenges faced by Black students and educators, offering solutions for a more equitable educational future.
Nurturing Students’ Academic Identities in Uncertain Times
December 12, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutesMiriam Plotinsky, an instructional coach, author, and former high school English teacher, discusses her latest book, Writing Their Future Selves: Instructional Strategies to Affirm Student Identity. It contains a wealth of tools for classroom teachers including journal prompts, discussion formats and some of Plotinsky's favorite writing games.
How to Build a Safe Space to Discuss Students’ Names
November 14, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutesMatthew R. Kay and Jennifer Orr discuss how they turn simple conversations about students’ names into opportunities for connection and self-discovery.
Phyllis Fagell's Tools to Unleash Middle School Superpowers
October 24, 2023 10:00 - 28 minutesPhyllis Fagell, Psychotherapist and author of the new book “Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times," talks about why middle school is the last best chance to impress social skills and values upon kids; plus she’ll share some developmentally appropriate tools parents and educators can use to better understand their tweens, cultivate a sense of belonging and help them when they get into trouble.
Dear Math: You Are Terrible and Wonderful
September 26, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutesMindShift spotlights a teacher who encourages students to name their feelings and share their past experiences – the highs and the lows – by writing letters to math. This activity launches a yearlong process of building a classroom culture where all students feel confident to share their ideas and problem-solving strategies. The episode features excerpts from “Dear Math” letters, insights from math education experts, and reflections from two alumni about how the class shaped their mathematica...
How Green Schoolyards Can Turn Schools into 3D Textbooks
September 12, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesMost people are familiar with snow and rain as reasons to cancel recess. But what about canceling recess because it’s too sunny? Playgrounds in California are heating up. And with asphalt blacktops and metal monkey bars, kids are forced to skip outdoor activities to avoid getting burned on school yards that can reach up to 140 degrees. One solution to this problem is to green schoolyards by adding trees, gardens, and other vegetation. Green schoolyards not only help reduce heat island effects...
The Right Way to Say “I’m Sorry”
August 29, 2023 10:00 - 19 minutesWe all know how it feels to get a bad apology. “I’m sorry if,” “I’m sorry but,” and other ways people skirt real acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Effective apologies require empathy, perspective-taking, honesty and courage, and making amends is an important habit for healthy school communities. In this episode, MindShift talks with two authors who analyze apologies in the news for a website called SorryWatch. Then we meet a fifth-grade teacher who teaches her students a seven-step formula for a...
Inclusive Dress Codes: A Challenge and an Opportunity
August 15, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutesIn recent years, dress codes have been undergoing significant shifts in many schools across the nation. With language targeting hair, visible skin, and footwear, dress codes are often touted as promoting professionalism and eliminating distractions in the classroom. However, policies around dress codes are receiving pushback from students and parents for disproportionately impacting students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students from low-income backgrounds. In response to student-led resear...
How Extroverted Teachers Can Engage Introverted Students
August 01, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesAs educators move away from sage-on-the-stage instruction, their first step is often to foster more student discussion. A talkative classroom might be a mark of success in student-centered learning, but it doesn’t mean every student is engaged. In this episode, MindShift visits a language arts classroom where an extroverted teacher has developed creative ways of inviting introverted students to share their thinking. We also hear from an education researcher who says we should view student eng...
Uncovering Healthy Relationships With Consent Education
July 18, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutesAge-appropriate consent education involves much more than navigating sexual activity. It can show up in situations as mundane as sharing fries, asking someone to dance at prom, or initiating a romantic relationship. By teaching students how to ask for and give enthusiastic consent, they can navigate these situations in a way that ensures both parties feel comfortable and respected. In this episode, MindShift explores how teaching consent in school empowers students to set boundaries and expre...
Mindshift is Back with Season 8!
July 11, 2023 10:00 - 4 minutesMindShift is back with Season 8! Hear from educators and experts creating pathways for students to flourish. Subscribe to receive new episodes starting July 18.
Many Students Are Using Study Strategies That Don't Work — and Better Options Exist
May 24, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutesOur guest, University of Virginia Professor Daniel Willingham, is the author of a new book to help us break the cycle of ineffective learning habits. In “Outsmart Your Brain,” he gives tips on how to listen when you’re sitting in a lecture, how to take notes that work for you, and how to study to retain information. Please consider taking our audience survey! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7297739/b0436be7b132 Your responses will help guide us on what to cover next and how to better serve you...
How Centering Joy Can Make Learning More Relevant to Students and Teachers
April 18, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutesGholdy Muhammad is Professor of Literacy, Language and Culture at the University of Illinois and the author of Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically, Responsive Teaching and Learning. She talks about joy in an educational context and how teachers can specifically incorporate joy into their work.
How Youth Sports Became a Feast or Famine World
March 21, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutesRunning coach and author, Linda Flanagan, talks about her book, “Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids’ Sports and Why It Matters," and gives tips on how parents can tell when they've gone too far.
Books Can Help Kids Practice Being Brave
February 21, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutesCaldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner talk about their new book “Once Upon A Book” and share advice on how to help kids cultivate a love of reading.
Unlocking Students’ STEM Identities
January 24, 2023 00:00 - 13 minutesChris Emdin, is the Robert A. Naslund Endowed Chair in Curriculum & Teaching and a professor of education at the University of Southern California. He tells us how we might reimagine STEM subjects to be more inclusive and how to teach in a way that creates young people with strong STEM identities.
Classroom Management as a Curriculum
December 27, 2022 17:56 - 17 minutesCarla Shalaby, a former public school teacher who trains educators at the University of Michigan’s School of Education, offers new ways for teachers to think about classroom management. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by donating! This episode was reported by Nimah Gobir. MindShift is produced by Ki Sung, Nimah Gobir and Kara Newhouse. Seth Samuel is our sound designer. Additional support from Chris Hambrick, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven- Lindsey and Holly Kernan.
How Community Schools Can Support Teachers and Families
September 27, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutesThe pandemic has revealed that teachers have been doing more than just teaching students academics. Long before COVID-19 school closures, teachers were storing snacks in their desk drawer for the occasional hungry student or keeping their classroom open to kids during lunch. While many schools do not have systems in place to support teachers’ often invisible work, the community school model provides some strategies to lighten the load on schools and their educators. California is investing bi...
Heritage Languages in U.S Schools: A Story of Identity, Belonging and Loss
September 13, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutesWhat do schools and teachers need to know when they have students whose home language is not the one spoken at school? We look at ways teachers can guard against loss of heritage languages, ways to support outside the classroom, and how to keep families involved at school. Plus, how these strategies can help English language learners thrive in the classroom. Additional Reading: Heritage Languages in U.S. Schools Sign up for the MindShift email newsletter Read the episode transcript here....
Yikes! The Kiddos Are Angry
August 30, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutesAcross the country, teachers are seeing angry kids. With students returning to in-person learning, there has been an uptick in disruptive behavior, fighting and frustration. Educators are taking the brunt of it with 6 in 10 teachers reporting they've experienced physical violence or verbal aggression since the pandemic. Experts point to regression, lack of socialization, and trauma caused from navigating COVID-19 as reasons students are acting out. While there are no quick fixes, teachers and...
Middle School: The Age of Opportunity
August 16, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutesA growing body of research shows when kids are between 10-12 their brains go through an explosive period of development that makes them susceptible to influence, for better or worse. Experts call it the "age of opportunity" because what happens during this time can lead a child towards greatness, but it can also introduce intractable bad habits. Parents get plenty of advice on how to deal with teens, but little when it comes to tweens. Schools also play an important role in shaping adolescent...
School Bells or Nah?
August 02, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutesRemote learning was far from ideal, but it did open the door for schools to approach the school day day in new ways. We explore the research on teen sleep and what that means for school start times, as well as the promise and peril of the four day school week. Research shows shortening the school week doesn’t necessarily improve student outcomes, but it may alleviate teacher burnout. Finally, we look at the history of the school bell, how it shapes learning and whether it’s time for the final...
How Do You Stop Cheating Students? (Hint: Tech Isn’t the Only Answer)
July 19, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutesDuring remote learning, students had to use virtual proctoring tools to take their tests online. These apps and software can be as extreme as using artificial intelligence to track a students eye movements and keystrokes or as simple as a lockdown browser that prevents students from accessing other pages during the test. Students and caregivers have raised concerns about school pressures, racial bias, privacy and mental health. The rise of these tools and their defects brings up some bigger q...
Back With Season Seven!
July 05, 2022 10:00 - 2 minutesWhat do students really need in order to learn? MindShift is where teachers, parents and caregivers can discover solutions for raising our kids in the modern era. Hear from educators and experts creating pathways for students to flourish. The first episode of an all new season drops Tuesday, July 19. Check out MindShift's back catalogue!
MindShift Presents “Who Wants to Be a Teacher” From the Educate Podcast
May 03, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutesToday, we’re looking at a huge problem in education: teacher shortages. Across the US, schools are struggling to fill teaching roles. Large numbers of teachers are quitting after only a short time on the job, and 9 out of 10 teachers hired are replacing a teacher who has left the profession. The high turnover means more classrooms are run by beginner teachers, substitute teachers, emergency teachers and teachers from new, for-profit teacher training companies. This story is an excerpt from th...
The 'Great Resignation' for Teens
April 05, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutesAfter reflecting in isolation, millions of adults got fed up and voluntarily quit their jobs in record numbers, and teenagers have also been ready for a change. But what does that look like? Today on MindShift, we’re talking to Caroline Smith about the great resignation and what that looks like for schools.
Does My Kid Have a Tech Addiction?
March 01, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutesWith social distancing, stay-at-home orders and remote learning during the pandemic, many caregivers allowed more screen time than usual. Teenagers’ screen time doubled during COVID, and now many caregivers and parents are afraid their kid’s screen time has gone overboard. Dr. Anna Lembke, author of “Dopamine Nation,” makes the case for how technology, with its promise of nonstop engagement and flashing lights, can be addictive.
Student Proposals on How to Rethink School
February 01, 2022 11:00 - 13 minutesMindShift partnered with KQED Education to create the "Rethink Schools" youth media challenge. Here are a few of the student proposals.
Retaining and Sustaining Black Teachers
January 04, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutesNested within the national teacher shortage is an equally concerning Black teacher shortage. In response to push out factors that cause Black educators to leave the profession altogether, Mosley founded the Black Teacher Project, an organization that supports the shrinking population of Black teachers through leadership-focused professional development. In this minisode she shares the thinking behind their tagline “Every Student Deserves A Black Teacher” and strategies to improve Black teache...
In Defense of Fidgeting
December 07, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutesWe spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve our brains -- from apps to help you focus to games that purportedly keep your mind fresh. But science journalist Annie Murphy Paul says we’re not focusing enough on what’s happening outside of the brain -- with our bodies. When it comes to work that is all about thinking -- like writing, math, reading -- our society is largely designed around sitting still at a desk. Annie will share some of the latest research on embodied learning and how ...
Is It Ok for Teachers to Cry in Class?
November 02, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutesMost teachers feel they have to hide negative emotions from students. That puts them in a tough situation because - as we showed in our episode on toxic positivity - research shows suppressing negative emotions can make stress worse. In this minisode, we look at what happens when teachers show their real emotions in class, from the highs to the lows.
A Framework for Conversations About Race in Schools
September 28, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutesGlenn Singleton is the author of “Courageous Conversations About Race,” which gives helpful ground rules when talking about race. One Florida school district taught Singleton’s techniques to all their educators so they could develop cultural competency and address systemic inequities. What can their experience teach others?
How Do You Cultivate Genius In All Students?
September 14, 2021 10:00 - 25 minutesGholdy Muhammad, a teacher and professor at Georgia State University, spent years researching Black literary societies of the early 1800s, where people debated ideas, cultivated a deeper understanding of themselves and thought critically about change needed in the world. From this model, Muhammad developed the historically responsive literacy framework to help teachers and parents raise the geniuses of tomorrow.
How to Improve Mental Health at School
August 31, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutesFor many students, their mental health took a nosedive during the pandemic. But there are bright spots. One Oakland school was able to meet most students' mental health needs – and it didn’t call for anything too drastic.
Could Data Science Diversify the STEM Field?
August 17, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutesThere’s a growing movement to teach data science in schools. Some experts hope it will disrupt the dropouts caused by other math classes and even lead to more diversity in STEM. In this episode, we study how educators have designed the classes to be more engaging for women and people from groups underrepresented in STEM.
Down With Toxic Positivity!
August 03, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutesThe pandemic has pushed many educators to their limits. And yet, some teachers are being told a better attitude could make the job easier. Some call this toxic positivity, which is when you focus on the positive and ignore the negative. In this episode, we look at how teachers can combat toxic positivity and help their classrooms avoid a culture of it.
Grades Have Huge Impact, But Are They Effective?
July 20, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutesBy fall 2020, in districts around the country, high school students were failing classes at greater rates than before the pandemic, dragging down GPAs. Teachers are asking: is it time to reevaluate how we grade? Learn common misconceptions about grades in this episode and possible new directions.
MindShift is Back with Season Six!
July 13, 2021 09:30 - 3 minutesAs we begin a third school year in the coronavirus pandemic, the MindShift team examines sustaining teaching practices that can help educators and their students. This season, we’ll bring you stories and strategies that helped school communities prioritize what’s important in a child’s education. We also welcome Nimah Gobir as co-host! The crises of 2020 created opportunities for change in how teachers grade and how school leaders treat their staff. But not everyone made adjustments, and th...
Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul: Using 'Stamped (For Kids)' to Talk About Race
May 11, 2021 08:00 - 14 minutesFor parents and teachers looking for a resource on how to talk about race with kids, there's a new book called "Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You." It's written by educator Dr. Sonja Cherry Paul and is for 7 to 12 year old children. This book is an adaptation of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds' book "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You."
Mindshift Presents OPB's Class of 2025
January 19, 2021 11:00 - 10 minutesOnce schools went fully remote, learning online during the pandemic became a major struggle for so many students. However, for some students, being online and away from distractions at school helped them do better academically.
How Families are Pushing Schools to Teach Reading Skills More Effectively
September 08, 2020 09:03 - 27 minutesAs a child, Connie Williams learned to read using the “whole word” strategy, which has since been disproven as an effective technique. She graduated high school in Oakland, Calif., but she was functionally illiterate. Since then, her children and grandchildren have attended Oakland public schools, all of them struggling to learn to read. And it wasn’t just her family -- the district is failing thousands of kids. Now, Connie Williams is part of a movement of families advocating for phonics ins...
How Fan Fiction Inspires Kids to Read and Write and Write and Write
August 25, 2020 10:00 - 19 minutesFor many students, writing can be tedious, especially after years of boring grammar, spelling and structure drills. But for kids who have discovered fan fiction, writing about something they’re already passionate about can ignite countless hours of creative writing, music and art.
How Culturally Relevant Teaching Can Build Relationships When Students Are Home During Distance Learning
August 11, 2020 10:00 - 22 minutesCulturally relevant teaching strategies help make learning more meaningful to the lives of students and address some of the equity issues in curriculum. When schools closed in March because of COVID-19, about 150 teachers from around the country began creating a resource document to share ideas that would engage students in learning through the events happening in their lives. Students at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City were at the heart of the worst outbreak...
Prom? Canceled. Graduation? Online. High Schoolers Share Their Worlds With Us
July 28, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutesSeniors missed out on prom, signing yearbooks, sharing the news of college acceptances with friends and teachers in person, and walking across the graduation stage in front of their family and friends. Juniors took AP tests at home and worried what this would mean for their futures. Hear what students recorded in their audio journals as they adjust their expectations for this school year and the future. Further Reading: See photos of the students Check out MindShift's website Sign up for t...
How Learning Emotional Skills Can Help Boys Become Men
July 14, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutesWhen Ashanti Branch started the Ever Forward Club, he was a high school math teacher trying to figure out why the young men in his classes weren’t succeeding. He found they were craving what he desired as a kid too -- a safe place to be themselves, to show emotion, to get support without fear of judgment. When Ashanti gave them that, their success surprised everyone. It’s now his life’s work to support other educators to create spaces where boys can be vulnerable, share their feelings, and fe...
MindShift Podcast is Back with Season Five!
July 07, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutesWe’re here just in time to unpack some of the extraordinary circumstances created by emergency distance learning and the COVID-19 pandemic. This season, you’ll hear how teachers and students prioritized what mattered most as school closures dragged on during shelter-in-place. Ki Sung reports on a journal assignment that helped teachers stay in touch with students and check in on their welfare while living in a coronavirus hotspot. Katrina Schwartz will give you an intimate listen into some of...
Where Did All These Teen Activists Come From?
October 29, 2019 05:56 - 22 minutesTeenagers are demanding to be heard on the issues that matter most to them including climate change, gun control, abortion and immigration. What's different now and what role does public education play?