The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast
76 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -The Thoughtful Teacher podcast shares the stories of educators who have implemented innovative or creative solutions within their space. These stories and commentaries empower educators by sharing a world of ideas that can enhance pedagogical choices and decrease the isolation many teachers experience. We introduce listeners to school-based educators, thinkers, policymakers and researchers who have useful and powerful ideas and innovations that makes your work more meaningful for your students. We also occasionally offer commentary on practice and policy to help navigate the growing complexity of our profession.
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Episodes
It's Not Just Music-It's Sound! with Hayes Greenfield
June 12, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutesHayes Greenfield is a jazz musician, composer, and teaching artist. In this episode he shares the importance of not just music-but sound and how teaching students about sound can enhance social emotional learning and student attention.
Communication in the Classroom with Donna Van Natten
May 21, 2024 04:00 - 32 minutesDonna Van Natten-the Body Language Dr.- shares her expertise on non-verbal communication and behavioral intentions. A former teacher herself, the conversation focuses on communication skills with students in the classroom.
We Get a Chance to Work with the Best Students
May 07, 2024 04:00 - 51 minutesLynne Roland, Brain Hopkins, and Raymond Appleberry are educators in the Grand Prairie Independent School District in Texas and Rising Phoenix Consulting. In this episode they share their stories of creating a culture where students develop resilience because of their work implementing restorative practices and cultivate positive relationships based on The Circle of Courage Model.
The Next Generation of Sloyd with Luke Johanson
April 16, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutesSloyd is a 19th century teaching methodology that fell out of favor in the early 20th century in America. Luke Johanson shares how The Sloyd Experience is bringing this highly useful teaching approach back to relevance for students in the 21st century.
Science in the Schoolyard with Janneke Petersen
April 02, 2024 04:00 - 28 minutesListen to this conversation with science curriculum developer Janneke Petersen shares how she empowers students with Symbiotic Schoolyard. This curriculum helps teachers plant and grow native plants in their schoolyard. This place-based learning initiative is aligned to Next-Gen Science Standards and helps students understand how ecology is local and meaningful in students' everyday lives.
Inclusive Support for Transgender and Non-binary Students with Vanessa Ford and Rebecca Kling
March 19, 2024 04:00 - 52 minutesTransgender and non-binary students often do not find inclusive experiences in schools and many teachers do not know where to turn in finding resources and supports. Scott Lee shares a conversation with Vanessa Ford and Rebecca Kling who discuss their book The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive who discuss issues surrounding supporting students who are struggling with gender inclusion.
You Can Teach Writing in the Age of Generative AI with Jen Roberts
March 05, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutesHave you ever worried that your students are using an artificial intelligence (AI) program to cheat? To do homework? To do something else dishonest? Join me for this conversation with Jen Roberts as we talk about not only how to prevent academic dishonesty using AI, but actually how to use it in the classroom to actually enhance student writing!
For Real Engagement...Take Them Outside with Becca Katz
December 05, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutesOutdoor learning expert Becca Katz shares the powerful, research based reasons why students perform better when outdoor learning is part of everyday education activity. She also shares about how her non-profit organization provides professional learning opportunities for teachers to make outdoor learning part of their regular teaching.
What a Foster Child Really Needs
November 20, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutesThoughtful Teacher Podcast host Scott Lee shares a story about a former student who was in foster care and eventually adopted by his foster parents and how it all happened without using a computer dating service.
Just Don't Break Your Hammer with Caroline Mickey
October 24, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutesLibrarian Caroline Mickey says "reading builds empathy" in this conversation about school library censorship. Caroline shares her experiences having a lesson cancelled as the result of an organized campaign falsely claiming that her lesson had inappropriate content about the role of motherhood.
Reclaiming Intervention for Trauma with Sue Jones
October 10, 2023 04:00 - 51 minutesSue Jones a Trauma Informed Practices Coach in New York shares how using the restorative intervention Life Space Crisis Intervention supports students who have experienced trauma and present with elevated ACE scores.
Implementing Equity-Focused Practices in Schools with Dr. Mark Gooden
September 26, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutesEquity-focused school leadership is an ongoing, whole-team process for school improvement. In this continuing conversation Mark A Gooden and Scott Lee discuss the ongoing routines and habits of equity focused leadership teams as well as various challenges educators face regarding equity practice.
Helping School Leaders Understand Implicit Bias with Mark Anthony Gooden
September 12, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutesFor schools to truly provide an equitable learning environment, educators and school leaders must understand implicit bias and how implicit bias affects all our interactions with students (and other professional educators). In the first of two episodes Mark Anthony Gooden shares his work and insights into these important and timely issues in a conversation with host Scott Lee.
Why We Need Civics
June 13, 2023 04:00 - 15 minutesHost Scott Lee offers this commentary on the implications of the lack of prioritizing civics education in the US.
Embedding Mental Health Interventions in Career and Technical Education with Michele Morgan
May 23, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutesIn this conversation, occupational therapist Michele Morgan shares how she and her colleagues implemented several mental health interventions within her school district's career and technical education (CTE) program. Using evidence-based approaches they developed a relationship-focused, student-centered curriculum model that promotes safety and wellness. This far-ranging conversations share specifics about the program and the positive outcomes for students.
Embedding Mental Health Inverventions in Career and Technical Education with Michele Morgan
May 23, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBIn this conversation, occupational therapist Michele Morgan shares how she and her colleagues implemented several mental health interventions within her school district's career and technical education (CTE) program. Using evidence-based approaches they developed a relationship-focused, student-centered curriculum model that promotes safety and wellness. This far-ranging conversations share specifics about the program and the positive outcomes for students.
The Therapeutic Inclusion Program with Michael Murray and Laura Balogh
May 09, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutesMany times students with serious mental health needs are sent to separate schools or residential placements. In this episode we discuss an alternative-The Therapeutic Inclusion Program with Michael A Murray and Laura Balogh. After developing and implementing The Therapeutic Inclusion Program in their public school they co-authored the recently published book The Therapeutic Inclusion Program: Establishment and Maintenance in Public Schools (published by Routledge) which offers a step by step ...
Centering with Students in Teacher-Powered Schools with Sarah Giddings and Wendy Salcedo-Fierro
April 25, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutesIn this conversation Sarah Giddings and Wendy Salcedo-Fierro share their experiences working with students in Teacher-Powered Schools. Teacher Powered Schools are organized intentionally to have a shared, collaborative leadership structure. Both Wendy and Sarah share how their schools are different, how it changes their professional practices and how the student experience is different from more rigidly focused schools.
What Happens in Schools That Matter with Steve Van Bockern
April 11, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutesThe conversation continues as Steve Van Bockern and host Scott Lee discuss some examples of what happens, or should be happening in schools. Steve Van Bockern is author of Schools That Matter: Teaching the Mind and Reaching the Heart and is co-author with Larry Brendtro and Martin Brokenleg of Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Futures of Promise. Listen in this conversation that provides a positive challenge to the status quo in many schools!
Creating Well Being in a School with Steve Van Bockern
March 28, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutesSchools can create a culture where students are challenged academically while also supporting the well-being of all students. In this conversation host Scott Lee and Steve Van Bockern discuss how the needs of students can be met without sacrificing academics. Steve Van Bockern is author of Schools That Matter: Teaching the Mind and Reaching the Heart and is co-author with Larry Brendtro and Martin Brokenleg of Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Futures of Promise. Listen in this conversation that prov...
Why Global Citizenship is Essential with Brantley Turner
March 14, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutesIn this conversation Scott Lee and Brantley Turner discuss Brantley's experiences as an administrator in shared Sino-US school and how her work shapes her beliefs in the importance of challenging assumptions and helping students become global citizens.
Thanks to Listeners and a Call to Action
December 22, 2022 05:00 - 10 minutesHost Scott Lee thanks listeners from around the world for supporting The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast and issues a call to action about the lack of quality mental health services for children and adolescents in the United States.
Effective Data Use in the Classroom with Matthew Courtney
December 07, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutesTeachers are drowning in data and much of this data has little value to inform and improve instruction. Scott and Matthew Courtney discuss how to solve this problem- and do so simply and without wasting valuable time. Matthew Courtney is author of the book Exploratory Data Analysis in the Classroom and he shares how to effectively choose useful data (that teachers are probably already collecting anyway) and manipulate that data to help make real, meaningful instructional decisions. And this c...
Why 3rd Grade Retention?
November 16, 2022 05:00 - 13 minutesThoughtful Teacher Podcast host Scott Lee explores the problem with the growing trend of retaining 3rd grade students for a full year using state testing scores. This commentary considers some of the problems with using state tests in this way, policy considerations and a few ideas for what could be done differently.
Focus on the Joy of Learning with Jill Speering
November 03, 2022 04:00 - 37 minutesScott Lee has a wide ranging conversation with author and former teacher and literacy coach Jill Speering. Jill shares insights from her memoir Rubies in the Rubble: An Educator's Transformation from Pain to Prominence, from Abuse to Absolution. The discussion includes Jill's work as an elementary teacher, district-wide literacy training specialist and school board member. This insightful discussion touches on literacy, teaching for joy (instead of a test) and school board politics.
Supporting Children In Need with author Isela Arredondo
October 19, 2022 04:00 - 20 minutesAuthor Isela Arredondo discusses her book about about an absent parent I Will Always Be There and how she works with cancer survivors using jewelry making as a healing activity. She also shares her education experiences from her perspective as a US immigrant.
Supporting Children In Need with author Isela Arredondo
October 19, 2022 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBAuthor Isela Arredondo discusses her book about about an absent parent I Will Always Be There and how she works with cancer survivors using jewelry making as a healing activity. She also shares her education experiences from her perspective as a US immigrant.
Vision for the 21st Century School
September 27, 2022 04:00 - 18 minutesThis commentary by Thoughtful Teacher Podcast host Scott Lee outlines a vision for meaningful change in how we do schools. Using a historical background we explore the current state of our education systems and what is missing as many schools do not adequately respond to the changes in society that are not reflected in our schools.
Commentary: What do we assess?
June 13, 2022 04:00 - 9 minutesHost Scott Lee offers commentary about what should be assessed in schools.
Implementing Trauma Informed Education Programming with Ellen Montgomery
May 17, 2022 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBEllen Montgomery returns to The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast to discuss her work in implementing trauma informed programming in the Metro Nashville (Tennessee) Public Schools. We discuss how this student mental health centered initiative helps students who have experienced trauma and Ellen shares some stories about how this work positively supports both students and teachers.
Implementing Trauma Informed Education Programming with Ellen Montgomery
May 17, 2022 04:00 - 26 minutesEllen Montgomery returns to The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast to discuss her work in implementing trauma informed programming in the Metro Nashville (Tennessee) Public Schools. We discuss how this student mental health centered initiative helps students who have experienced trauma and Ellen shares some stories about how this work positively supports both students and teachers.
School Safety and De-escalation with Amy Murphy and Brian Van Brunt part 2
May 03, 2022 04:00 - 24 minutesIn the second part of our discussion on school safety and de-escalation Amy Muphy, Brian Van Brunt and Scott Lee discuss the public health model for safety and de-escalation, teacher creativity, relationships and get sidetracked a little about films that feature teachers.
School Safety and De-escalation with Amy Murphy and Brian Van Brunt
April 19, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutesSchool safety and crisis intervention experts Amy Murphy and Brian Van Brunt discuss techniques for classroom crisis de-escalation with host Scott Lee. Amy and Brian recommend a research-based three-pronged approach to preventing or mitigating crisis situations in a classroom setting: clarifying norms for a safe climate, de-escalation, and teamwork.
Teacher Advocacy with Sanford Johnson
April 05, 2022 04:00 - 37 minutesSanford Johnson the Executive Director for Teach Plus Mississippi and host Scott Lee discuss teacher advocacy. Sanford has spent a great deal of his career advocating for education professionals, in this episode he shares his work supporting teacher quality as well as the activities that he and Mississippi Teach Plus Fellows including improving teacher compensation, improving mental health resources and strengthening the teacher pipeline.
The Universal Values that Support Resilience Development with Larry Brendtro
March 22, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutesIn the second part of our discussion with Larry Brendtro we talk about how the latest brain science and social science research continues to demonstrate that youth develop resilience by developing supportive relationships with caring adults. The values that support these relationships are belonging, mastery, responsibility and generosity which are universal values.
Creating Cultures where Students Thrive with Larry Brendtro
March 08, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutesLarry Brentro shares his experiences in his career as a teacher, principal, program director, social worker and professor as he helps illuminate what what effective educators do in classrooms and schools. Larry has authored or co-authored 15 books on topics include teaching and learning, healthy brain development and quality learning environments for students who have been marginalized. He also co-hosts the annual Reclaiming Youth Seminars, which are currently held every summer in Sioux Falls...
Education and Recycling in Haiti with Blada Desauguste
December 14, 2021 05:00 - 28 minutesA non-profit Haitian and US based partnership for recycling plastic also has a growing educational mission within Haitian schools. In this episode, guest Blada Desauguste and host Scott Lee discuss this teacher-created education program that operates as part of a plastic recycling program in Haiti. Blada also explains how some short-sighted policy decisions have led to a large plastic waste problem in Haiti and how his organization, Kay (pronounced Kai) Blada Recycling, provides part of the s...
Discussing Equity Issues with Students with Dr. Malcolm Gillard
November 19, 2021 17:00 - 22 minutesMalcolm Gillard and Scott Lee discuss equity issues, restorative practices and creating a positive classroom environment for all students.
Laws Limiting Discussion of Race and Gender Issues with Dr. Mark Finchum
October 27, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutesExecutive Director of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies and I discuss recent laws that limit discussion of equity, race, and gender issues by teachers. Tennessee was one of the first of several states have passed such laws. We talk about how this law may affect teachers, particularly social studies teachers, in Tennessee and elsewhere.
Mindfulness for Students who have Experienced Trauma with Jennifer Knowles
October 13, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutesIn this episode, Jennifer Knowles returns and we dive deeper into mindfulness in schools as we discuss trauma informed mindfulness. Enjoy learning more about how mindfulness is a part of transforming learning and schools.
Parenting Advice for Tweens with Joshua Sneideman
September 29, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutesOur friend Joshua Sneideman returns to discuss his new book Parenting Tweens: Successfully Navigating the Middle School Years. We learn about a useful resource for teachers and parents about this important (and sometimes difficult) developmental time.
No, We Are Not Teaching Communism with guest Adam Jordan
September 14, 2021 04:00 - 15 minutesWe continue our conversation from last season with Adam Jordan discussing the negative public narratives that professional educators are facing.
Social Justice and what's coming with the All Y'all Social Justice Collective with Adam Jordan
June 29, 2021 04:00 - 23 minutesGuest Adam Jordan and I discuss some of the exciting events planned for this summer and fall sponsored by the All Y'all Social Justice Collective. After that he and I discuss some of the problems of equity facing the teaching profession. This part one of two episodes of conversations where we discuss equity issues. This episode will conclude our spring 2021 series, we will return with the fall series in September and Adam and I will continue our conversation.
Tim Shriver calls for an Education Moon Shot
June 16, 2021 16:00 - 5 minutesCommentary by host Scott Lee discussing Tim Shriver's recent call for "An Education Moon Shot".
How to be a Therapeutic Helper with Dr. Paul Baker
May 19, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutesAs part of the continuing series on restorative practice, we continue our discussion with Dr. Paul Baker focusing on how all school staff members can learn to be a therapeutic helper for students who have experienced trauma. Specifically, Dr. Baker outlines the ways in which Neurotransactional Repair happens for students who have become disconnected.
Teaching Students who have Experienced Trauma with Dr. Paul Baker
May 05, 2021 04:00 - 21 minutesGuest Dr. Paul Baker discusses what is going on with students who have experienced trauma and why the approaches that some educators often fail. We also talk about what does work and a mindset that will help teachers work with students who exhibit difficult behaviors.
How to Confront White Nationalism in Schools with Jessica Acee
April 21, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutesFor a variety of reasons, students bring white nationalist and extremist ideas into schools. For most educators this is a challenge because this is rarely a topic for professional learning and this is an unusually difficult topic to address. The Western States Center recently published the 2nd edition of their Confronting White Nationalism in Schools Toolkit and in this episode we will meet one of the co-authors Jessica Acee. In our discussion we learn about white nationalism in general and h...
Restorative Interventions with Mark Freado
April 06, 2021 04:00 - 13 minutesWe continue our discussion with Mark Freado in our restorative practices series. In this episode we follow up our discussion about restorative culture by talking about interventions. We specifically discuss Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and Planning Restorative Outcomes both of which educators and youth care workers can use to enhance their professional practice.
Developing a Restorative Culture with Mark Freado
March 23, 2021 04:00 - 22 minutesMark Freado discusses how to develop a restorative culture within a school or youth serving organization and why focusing solely on punishment and rewards does not foster positive change within children and adolescents.
How We Implement Restorative Practice with Laura Fittz and Ellen Montgomery
March 09, 2021 05:00 - 28 minutesTeachers Laura Fittz and Ellen Montgomery discuss their experiences as the implemented restorative practices and continue to strengthen their teaching by being intentionally restorative in their relationships with students. Each are high school content area teachers who understand the real nature of the student-teacher relationship and how the promote student motivation and student agency.