District leaders all across the country have long lamented the dearth of high-quality, culturally relevant and engaging curriculum for history and social studies. And it's not just leaders and teachers. Students surveyed also report that they don't see themselves in the curriculum, feel that they are only learning one side of history, and that none of it seems to have anything to do with them or their lives. Nichol Everett, K-12 Social Studies Instruction Facilitator for Tacoma Public Schools, partnered with Educurious to co-design a project-based, interactive, Civics unit called Advocacy in Action that has students and teachers cheering and achieving. Find out how they did it in this inspiring episode.   Resources: Learn more about Educurious' project-based courses, aligned to state and national standards, and written on a foundation of research-based design principles for learning.   Learning in Action Blog: Why Project Based Learning is Necessary for Deep Understanding in Social Studies   Learning in Action Blog: 5 Reasons Why Project-Based Learning is Essential to Social Studies Instruction   Hear how Cross-Content, Customized Project-Based Units Have Revolutionized Learning in Three Districts   Learn more about The Educurious Experience Free Micro-Learning ExPLoration with Educurious! Transformative State History: learn how to engage your students with PBL unit, Decisions that Define Us     MORE Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action

We're joned today by Monica Schultz, Senior Manager for Navigator Services with Denver Public Schools, and Nazli José, a student at Montebello Career and Technical School. They enthusiastically share the many benefits of the School Passport Administrator digital internship offered through GG4L. The program provides both High School and college credit for students while giving them real-world tech skills and providing the full flexibility of a digital certification.   Resources: Inquire about the Certified School Passport Administrator (CSPA)digital internship program HERE. The CSPA program offers high school students a 60-hour internship with a mix of academic and hands-on experiences, with certification and college credit included.  Access program overview & syllabus HERE   GG4L’s School Passport® is a data exchange platform that exchanges any data with any EdTech product, eliminates the need to share student PII and is easy to implement for schools and vendors. It empowers schools to centrally: Govern the exchange of student, staff, and parent PII data with SaaS vendorsApprove and publish apps to a district or school branded on-demand AppStoreDelegate to school staff and teachers the ability to activate apps within their managed groups on-demand School Passport® is used by over 25,000 schools in the US and abroad.      Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action

Richard Kincaid, the State Director of Career and Technical Education for the District of Columbia, shares his journey to becoming a passionate advocate for educational equity and opportunity. His career spans over two decades, during which he has dedicated himself to building systems that drive meaningful impact in K-12 public schools, government, and educational non-profits. Kincaid's focus is on Career and Technical Education (CTE), providing students with access to diverse pathways beyond traditional academia, whether directly into college, the workforce, or national service. The conversation delves into the establishment of Washington, DC's first Advanced Technical Center (ATC), aimed at providing CTE courses that were previously out of reach for many students. The ATC offers programs in nursing, cybersecurity, and more, providing students with industry-recognized credentials and dual credits, saving them thousands of dollars in future education costs. Kincaid highlights the center's inclusive transportation model, ensuring access for all students regardless of location. Moreover, Kincaid discusses the significance of CTE programs in addressing workforce shortages, particularly in high-demand fields. He emphasizes the need to dispel stigmas surrounding trades and vocational education, showcasing success stories of students finding fulfilling careers through CTE pathways.   Resources: Today's sponsor, Xello is the only career development program built with the entire district community in mind. Xello provides every student of all pathways the freedom to create meaningful future plans, while giving educators the resources they need to help students. With a carefully designed, student-centered experience, Xello meets accessibility standards and offers age-appropriate career development for every student K-12. Xello creates effective educator workflows so you can spend less time checking boxes and more time helping students. Learn more here or here.    Read about Strengths-Based College and Career Exploration Strategies for K-12 Educators   Hear from hear from Laura Benisch, the Director of Career Planning and Partnerships at the Lincoln Academy Public Charter School in Beloit Wisconsin,  about real-world and career-focused learning, and the platform that is supporting all of the educators and K-12 scholars in the state of Wisconsin in career exploration.   Learn the story behind Xello from CEO and co-founder Jeff Harris.   Reach out to Richard W. Kincaid State Director, Career and Technical Education Pronouns: he / him / his (why pronouns matter) Click Here to Schedule a Meeting Twitter: @careertechninja Web: careertechdc.org   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action

In this episode we learn from Andrea Becker, the lead instructor at the Virtual Learning Academy Consortium (or VLAC) in Michigan, and her colleague Amanda McKay, the supervisor of student services with VLAC.  While virtual learning was happening prior to 2020 but it has certainly been normalized as a viable option for many more students since the pandemic. We wanted to learn from Andrea and Amanda, veterans in the field of virtual learning, about how to do it well, and the components that make it most effective, and the curriculum program that is bringing huge success to students at all levels of need and ability.     Resources: Learn more, or reach out to Lincoln Learning here Check out Lincoln Learning's podcast and Lincoln Learning's blog Hear how Lincoln Learning is partnering with Urban Green Education to reach learners across the globe   Learn more about Michigan's Virtual Learning Academy Consortium   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action

Dr. Charles Dana Hall, co-founder of Sterling Literacy Consulting, works with schools and districts across the country, many of which have been identified for improvement, to bring them to recognized levels of high performance in reading. In this episode he shares his passion and the research-backed strategies that serve every student - offering many examples of what is possible when using the science of reading systematically.    Resources: Reading Eggs is the multi award winning online reading program for grades PreK-5. Fully aligned with the Science of Reading and utilizing the five essential keys to reading success, the program unlocks all aspects of learning to read for students. Reading Eggs is trusted by teachers for its curriculum alignment to state standards and proven effectiveness, earning ESSA Level III evidence certification. Learn more at EdCuration.com   Sterling Literacy Consulting works to provide . . . all students with equitable learning experiences and access to rigorous instruction that develops foundational and life-long literacy skills so they can be successful in their education, life, and career experiences. educators with professional learning experiences that are accessible, valuable, and immediately applicable to their instructional repertoire.   How the Brain Learns to Read - Professor Stanislas Dehaene    #TurnThePageProject  - Emily Hanford   Sold a Story podcast with Emily Hansford   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action

This episode of the EdCuration Podcast is brought to you by Sanako Connect at Multimedia Solutions Inc.   Guest Stephanie Knight from the Center for Applied Second Language Studies, explores the paradigm shift in world language learning catalyzed by technology integration, the significance of starting foreign language study early, and how global economy shines a spotlight on the shifting educational landscape. We also discuss the ingenious iAgents 21st Century Global Competence Curriculum, a CASLS initiative aimed at solving 'resource scarcity' with creative approaches. This curriculum makes language learning an interconnected endeavor by introducing 18 different languages to elementary learners intersecting with fundamental subjects like math and English. The episode also uncovers crucial insights into the rising demand for bilingual skills in the job market due to increasing globalization, cognitive boosters derived from learning a foreign language, the role of AI technologies in facilitating multilingual transactions, and the transformative potential of the Intercultural Pragmatic and Interactional Competence Framework.  We scrutinize the effectiveness of language learning strategies in the modern digital age and the use of mixed reality for enhancing language learning experiences. Further, we discuss opportunities provided by the Center for Applied Second Language Studies to diverse learners, teachers, and leaders, and how to select high-quality language instruction programs that aligns with defined learning objectives. This episode gifts you with practical strategies and tools to amplify your language-learning experience in the digital era.   Resources: Sanako Language Lab from Multimedia Solutions is an agile, easy to use full-featured live online language lab. Teach any language in classrooms and remotely at the same time. No additional workload. Web-based. Runs on all browsers using PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones & Chromebooks. Teach synchronously or asynchronously. Connects speaking pronunciation and listening activities develop students' fluency and confidence in any language. Developed following highest standards in accessibility guidelines to be accessible also for students including with disabilities such as deaf and visual impairments   Explore the resources of University of Oregon's Center for Applied Second Language Study   Learn more about Stephanie Knight here, or reach out at knights@uoregon.edu   Check out the Radio Ambulante podcast, with Spanish study and educational resources!   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Dive deep into the exciting universe of Academic eSports with our distinguished guest, Dr. Katrina Adkins. Leveraging her vast experience as an educator and a passionate gamer, Dr. Adkins enlightens us about the significant role eSports can play in reshaping K-12 education. The three key principals of eSports - curriculum, competition, and careers - underscore the transformative potential of a competitive, yet cooperative gaming environment. Dr. Adkins offers a fresh perspective on how eSports can boost learning experiences and pave the way for a myriad of career opportunities in the booming industry. Redressing common misconceptions, she also addresses essential concerns about increased screen time and highlights the multifaceted benefits of eSports – from improved cognitive abilities and hand-eye coordination to fostering social-emotional learning. She offers rich insights into the progressive integration of eSports into academics, suggesting simple and practical steps for schools interested in nurturing competitive eSports programs. This episode illuminates the path for educators, parents, and administrators interested in incorporating eSports, spelling out strategies for overcoming challenges and ensuring sustainability amidst high turnover. Dr. Adkins also demystifies the eSports job market, pointing out the wide range of careers that extend beyond gaming.   Resources:  Ignite interest and engagement in computer science and STEM through the exciting field of esports. With the USAEL toolkit, students and schools will have everything they need to start and run their very own esports team, enhancing learning in the classroom through play.   Join the CodeCombat AI League -- both a competitive AI battle simulator and game engine for learning real Python and JavaScript code. The AI League allows students to showcase their understanding of coding concepts in a new creative environment and practice problem solving strategies as they go head to head in battle against their classmates. Competitive coding has never been so epic!    Follow Dr Adkins on twitter Connect to Dr Adkins on Linkedin And learn more about Dr. Katrina Adkins, her work, resources and speaking engagements check out Dr. Adkins' website   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

In this exciting episode of the EdCuration podcast, we are joined by Jeffrey Bradbury, an influential figure in educational technology. We discussed his journey from being a music teacher to a predominant instructional coach, highlighting the importance of adaptability in learning dynamics. We also tackled the misconceptions about the role of instructional coaches and their potential to tackle district-level challenges. Bradbury’s commitment to open dialogue across all levels of the educational field is emphasized throughout the podcast. He stresses the necessity of better communication between administrators and teachers, as well as the need for a strategic approach to maximizing the efficiency of the resources available. The conversation also explores the contents of his book, in which he outlines his vision for the future of instructional coaching. This episode also emphasizes the significance of the vertical approach, as opposed to the traditional horizontal one, when it comes to instructional coaching. We discuss how such an innovative method could be implemented from the central office level and the importance of collaboration across different departments. Moreover, we explore how instructional coaches can prove their value using definable performance data. We discuss in detail the challenges faced by coaches in different situations, whether being the sole coach in the district or a member of a centralized coaching team. We also touch on goal identification, the building of support networks, and more. Towards the end of the episode, we emphasize the importance of a unified strategic plan from the administration. We wrap up with a call to action for coaches to remember that they are not alone and to continually seek ways to assert their value within the education sector. Tune in to get a wealth of knowledge on instructional coaching and its potential to reshape the educational landscape.   Resources: Edge*U is a powerful, instruction-focused professional learning system that adapts to the needs of educators designed by teachers, for teachers. EdgeU builds teacher capacity and directly impacts student learning in the form of microcredentials (badges). Talk to a representative, learn about bulk discounts, schedule a demo or inquire about a Free Pilot here.    Reach out to Jeffrey Bradbury on LinkedIn Learn how to leverage your strategic goals and Vision through your instructional coaches, to create a Standards-Based Culture for future-ready digital learning at Teachercast.net   Take your coaching to the next level with Jeffrey Bradbury at Ask the Tech Coach.    Leadership Lessons from a guy dancing on a hill   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Ayinde Bennett, from The Urban Assembly, is passionate about post-secondary success and career readiness. Learn about the tool and the program that is putting Urban Assembly graduates far above the national average in post-secondary success.    Resources:  Xello is the only career development program built with the entire district community in mind. Xello provides every student of all pathways the freedom to create meaningful future plans, while giving educators the resources they need to help students. With a carefully designed, student-centered experience, Xello meets accessibility standards and offers age-appropriate career development for every student K-12. Xello creates effective educator workflows so you can spend less time checking boxes and more time helping students. Schedule a demo, or talk to a representative   Connect with Ayinde Bennett on LinkedIn   Learn more about The Urban Assembly. Meet Ayinde's team and learn more about their post-secondary readiness program.    Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Author and educator Dr. Charles Barrett has been a High School and Middle school psychologist for over 13 years, and is currently a K-12 administrator in Washington DC. He is a frequent speaker and workshop presenter for educators, families, and community organizations on the topic of social justice. See his many books in the notes below. Today we discuss his most recent book Social Justice in Schools: A Framework for Equity in Education.   Resources: Connect to The Institute for Humane Education's Solutionary Framework. The Solutionary Framework is a multi-step approach that teaches students to think like solutionaries, someone who is able to identify and address unjust systems, from problem identification to solution implementation. The framework can be adapted to fit into existing curriculum. Students engaged in solutionary learning think more critically and systemically; demonstrate greater compassion for other people, animals, and the environment; and feel a greater sense of agency and optimism in the face of significant social and environmental challenges. The Institute for Humane Education's website IHE's Micro-Credential Program IHE's Graduate Programs through Antioch University The IHE podcast, Evolve with Zoe Weil Hear from teacher Julia Fliss, about how the solutionary framework applies with her students. A free Introduction to Solutionary Teaching and Learning for teachers - In this four-part mini-course, you will learn what a solutionary is and how bringing solutionary teaching and learning into our education system benefits our youth, our communities, and our world. Get a framework and supporting resources to help you bring solutionary teaching and learning into your classroom or school.   Connect to Dr. Charles Barrett  Purchase Social Justice in Schools: A Framework for Equality in Education by Charles Barrett, PhD.  Find all of Dr. Barrett's other books and resources here Charles Barrett's Focus on the Fence blog post and graphic illustrations   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Instructional Technology Resource teacher, Ginnie German, shares why TeacherMade was the number one resource she recommends for her teachers. Learn about all the ways that it lightens teacher workloads, while providing timely relevant feedback for students, and improving scores and outcomes.  Ginnie says, "If I could only ask for one thing for my teachers, it would be this."   Resources: Connect to TeacherMade.  You can subscribe directly, chat with a representative, or start a free 30-day trial. TeacherMade was founded by Teachers, and they carry an undying love for those of you out there doing the hard work in the classroom. Let them know how they can help you by sending your ideas to support@teachermade.com and they will be passed straight on to Teachermade’s ridiculously dedicated product developers.    Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Students struggling to read in upper elementary, middle school, and beyond present a unique challenge for teachers in terms of appropriate resources. Erin Paske is a dyslexia tutor, a certified academic language therapist and a licensed dyslexia practitioner. She co-founded the  Nashville Dyslexia Center. For this episode, Erin is joined by MaryKate Heavey, a reading and early childhood literacy specialist who currently works as an equitable literacy coach for the city of Boston.  Erin and MaryKate are eager to share the amazing outcomes their students have achieved with Simple Words decodable chapter books.    Special Thanks from MaryKate to 5th Grade teacher Olivia Samuel!   Resources: Learn more, or order Simple Words Books for your students here   The Nashville Dyslexia Center   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Director of Learning and Teaching at College Achieve Patterson, Jasonn Denard, shares how his middle-school students have been inspired and empowered to achieve and compete at the High School level through the SheHeroes program. He is joined by Middle School Science teacher, Melissa Mendizabal, and one of her 7th grade students.   Resources: SheHeroe's mission is to inspire girls to dream big for their futures by offering video profiles of successful women, with a focus on STEM. Our STEM Career Path Curriculum is free for teachers. Explore a sample lesson hereClosing the STEM Gap whitepaper   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Jennifer Serravallo shares her New York Times bestselling, The Reading Strategies Book, helping listeners implement goal-directed, responsive instruction in every classroom. Jen is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences and travels throughout the US and Canada to work with teachers and students creating engaging, productive and joyful classrooms.   Resources: Check out our episode sponsor, Activate Learning, for Investigation-Centered, 3-Dimensional Learning           Aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)           Flexibility to meet ALL State Standards           Literacy Focus: reading, writing, talking, and -science discovery Instructional Design with Teachers in Mind           Teacher Edition: lesson plans, discussion questions, differentiation strategies,                      and background information            Interactive Digital Edition that integrates with leading LMSs            Embedded Content and Pedagogical Support Learn More: Unlocking Young Minds: The Power of Phenomena-Based Science Learning for K-5 StudentsUnlocking Young Minds: How to Teach Engineering to K-5 Students and Make it Stick Unlocking Young Minds: Giving K-5 Students a Jump Start on STEM Careers  Jennifer Seravallo Connect with Jennifer Serravallo and her store of free stuff!Order The Reading Strategies Book and explore an example strategy page and learning progressions along with the full list of research referencesFind all of Jennifer Serravallo's books and resourcesMORE free resources from JenJen's own podcast interview with Maryanne Wolf can be found here. Maryanne Wolf's The Power of Reading   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

In this podcast, Innovative Educator Alyna Utt shares the amazing hands-on, real-world, and community-driven STEM project accomplished by her students -- and other initiatives that Project Invent fellows are leading in their classrooms to positively impact their communities.   Resources: Learn about bringing Project Invent to your school or communitySee Project Invent Students' featured projectsApply for the 2023-2024 FellowshipDownload the Project Invent CurriculumDiscover the Project Invent Demo Day  national events, where students pitch their ideas for social good and develop their own businesses   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Don Lamison, from the Urban Green Education Project, shares his vision of revolutionizing education across Indonesia and beyond with high-impact resources like Lincoln Learning, and more. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation!   Resources: Lincoln Learning Solutions offers features core, elective, and credit recovery courses. It provides essential and specialty selections with a consistent design and functionality across subjects and grades.    Connect with Don Lamison on LinkedIn Learn more about Urban Green Education Learn about Green Study   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Music Blocks is an Ambie-award-winning podcast that explores how songwriters and composers use sound to express their emotions and share their experiences. Each episode runs about 5 minutes making them ideal for classroom bell work, anticipatory sets and discussion starters or writing prompts. Hear from co-host and producer Rebekah Romberg, and content consultant Carla Aguilar, in this fun and musical interview!   Resources: Moosiko is a comprehensive, differentiated digital platform helping K-12 guitar, ukulele, and modern band programs boost student engagement and increase enrollment. Teachers save time with skill tracking and assessment tools.The mobile friendly app contains over 400 fun, relevant songs from the 1950s to today. Free teacher and student accounts are available.    Hear more about Moosiko from veteran music teacher, Matthew Hall   Listen to Music Blocks  and finding supporting resources at Colorado Public Radio Check out Music Blocks on 🎧 Apple Music 🎧 Spotify 🎧 YouTube 💬 Have you listened to Music Blocks? Let us know what you thought of it!   An Honest Day's Work episode We Love a Love Story episode   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Shonda Ronen, Illinois Principal's Association 2022 Elementary Principal of the Year, shares how the Classroom Education Plan from QoreInsights supports the needs of her teachers at every level of experience, and in every content area, and has brought data-driven instructions and research-based strategies to the forefront in every classroom.   Resources: The Classroom Education Plan from QoreInsights creates powerful teacher learning experiences. AI uses teacher/student input to match teachers with real-time, targeted research-based strategies; tracks impact on student growth; and guides rich collaboration. Users report high teacher usage, teacher excitement around new strategies, improved teacher practices, and increased student engagement and performance in just 4 weeks of use.   Our recent interview with the Learning Scientist's Dr. Cynthia Nebel   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Curt Minich has been teaching computer science for 31 years. He and three of his students heartily endorse CS Academy from Carnegie Mellon University as the complete package that has allowed them to achieve a level of coding that they hadn't previously imagined.  CS Academy includes consistent hands-on support for teachers, and it's completely free.   Resources: CMU CS Academy is an online, graphics-based computer science curriculum taught in Python provided by Carnegie Mellon University, offering novel, world-class Computer Science education for your classroom —and it’s entirely free.   Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events

Hear from two educators about how Penda Learning is raising both student engagement and standards mastery in Science, Grades 5-10. Heidi Alves is a former high school biology teacher who now serves as the K-12 science and curriculum specialist. Jeremy Blinn is a Secondary Science Curriculum Specialist.  Personalized learning for all students: struggling readers, ESE students, and ESOL students. Science content has been hand-crafted for NGSS, FL NGSSS, and TX TEKS.   Resources: Learn more about Penda Learning and their semester-long or full academic year pilot opportunity.   EdCuration's Certified EdTrustees Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events