Vrain Waves: Teaching Conversations with Minds Shaping Education

We are highlighting our incredible St. Vrain Valley AI team in this episode, and their work over the last three years has resulted in an Ethical, Transparent, Human-centered, Opportunity-focused, and Safe AI framework. Keeping people, not tools, at the center of this work is the priority, and let's ask ourselves, "Will AI help our students grow, or just get it done?" "Is it a value-add and elevation of the content, or just an unnecessary extra step?" Tune in for some thoughtful conversation around our AI work and how we keep grounded in the ever-changing world of education and technology! @Suzannahevans2 @drshanesaeed @matthewjmoulton @MissGroskin @mrkelsall ETHOS: A Responsible Approach for AI in Education Exploration AI: Beyond the Algorithm

Tune in for one of our most important episodes with educator, author, and speaker Matt Miller. Facing an ever-changing educational system requires putting on our "Tomorrow Glasses", along with a healthy dose of optimism and skepticism. While we can leverage AI and technology to create engagement and lighten some of our workload, it's sound, fundamental pedagogy that's still the foundation for how we serve our students best. So as we plan our lessons, let's ask ourselves, "I can use technology, but should I?Matt MillerSuzannah EvansShane Saeed

Tune into one of our favorite conversations ever with master teacher Wendy Schuller, who grounds her scaffolding principles in empathy for her students. What would I need as a 5th-grader in this moment?, How am I using my data to determine what my students need? and What is the endgame for pulling the scaffolding back? are her guiding questions on a daily basis. Observing, responding, and bridging for the win!@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeedThe Scaffolding Effect

Bringing 2025 to a close with one of our most important conversations! Tune in as we chat with educator-authors, Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb, on why we need to be hunters in our classrooms, searching for student understanding, instead of hoping and fishing for mastery. The Scaffolding Effect is one of the best professional development books we've ever read; truly scaffolding and chunking material down for all of us to understand. Happy year-end to all of our listeners!Rachel BallAlex Fairlamb Suzannah EvansShane Saeed

The perfect follow-up to our episode last month with Dr. Catlin Tucker, three rockstar St. Vrain Valley educators give us a peek into how they're using AI as an enhancement tool, as inspiration and a thought-partner for students, a coach for themselves, and the ultimate brainstorming generator. Tune in to get inspired yourself and start to embrace our new AI reality!@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeed@Catlin_Tucker@AckermanSVVSDExploration AI: Conversations Beyond the Algorithm

Welcome back to Season 8! Dr. Catlin Tucker is back on the show, talking with us about how we can leverage AI to be a thought partner. How can we thoughtfully design learning pathways, lean into AI for the pieces that have traditionally taken up our time, and be more available for human connection? Tune in as we discuss UDL, sustainable practices, elevating our teaching, and always, always, ensuring our students leave the classroom with agency and motivation!@Catlin_Tucker@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeedElevating Educational Design with AIThe Shift to Student-LedCatlinTucker.com

We're wrapping up Season 7 with two master St. Vrain teachers, Joylynn Boardman and Brian Huey, who continue to refine their practice, create relevant learning experiences, and champion their students! No matter how long we've been in education, adapting, tweaking, and reflecting are the keys to sustaining student engagement. But the most crucial piece for ALL students is, of course, inspiring them to believe they CAN succeed. Tune in for one of our favorite conversations this year and have a great summer!@SuzannahEvans2@Drshanesaeed

Tune in as we chat with Professor Dan Willingham about his flow chart for independence, mastery in education, and building up the self-image of our students. Check out his book, Outsmart Your Brain, for strategies to combat learned helplessness, understanding what it takes to achieve true mastery, and how crucial it is to help our students reframe their personal narrative about academics. Dan WillinghamFlow Chart for IndependenceOutsmart Your BrainSuzannah EvansShane Saeed

It's time to connect the Physical and the Education in the classroom. Nothing is in a silo in our world. We are teaching the whole student, so connecting mind and body in our instruction benefits everyone. Incorporating movement in our classrooms creates engagement and builds attention, which helps content stick. Tune in as we chat with two @SVVSD physical education teachers who also teach academic content and how they see these two important worlds complementing each other. @SuzannahEvans2@DrShaneSaeed

Welcome to 2025! The month of January is famous for starting new physical activity routines and we can't emphasize enough how important it is to move in the classroom too! "Movement snacks" as @DrJulianReed describes them are not only crucial for a sound body but also translate to increased academic performance. Tune in as we talk about the benefits of understanding the basics of brain science, focus, and stimulation all related to physical activity. While you're listening, move your body!activedinc.com@DrJulianReed@SuzannahEvans2@DrShaneSaeed

Looking to build agency and standards mastery in your classroom? Then look no further than learning progressions! Tune in as we say goodbye to 2024 and chat with our very own @BennerBrainiacs. She motivates her students to self-assess on standards, visualize their goals more clearly, and achieve true mastery using learning progressions in her classroom.@SuzannahEvans2@Drshanesaeed@BennerBraniacsLearning Progression TemplateLearning Targets PD

Inspiring students to self-assess and start working independently doesn't have to be complicated! Not only are students becoming aware of what they need and advocating for themselves, but also engaging in some beautiful metacognition. Another added benefit? All that independence and efficacy actually leads to higher-quality collaborative work! Tune in as we chat with Marcus Luther from The Broken Copier about his 1 through 6 rating system and how this simple strategy has created efficacy and independence in his classroom.Self-Assessment 1-6@MarcusLuther6@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeed

Happy October to our Vrain Waves listeners! The perfect follow-up to our first episode with Brandon Slade is our conversation with these two rockstar St. Vrain educators, secondary special education teacher, Sarah Patton, and elementary counselor, Mike Laurent. Tune in as we talk about go-to strategies for not just students with needs, but the whole student body. We can't say it enough...what's essential for some is good for all and that includes us adults, too. It's not too late in the year to put some simple routines in place that will pay out huge dividends in your classrooms. What will be the lead domino that you set up tomorrow?!

Welcome to Season 7 of Vrain Waves! We are kicking off with what we all need at the start of the year. Setting up for success means explicitly unpacking directions and expectations for all students, especially those with executive functioning deficits. Tune in as we chat with Brandon Slade from Untapped Learning and let's all be reminded that what's essential for some, is good for all!UntappedLearning.comUntapped Learning YouTube channel @UntappedSlade@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeed

Wrapping up Season 6 with two rockstar teachers who show us what it looks like to reframe Assessment in the classroom. The key to engaging students is not tricky; it's building intrinsic motivation through authentic assessment and grading practices! Tune in as our very own Sam LaFever and Gideon Matchey unpack how they use explicit assessment strategies to develop mastery and shift the cognitive load to their students!@SuzannahEvans2@Saeed_shane@gideonmatchey@gideonmatcheycomposerLearning Pit - James Nottingham SVVSD Math

What are some ways we can reframe assessment? How can we shift toward seeing assessment as evidence of success rather than a "gotcha"? Tune in as Hacking Student Motivation author Tyler Rablin speaks to creating multiple opportunities for students to grow and learn over time. Let's stop focusing on mistakes and start focusing on trends in our classrooms! Spoiler Alert: Student motivation is built by giving them more than one attempt and celebrating both what they know now and have yet to learn!Hacking Student Motivation@Mr_RablinTylerRablin.com@SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane@avivalevin

March Madness and the solar eclipse might be over but the excitement of Spring continues! Tune in to hear from our very own @missluker as she speaks to shifting the epicenter of learning, replicating yourself, and creating more powerful feedback loops. How do we do this & still ensure quality instruction? Blended Learning! Dive in, build your students' agency, your own agency, the collective efficacy, and honor what it means to be a learner!@SuzannahEvans2@Saeed_Shane@missluker@Catlin_Tucker

Tune in for our conversation with Dr. Scott McLeod about his 4 Shifts Protocol and how these shifts can help teachers engage in reflection, apply deeper learning principles, and build student agency in their classrooms. As we learn and grow as educators, the 4 Shifts Protocol is intended "to get at some specific, concrete ‘think abouts’ and ‘look fors’ that can help educators dialogue around what they might change." Continuous refinement for the win!https://twitter.com/SuzannahEvans2https://twitter.com/saeed_shanehttps://twitter.com/mcleodhttps://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/resources/4-shifts-protocolhttps://www.amazon.com/Shift-Student-Led-Reimagining-Classroom-Workflows/dp/1948334526

If the instructional door you chose to open isn't working, find a different door! We can hold high expectations for our students AND meet them where they are at the same time! Tune in as our second married teaching couple, Ken and Kendra Versoi, drop amazing and tangible strategies for effective facilitation (hint, hint it starts with Relationships). @SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shaneNecessary Conditions, Geoff KrallBuilding Thinking Classrooms, Peter Liljedahl

Gifting our listeners with all things Geoff Krall! Author of one of our favorite books, Necessary Conditions: Teaching Secondary Math with Academic Safety, Quality Tasks, and Effective Facilitation, Geoff speaks to creating academic safety, moving from an emphasis on speed to thoughtfulness, and the power of letting go. But if you're not a math teacher, never fear! There is something for ALL teachers here....tune in and take a beat! Let's learn TOGETHER!@geoffkrall@SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane

Think that the Science of Learning practices are only for older students? Not true! The learning party invitation can and should be extended to all grades, Kindergarten through 12th. Tune in to our first mini-wave episode of Season 6 to hear how master (and married) St. Vrain Valley teachers, Arianne Tasker and Adam Wellington, incorporate the Science of Learning in their 1st-grade and high school classrooms. It's simpler than you think!@SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane@Arianne_Re@AWellington83@PatriceBain1@RetrieveLearn@KateJones_teachHow Do I Learn

Why did we all become teachers? Chances are, it's because we love to learn. How can we create and inspire that same love for learning in our students? By magic? No, not with magic at all, but with science. The science of learning allows students to internalize their successes, invest in the outcomes, and get in the driver's seat! Learning is a party; make sure to invite your students, is the mission statement. Embedding these practices in your classroom will be the game changer for you as an educator, and the game changer for your students on their road to becoming lifelong learners. Powerful TeachingMake It StickRetrieval Practice.orgInitium

Feedback is too important to only talk about once! We return to one of our favorite topics with two of our own St. Vrain Valley teachers, @HeatherLea303 and @Janis Vogelsberg, to hear how they model feedback in their classrooms, give explicit instruction around the tricky peer feedback loop, and inspire students to shift away from the external motivation of grades and instead use feedback for intrinsic continuous improvement. Tip for Success: Your students should be giving you feedback too! @SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shanehttps://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/3-2-1-strategy/https://twitter.com/markbarnes19/status/579628870611111936?lang=enhttp://www.makinglearningvisibleresources.org/ladder-of-feedback-see-supporting-learning-in-groups-in-the-classroom.html

"Feedback is not a luxury, it's a necessity; not a means to an end, but an end in itself. It's the purpose of why we teach." If these aren't mic-drop quotes for you, we need to talk! Or you need to for sure read this duo's latest work, Feedback for Continous Improvement in the Classroom. Listen in as we talk all things feedback with Brent Duckor and Carrie Holmberg. You'll hear how they emphasize the respect we give students by creating these opportunities for dialogue as learning and honoring what students already bring to the classroom. And you lucky listeners also get a 25% promo code when you purchase their book directly from Corwin. @CarrieHolmberg@BrentDuckor@SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane

Our first mini-wave goes straight to the source...2 classroom teachers right here in St. Vrain! Join us as Altona Middle School's Cleveland Smith and Westview Middle School's Danny Hernandez talk classroom connections, relationships, and building collective efficacy. @SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane@WestviewSVVSD@AltonaMS

We Love It Here! Yep, we sure do! Shane and I are loving being behind the mic with Vrain Waves and in this episode, we chat with Clint Pulver, the Undercover Millennial, whose book, I Love It Here, is a must-read for anyone in the business world AND anyone in education.“No significant learning can ever happen without significant connection” is just one of our favorite takeaways and goosebump moments. Building on the last episode about creating a network and village for yourself as teachers, we will dig into how we can meaningfully and genuinely connect with our students in the classroom and in turn, connect them with their dreams! https://twitter.com/vrainwaveshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vrain-waves-teaching-conversations-with-minds-shaping/id1365316994https://twitter.com/suzannahevans2https://twitter.com/saeed_shanehttps://clintpulver.com/

The mic has officially been passed to us from Ben Kalb! With the re-launch of the podcast, we are celebrating all things NEW; new year, new students, and new teachers! Our goal is to create inspiration and empowerment for educators, so alongside the giants of education, new hosts Suzy Evans and Shane Saeed will also be talking with classroom educators and how they use these theories in their practice on a daily basis. Join us for our first episode of 2023 as we talk about the power of networking, creating your teaching village, and how connecting with other educators is the key to our collective success!We reconnect with Ben Kalb, super-podcaster and the creator of Vrain Waves to ground us all in the original mission of the podcast. We also talk about how we plan to carry on with interviewing educational movers and shakers, but then add contributions from classroom educators as well. Our first classroom guest is one of our own, St. Vrain Valley Schools 5th-grade teacher, Farah Holburn, who talks about how she connects with other teachers, creates a positive atmosphere in her building, and continues to be a lifelong learner. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vrain-waves-teaching-conversations-with-minds-shaping/id1365316994@SuzannahEvans2@saeed_shane

Episode 060: Grading for Equity with Joe FeldmanConnect with Joe Feldman Website: https://crescendoedgroup.org/ | Twitter: @JoeCFeldman Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Lindsay Laporte Twitter: @LaPorteLindsay |Oakley Schilling Twitter: @OakleySchilling| Ben KalbTwitter: @mrkalb

Episode 059: Principal Kafele on Transformative ChangeConnect with Principal KafeleWebsite: https://principalkafele.com/| Twitter: @principalkafele| YouTube: School Leadership ThoughtsConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Shane Saeed| Instagram: @fantasticallyfourth Twitter: @saeed_shaneBen Kalb| Twitter: @mrkalb

Episode 058: John Spencer and the Sporky Food TruckConnect with John Spencer Website: http://www.spencerauthor.com | Twitter: @spencerideas| YouTube: Spencer VideosConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Violet Twitter: @vhchristensen | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Violet hosts a podcast for instructional coaches called C3 (Connecting Coaches Cognition) and it can be found wherever you get your podcasts or here.

Katie Martin is a best selling author, an acclaimed keynote speaker, and a highly sought after educational consultant! Whether you are teaching completely in person, totally virtually, or in a hybrid environment, in this episode we discuss how you can thrive!Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Temple Hayles Guest Co-Host: @haylessvvsd| Ben Kalb: @mrkalbConnect with Katie MartinTwitter: @katiemartinedu | Website: katielmartin.com | Book: Learner-Centered Innovation

Connect with Zaretta HammondTwitter: @Ready4Rigor | Website: crtandthebrain.com | Book: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the BrainConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbIntroRyan Holiday, Stillness is the Key, Stoicism, Blog post about habitsZaretta’s Current Conversations (05:05) Covid webinarsApollo 13 (09:47) Family / Parent Relationships (11:13) Trust Generators (other resources from the book here!) Only learners learn (19:42) Ron Ritchhart, Project Zero, Making Thinking VisibleReady for Rigor FrameworkSchool of Rock movieThe achievement gap (28:11) Minimize threat, maximize connection (32:57) Standing, Certainty, Control, Connection, EquityCollectivist culture / Individualistic cultureRelationship-building (39:02)Jim Knight - Zaretta Hammond webinar on Facebook

Connect with Kate MurphyWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/by/kate-murphy | Book: You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It MattersConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbIntro to Kate Murphy, her book (01:24) Best Nonfiction book of 2020Listening for a living (03:35)We all have megaphones in our pockets (05:34)The coronavirus pandemic is really showing us how we are not in control (07:15) Listening is a grand adventure (07:40)Courage & Curiosity (07:59)No one is boring (09:12)Nothing is black and white (10:45)How to listen to people you disagree with (12:08) Clinton impeachmentGinsburg and ScaliafMRI patterns during listening (17:46) Loneliness (19:15) Virtual Conferencing (21:00) Growing Better Listeners through education (23:49) How to listen well depends on the context (27:03)What if people aren't listening to you? (30:46)Takeaways (33:32) Libro.FM -- Educator downloadsBetty Crocker cake mixes focus group Give us feedbackvrainwaves.com

Episode 054: Coping with Covid, with Catlin TuckerAs we all try to wrap our heads around the implications the pandemic will have on our students, our communities, our families, and ourselves, we hope to provide some comforting guidance from an expert in remote learning. Catlin Tucker, whose original Vrain Waves interview aired back in Season 2 about her book Power Up Blended Learning, joins us again for a Sunday discussion about how we can approach these changes to our instruction. Connect with Catlin TuckerWebsite: https://catlintucker.com | Twitter: @catlin_tucker | Most Recent Book: Balance with Blended LearningConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbIntro Episode 053 with Dr. Todd RosePoem: Pandemic, by Lynn Ungarhttps://www.createtocope.com/: “Creativity is the pathway towards healing.”Washington Post Simulation articleLenin quote: “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” Episode 045 with Dr. Jim AfremowEpisode 020 with Catlin TuckerStart of Interview (10:07) Setting schedules at home (12:00)Catlin’s blog with family scheduleSecurity and routine at home Fitting into family schedules (14:52) Schoology, Canvas, Google ClassroomVirtual Office HoursRemindTiming & Moving classes online (17:46) RetrievalPieces of our lessons can live online -- decide which ones work for you Work backwards from your objectivesAdd collaborative opportunities for students to engage with each other Combating Social Isolation (20:27) Catlin’s Blog PostCommunity of Inquiry Framework -- Teaching Presence, Cognitive Presence, Social Presence Informal conversations for development Stronger sense of social presence = better outcomes for online learningGoogle Slides Discussions Less is more, take new learning slowTenets of Online Learning (24:48)Backwards design stands trueWhat artifacts do I need for assessment? Which instructional strategies will work for this outcome? Many tools have more capacity than we even know about -- dig into the tools you already know ScreencastifyWhere should we be spending our energy? (27:15) Video instruction on concepts & new information, model processes, and move students forwardOnline discussions are a must Catlin’s Doctoral WorkPower Up Blended LearningVocabulary.com; NoRedInkOnline discussions (32:34) Catchy title as a hook Layer your questionsMedia is a mustGive students ideas for discussion responses (give a compliment, a recommendation, etc)Ladder of Feedback (Clarity, Value, Concerns, Suggestions) Online discussion tags on Catlin’s blog; [EduCause tips for online discussions]Empowering students to help us redesign the remainder of the school year (35:41) Ask for student feedbackFiltering through all of these ed tech resources (38:17) Think big but start smallFind your pedagogical challenge and then find the tool to address that challengeKami for annotationDon’t overestimate your students’ readiness to access tools for learning onlineCodex.svvsd.orgThe Balance, episode with Jason GreenBalance with Blended LearningBen & Becky’s Takeaways (47:12) Catlin’s home schedule for her kids during isolationJennifer Gonzalez’s Wakelet for isolation | Get on her mailing listDr. Bruce Perry

Episode 053: Ending Average with Todd RoseConnect with Todd Rose Website: https://toddrose.com | Twitter: @ltoddrose | Most Recent Book: Dark HorseConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbIntro to Todd Rose (00:22) Episode with John CouchWWII cockpit storyEpisode with Natalie WexlerJagged profiles; Todd Rose’s TED Talk, The Myth of AverageEpisode with Cornelius MinorDark Horse CharacteristicsWhen are averages useful, when are they harmful? (10:16) Staying away from snowflake mentality (13:01) Jagged Profiles (14:16) What strategies work for you? (19:17) All performance is a combination of aptitude and strategy. Personality Tests (26:58)If-Then Signatures, Everything in Context (30:34) Dr. Yuichi Shoda, University of WashingtonThe game of judgmentChoice is the lifeblood of fulfillment (36:36) Ideal Classroom (39:45)Big data in Education (44:56) Takeaways (51:21) Dan Willingham TweetLast episode about language with Mike Anderson@VrainWaves on [email protected] / [email protected]

Aligning Words and Intentions with Mike AndersonConnect with Mike AndersonWebsite: https://www.leadinggreatlearning.com/| Twitter: @balancedteacher | Most Recent Book: What We Say and How We Say it MatterConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbWhat We Say and How We Say It MatterTwo Year Podiversary (1:00)Presume Positive Intent (4:40) Aligning word choice and intentions (05:45) “Feedback is a gift” Kim Scott (6:00)What we Say and How We Say it Matter (6:45)Language has a huge impact on learning (7:30)Sometimes our habits don’t align with our intent (8:00)Our language impacts behavior (10:30)Mash and Cheers (11:45)Don’t be Sarcastic (12:45)What is the goal of our language: (13:20)Prove it! (15:40)Teacher Clarity (16:30)Relationship Building (16:52)Practical Tips (18:00)Single Task (19:00)Habits are how you embody your identity (21:20)Manipulative Praise (23:20)What Good Readers Do (26:20)Some day…(30:29)Motivation is not enough (34:20)Mike fixes our problems! (35:00)Guest Teacher (36:30)Directive Language (38:00)Intrinsic motivation (38:30)Engagement in school (41:00)Pet Peeves (45:40)Great Job (48:00)Instead of talking about how we feel talk about what we are doing (52:20)Website 55:00What we learned! (55:10)Do work with care (57:30) Follow us

Connect with Jimmy Casas Website: https://jimmycasas.com/ | Twitter: @casas_jimmy | Most Recent Book: CulturizeConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbJimmy, Intro (00:32) Live your Interview (03:18) Elena Aguilar, Bright Morning“The biggest problem facing public education today is ineffective leadership.” (06:05)Winter CASE ConferenceThe importance of a strong culture (10:29)Todd Whitaker: The worst behavior that we're willing to tolerate in our organization will become the culture of our organization.Coaching for administrators (13:10)Iowa Principal of the YearRecognizing a toxic culture (15:39)Processes, Systems, Frameworks Being a lid (22:03) Importance of Forgiveness (28:04) Creating a strong classroom culture (31:10) “What we model is what we get.”Being a champion for students, families, and community (35:01) Collegial feedback & Learning from Failure (40:20)Optimism as a Leadership Style (50:00) Learn more from / with Jimmy (53:14) Wrap Up & Takeaways (54:28)

Connect with Thomas Friedman Website: www.thomaslfriedman.com | Twitter: @tomfriedman | Most Recent Book: Thank you for Being LateConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbImportance of Public Education (05:20) Thomas Friedman’s Educational Experiences (06:09) Mr. Friedman’s articles on New York TimesA beautiful tribute to Hattie Steinberg by Friedman Reshaping of our World (08:45) “Now is the time to understand more so that we can fear less.” - Marie Curie3 Climate Changes at once: Mother Nature, Market, Moore’s LawExponential growthMoore’s Law - Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel (09:42) Friedman on Moore’s lawThe Second Machine Age, Brynjolfsson & McAfeeThe back half of the chessboard parable, ForbesFriedman on the chessboard parable and the acceleration of technologyQuantum computingVolkswagon Beetle storyTechnology accelerating at a pace that humans can’t adapt (13:40)Graph that Astro Teller, Google X, drew on Friedman’s wallMother Nature - Resilience & Propulsion (14:21) An Interview with Mother NatureQuestions for us to apply to education within these characteristics (17:32)#ClearTheAir on Twitter - from the amazing @ValeriaBrownEDU and team Teaching ToleranceEpisodes with Manoush Zomorodi / Cal Newport / Natalie WexlerFriedman’s CVLifelong Learning (21:45) Self-motivation divide: Owning Your Own Future - single most important competitive advantageAdvice to his daughters (23:12) Think like an immigrant - Paranoid Optimism Think like an artisan - from The Goldens @ HarvardThink like a starter-upper in Silicon Valley - Reid Hoffman - Always be in Beta (Skyline High School STEM Academy)CQ + PQ > IQThink like a waitress at Perkins Pancake House in Minneapolis - be relentlessly entrepreneurial Identity in the reshaped world (30:25)Friedman on the new gridBinary biasMyth of hemispheric dominance in the brainPersonality Tests (Myers-Briggs: Vox, Adam Grant) The Golden Rule (33:16)Friedman on the golden ruleMarigolds, Jennifer GonzalezThe Eye People (34:13) Brandi Carlisle - The EyeRefrain: “I wrapped your love around me like a chain, but I never was afraid that it would die. You can dance in a hurricane, but only if you’re standing in the eye.” Dynamic stability - Astro Teller on dynamic stability

Connect with Manoush Zomorodi Website: www.manoushz.com | Twitter: @manoushz | Book: Bored and BrilliantConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbManoush’s work (01:08) Note to Self podcastZig Zag podcastTed Radio Hour podcastStable Genius ProductionsBored and Brilliant BookManoush’s TED TalkTechnology and our Brain, background of the book (02:07) Bored and Brilliant challenges, 2015Ways we ‘pay’ for ‘free’ appsTaking pictures and our memory (06:04)B & B Challenge 2: Photo Free DayMuseum studyPhoto-taking impairment effect Self-regulation with technology (08:52) Stories from Bored and Brilliant challenges in the classroom (10:10) Skim reading v. long form readingMaryanne Wolf - researcher, language processing on screens vs in booksSherry Turkle's - Reclaiming ConversationBoredom in the classroom (14:15) Default ModeAutobiographical PlanningEmbracing boredom - positive constructive mind wanderingMemory for future imaginingDigital Minimalism Vrain Waves Episode with Cal NewportKnowing-Doing Gap for tech use (18:14) Cambridge-Analytica ScandalCalifornia’s new privacy law - Jan 2020The more tired you are, the more likely you are to get stuck in Facebook What Manoush is reading: Super Thinking (22:22) Gabriel WeinbergDuck-Duck-GoFarnam Street BlogWho are you online? (24:19) Manoush’s No Filter ProjectTakeaways (25:42) Bored and Brilliant challengesAdd a new behavior instead of taking away behaviorSeinfeld jokes calendarStreaks appBrainscape appBrainscape article on diffuse and focused modes of thinkingFarnam Street blog on diffuse and focused modeSubreddit: Shower Thoughts - Best of Shower Thoughts

Episode 048: Knowledge Party with Natalie WexlerToday on Vrain Waves we have an exciting and somewhat earth shaking interview from Natalie Wexler, education journalist and author of The Knowledge Gap. She walks us through the contributing research and education history that led her to write the book, and some strategies for schools to set the foundation for student success. From her website: “Education journalist Natalie Wexler focuses on two ideas that have solid evidence behind them but have been mostly overlooked by schools and reformers: immersing children from less-educated families in knowledge about the world, and linking that knowledge to writing instruction.”Connect with Natalie WexlerWebsite: nataliewexler.com | Twitter: @natwexler | Books: The Knowledge Gap, The Writing RevolutionConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Intro (00:58)4 times less likely to graduate if not reading on grade level by 3rd gradeNYT Article: Reading Scores on National Exam Decline in Half the StatesTypical time spent in 3rd grade on reading: 2 hours; 16 min on social studies, 19 min on science (2012)Reading comprehension cannot be broken down into discrete skillsDaisy Christodoulou - Books; (bonus: Check out her stuff on Comparative Judgment for assessment!)Natalie Wexler’s view on the Promise of Public Education (5:25)Functioning democracy needs a citizenry that can understand events and how to edit and fact check the information that they’re exposed toWhat is The Knowledge Gap (06:55)We’ve treated reading like it’s a set of discrete skills while letting content knowledge take a back seatMost important factor for successful reading comprehension: how much background knowledge and vocabulary you already haveThe Baseball Study and reading comprehension (09:42)2 Parts of Reading: Decoding and Comprehension (11:27)Cognitive Scientists and Teachers have come to opposite conclusions - decoding needs direct and explicit instruction and comprehension will come along with more exposure to contentLanguage at the Speed of Sight, 271–274Dan Willingham (Vrain Waves Episode with Dr. Willingham)Whose knowledge? (16:13)Common core history and content knowledge (18:32)Supplemental materials language on content in common coreUnderestimating student ability and having high expectations (22:10)Student choice (24:13)Behavior and content knowledge (26:01)The Matthew Effect in ReadingCognitive Load theory - novices and experts - Slides from Daniel Braithwaite“Leveled texts lead to leveled lives.” - Alfred TatumHistory of the role of content in reading instruction (28:35)Alternatives to leveled groupings (31:08)Listening comprehension exceeds reading comprehensionWritten language is more complex than spoken languageThe importance of exposing struggling readers to grade level texts (34:07)The importance of facts and knowledge in the age of Google (36:42)Burden on working memory (see cognitive load theory)The Curse of Knowledge (38:19)Doug Lemov: “Those of us on the privileged side of the knowledge gap have no idea how we got here.”Importance of pre-assessmentMisinterpretation of Bloom’s Taxonomy (40:35)Taxonomy, not a hierarchySkipping lower levels is not appropriateQuote from the book: “That graphic has led many educators to conclude that the ‘lower-order’ tasks should be passed over as quickly as possible, or even eliminated, because they’re inferior to those at the top. In fact, Bloom meant that knowledge and comprehension are prerequisites for higher-order thinking, and that teachers should never ask students to start analyzing or evaluating a topic until first ensuring they have a solid understanding of it.”The Writing Revolution (42:33)Writing builds and solidifies knowledge as well as demonstrating knowledgeRetrieval Practice / The Testing EffectThe Protege EffectKnowledge is like velcroSentence frames with ending conjunctions for promptsBalance between free writing & content-based writing (47:40)Judith Hochman - The Hochman MethodRole of the teacher in the modern classroom, PD (48:54)Delivering curriculum instead of creating curriculumOngoing PD around content delivery, not skills in isolationProvide information and then guide them through thinking about that information with opportunities for desirable difficultyClosing & Take Aways (53:00)NatalieWexler.com / Forbes.com contributorQuote: “It’s not so much that particular bits of information are vital in and of themselves—although some certainly are. It’s more that people need to have enough facts in their heads to have what one commentator has called ‘a knowledge party’—a bunch of accumulated associations that will enable them to absorb, retain, and analyze new information. Education certainly shouldn’t end with facts. But if it doesn’t begin there, many students will never acquire the knowledge and analytical abilities they need to thrive both in school and in life.”Other Resources as well as some rel

Teaching & Advertising (01:30) Episode 5 w/ Pirate Dave Rosie the Riveter / Uncle Sam This Girl Can (02:28) Sport England Missy Elliot, Get Ur Freak On Authenticity over perfection (05:05) Dove Real Beauty campaign Commercial with sketch artist Zaretta Hammond's book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (07:26) Selective Vulnerability as a trust-maker Growing a Fan Base (08:28) Clif bars Google Certified Innovators Apple Distinguished Educators Dr. Chris Emdin (09:53) TED talk Cogens For White Folks Who Teach in the 'Hood (and for the rest of y'all too) Dr. Lindsay Portnoy - start of interview (14:24) Psychographics (15:00) "Will your spreadsheets remember you in ten years?" New York City Teaching Fellows What educators can learn from marketing and psychographics (16:34) Dr. Portnoy's dissertation (17:29) Piaget (18:04) Types of questions that kids were asking were largely dependent on the content itself Slow trajectory of growth disproves ages & stages Interdisciplinary nature of design (20:20) Define learning (21:28) Symptoms v. Root Cause (23:24) Formative assessment (24:45) Empathy = taking perspective (25:42) Epistemology (26:57) Andrea Henkel, Quest to Learn AI & the future of learning (30:06) Research is formalized curiosity (32:09) Zora Neale Hurston Design & formative assessment are iterative (33:20) Effort versus Impact matrix HEARTS = Home, Educational Experience, Activities they engage in outside the classroom, Reasons for Learning, Transformative life experiences, Special Attributes Killer snails, cone snails / pain management properties (39:21) Killer snails, the edtech company (39:44) Contact Info for Dr. Linsday Portnoy: @Lportnoy, lindsayportnoy.com, [email protected] (43:10) Take aways (43:38) John Spencer video on divergent & convergent thinking Long May They Run Phish podcast with Trey talking about practice

Episode 048: The Power of Joyful Teaching I know, I know - clips episodes seem overdone, but bear with us… in this show, we went through our interviews to this point and used Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA model for happiness to think through how we can be more joyful in our classrooms (and beyond). Links to all other shows can be found below! Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes CAMLE - Colorado Association of Middle Level Educators“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.” - Haim GinottBrain Rules episode with Dr. John MedinaDr. Martin SeligmanPERMA ModelP = Positive EmotionTeaching from a Full Tank with Chase MielkeWebinar with Dr. SeligmanE = Engagement Real Engagement with Allison ZmudaLeadership Reimagined with Robyn JacksonThe Champion’s Mind with Jim AfremowR = RelationshipsTo classroom, colleagues, craft, contentJennie Magiera, Ed Tech TeamWe Got This with Cornelius MinorDwayne ReedCritical Creativity with Dan RyderPositive School Culture with Jenn GonzalezM = Meaning Start with Why with Steven ShedletskyA = AccomplishmentsKnow thy Impact with John HattieDigital Minimalism with Cal Newport

Episode 047: Dr. Jim Afremow - The Champion’s MindSports psychologist Dr. Jim Afremow joins Vrain Waves to share the importance of cultivating a champion’s mindset in everything you do. There are plenty of parallels between sports and teaching and learning; some of these parallels are useful for thinking about your classroom or your collegial relationships in a different frame. Download the Champion’s Mind app to hear inspirational audio clips and motivate yourself for anything you’re trying to tackle in life! Enjoy! Connect with Dr. Jim AfremowWebsite: goldmedalmind.net | Twitter: @goldmedalmind | Books: The Champion’s Mind; The Champion’s Comeback; The Young Champion’s Mind Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Intro links Space Jam the movie Practice until you can’t get it wrong - Peyton Manning Champions v. Contenders “Part of this process requires us to maintain our eagerness to learn and grow, and to take well-trained, disciplined action to make solid change in our lives.” What can we learn from athletes? (06:15) What is a champion? (07:02) Being vitally involved in life Handling setbacks (07:52) Ugly but effective Serena Williams Relaxes when she’s down in a match Greatest of All Time (09:54) Arrogance v. Confidence (10:51) Time to be humble (preparation phase) then confident (performance phase) Ego edges greatness out Self-talk (13:10) Anxiety management Butterflies - try to get them to fly in formation Mental game / Physical game (15:15) Visualization / Mental Imagery (16:02) Big days or daily routines Psych yourself up instead of psyching yourself out Peak Performance Coordinator for the San Francisco Giants Motivation (19:41) Get into a great mood / frame of mind Pick a predator to emulate Good / Better / Best (21:50) Great way to debrief: What went well? What could I have done better? How will I make those changes to help myself be best tomorrow? Lebron & his son video Deliberate Practice (24:23) Process goals & outcome goals Continuous improvement Rest / Recovery / Regeneration - Don’t be lazy with your recovery Meditation & breathing techniques (26:47) Champions & their contract (27:33) Dr. Afremow article about JJ Watt: "I think no matter what job you do, I don’t care what job it is, you want to outperform your contract. I feel like that’s how everybody should attack their job, at least. You should want people to think you’re underpaid because of how hard you work, because of how well you do your job, because of how you go about your business." Importance of Gratitude Sometimes we have to go against socialization to be our best selves Team Sports & Teaching (29:44) When we give ourselves to others, we get more in return. A rising tide lifts all boats On Twitter: @GoldMedalMind Relationships (31:40) Learn the learner; study the student - be vulnerable with students Coach-Athlete Relationship (33:10) Balance between challenge & support Optimism (34:49) Baseball card research study (article) When it’s time to perform, be psychotically optimistic. Body Language (36:46) Confidence, Concentration, Commitment, Composure (38:24) “That’s like me” or “That’s not like me” Negativity bias for survival What are we doing that gets in our own way? (40:07) “I know” list Gift of failing & how to learn from it: I just learned something that didn’t work 3 P’s: Present, Positivity, Process (43:17) Let go of today & focus on the next thing Mantras / Routines (44:44) Mind over matter Be like water I love hills Bruce Lee quote: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” Commonalities among people that surround champions (46:03) The Champions Mind App Use the app to build mental skills & strategies Take Aways (48:32) Cornelius Minor Vrain Waves episode 3 questions for being a team player: “Think about these three self-reflection questions regarding your role as a teammate: 1. What am I doing that is hurting my team (e.g., complaining, gossiping)? 2. What am I not doing that is hurting my team (e.g., cheering for my teammates, accepting my role on the team)? 3. What are the specific action steps I will take to be a better teammate moving forward (e.g., hustling on every play, being more vocal on the field)?” PLC+ Vrain Waves episode

Episode 046: Dr. John Medina - Brain RulesWe’ve been waiting for years now for the chance to interview Dr. John Medina: Developmental Molecular Biologist, Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and author of Brain Rules, Brain Rules for Baby, Brain Rules for Aging Well, and Attack of the Teenage Brain, to name a few. Dr. Medina takes time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about Theory of Mind, stress and learning, and some history behind our fancy brains. Connect with Dr. John MedinaWebsite: http://www.brainrules.net/ | Twitter: @BrainRulesBooks | Books: Brain Rules, Brain Rules for Baby, Brain Rules for Aging Well, Attack of the Teenage Brain Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Intro to Brain Rules Chapter Summaries (01:12) Rule #1: Exercise Boosts Brain PowerDoris Kearns Goodwin episode Rule #3: Every Brain is Wired DifferentlyFree Solo DocumentaryDaniel Kahnemann, Thinking Fast and SlowDr. Medina’s journey through career (05:53)Drawing / Arts and the Brain (08:45) Decentering behaviors are brain vitamins - can change the aging brainTheory of Mind & Empathy (11:01)Cognitive & affective empathyImproving Theory of Mind - Read lots of literary fiction, journal about your feelings while you read Teachers must be able to form accurate perceptions of students’ abilities (14:45) When are you bewildering a student? Book studies with faculty Educational Ecology (16:35)“Learning is primarily a relational enterprise.”De-stressing the teacher / Theory of Mind takes an enormous amount of cognitive resourceEmpathic distress (17:56) Jon Kabat-ZinnThe Mindful Way WorkbookStress Study with Dogs (20:00) Chapter in Brain Rules: Stressed Brains Don’t Learn the Same Way Martin Seligman / Stress study with dogs / Learned HelplessnessInability to control the aversive stimuli = stressDepression (23:41) NPY Peptide - resilience to aversive stimuliExecutive Function (25:58)Nature v. Nurture - boat analogyAerobic Exercise is a powerful way to improve executive functionAdd a cognitive component = even bigger boostGym in the center of the schoolOur brains evolved while we were walking 12 hours a dayAre cell phones hurting teenage brains? (29:46) Longer you spend looking at screens, worse you are at interpreting social cues from other people’s faces and expressions, nonverbal skillsRecovered after 5 daysMultitasking and erosion of the attentional spotlight (33:04) Inability to multitask when there are a lot of things to attend to creates stress / anxiety in the brain One recommendation for teachers (36:48) Take aways (38:33) Episode with Dr. Tony Wagner“Focused leaders say no.” - Dr. Jackie Kapushion Episode with Cal NewportYuval Noah Harari & the imagined order Mindful Way Workbook; The Onward Workbook by Elena Aguilar Mark Pearson, Libro.FM Free Audiobooks for teachers; find out more at: https://libro.fm/alc-program

Episode 045: Dr. Tom Nichols, Expertise in EducationFive-time Jeopardy! Champion, professor, and author Dr. Tom Nichols joins us on Vrain Waves to discuss the implications of his work on K12 education. We chat with Dr. Nichols about the importance of relying on experts, cultivating our own expertise, and the cognitive heuristics that get in our way. From his website: “Tom Nichols is a U.S. Naval War College University Professor, and an adjunct at the U.S. Air Force School of Strategic Force Studies and the Harvard Extension School. He is a specialist on Russian affairs, nuclear strategy, NATO issues, and a nationally-known commentator on U.S. politics and national security.” And he agreed to talk to us!! Ben and Becky! We are so excited to share his thoughts with you, our busy listeners - please share your thoughts on Twitter with the #MakeSomeVrainWaves or tweet us @VrainWaves with your favorite takeaways. Thanks for listening!Connect with Dr. Tom NicholsWebsite: Facebook: Death of Expertise | Twitter: @radiofreetom | Book: The Death of ExpertiseConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbLinks & Show Notes “Nothing builds up resistance to learning like constant praise.” Dunning-Kreuger Effect (05:58) Foreign Affairs Article from Dr. Nichols about his Ukraine example Confirmation bias (08:57) Desirability bias (09:17)Idea of omnicompetence (from Richard Hofstadter’s book: Anti-intellectualism in American Life) (10:02) Original blog post before the book We are a postmodern society (13:47) “Expertise is necessarily exclusive.” / Inequality in expertise (18:02) Is education the solution? (23:43) Your degree is not a validation, it’s a license (28:08)Oxford University Press - 3 anonymous peer reviewers Our responsibility to defer to expertise (30:10) @RadioFreeTom on Twitter Gentle correction from colleagues Anecdata We are inherently bad at statistics (36:03) Kahneman on Thinking Fast & Slow in Scientific American Our interest in learning is at an all-time low (37:30) Dr. Nichols frequently writes for: USA Today / The Washington Post / The AtlanticTakeaways (41:01) Dan Willingham’s Book: When Can We Trust the Experts David Rock: “If you have a brain, you’re biased.”

Connect with Chase MielkeWebsite: https://affectiveliving.com/ | Twitter: @chasemielke | Newest Book: The Burnout Cure: Learning to Love Teaching Again, ASCDConnect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbLinks & Show NotesOut of Our Heads and Into the Classroom (01:56)Tammy Trzebiatowski (@ttrzebiatowski)- Exercise & alone timeAndy Leiser, Hastings MN - EL Tech Integration (@AndyLeiser): from Amy Fast, EdD (@FastCrayon) - cards written to future selfTyler Tarver, Dean of NLC College (@TylerTarver) - Set 3 goals each weekTemple Hayles, Instructional Technology Coach (@haylessvvsd) - Hold Fast, Stay TrueBen: Exercise gratitudeBecky: Practice mindfulness; Getting Mindful about Race in Schools, Elena Aguilar (@brightmorningtm); EFGHI (Empathy, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Humility, Intentionality)Chase Mielke Intro (10:56)Chase’s story & origin of the book (11:17)Subjective Well-Being, Circumstances v. Action (12:57)Sustainable Happiness Model Meta-Analysis, Sheldon & LyubomirksyCircumstances = 10%; Intentional Actions = 40%; Genetics = 50%“Circumstances matter but my actions matter more.”What can we do? Internal locus of control (15:06)Empowered Thriving Model: Awareness → Attitude → ActionsAwareness (16:27)Matthew Killingsworth & Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University Research - 47% of our time spent thinking about something other than the present momentApp = Track Your HappinessTwin challenges of focus (17:57) - Rambling & Rumination“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” - William JamesRumination & Rambling (19:03)Rambling - can’t always control; Rumination we can start to improve with practiceTangible tips for being in the present (20:55)Thich Nhat Hanh: Piece Is Every StepMindfulschools.orgCalm app has free accounts for teachers!! (https://www.calm.com/schools)Atomic Habits: habit stackingSocietal acceptance of mindfulness & meditation (24:15)Excitement from studentsStaff mindfulness (27:01)2 components of happiness: Hedonia v. Eudamonia (27:58)Living purposefully - live our best so we can give our bestRecognizing your own triggers (29:49)Check in with your bodyTechniques for re-energizing (32:39)Better sleep habits; hobbiesGratitude practices, altruistic practicesGratitude (35:20)Upward vs. downward comparisonsPracticing with students / children“What made your heart happy today?”Frequency & Recency of Positive Emotions (39:02)Wired to be more alert to threats than rewardsHebb’s postulate: Neurons that fire together wire togetherInattentional Blindness (41:16)Invisible Gorilla“When I look for X, I notice less Y.”Celebrating the goodFinite Framing (47:35)Moments are unique, this one will end, cherish each onePractical Optimism (51:16)Habits of thinking: Permanence (this will always be as it is) & Universality (everything - a whole child, a whole school, education as a system, etc - is affected by this)Wrap Up & Take aways (54:49)‘Gratituesday’ newsletter at affectiveliving.comASCD one hour webinar from Mr. Mielke

Episode 041: PLC Plus with Nancy Frey & Doug Fisher Join us for this discussion with the potent pair Doug Fisher & Nancy Frey! We learn about their new book, PLC+ and the five questions that get to the heart of what collaboration time should look like in schools. Stay tuned until the end for a special promo code for our listeners for the PLC+ Institutes the authors will be hosting in Colorado in October! Connect with Fisher & Frey Website: www.fisherandfrey.com/ | Twitter: @DFisherSDSU; @NancyFrey | Newest Book: PLC Plus, Corwin Press Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Out of Our Heads & Into the Classroom: (01:30) American Express: Simple Guide to Lean Meetings Robyn Jackson on weekly team meetings Have an agenda / protocol Techless meetings Pre-mortem from Daniel Pink Collaborative notes & DRIs Toby - Chrome Extension Introduction to Fisher & Frey & PLC Plus (08:12) Their School: Health Sciences High & Middle College in San Diego Questions: Where are we now? & the importance of pre-assessments Side note: common questions for PLC work come from DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2010 as a PLC foundation: Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work; we acknowledge this foundational work when discussing PLCs : What do we want students to learn? (essential standards) How will we know if they have learned? (team-developed common assessments) What will we do if they don’t learn? (systematic interventions) What will we do if they already know it? (extended learning) Collective Efficacy Graham Nuthall, Hidden Lives of Learners Students already know between 40-50 percent of what the teacher is teaching (Nuthall, 2007) Equity: Removal of Barriers vs. intervention as responses to student data Activator: Someone to guide the group What are PLCs getting wrong? (13:21) Emphasis on the structural conditions can overwhelm the focus and mission of the group PLC must continually reinvest in itself Lack of attention to instruction - “How do we move learning forward?” Literacy example (16:49) Curriculum / Instruction / Assessment Recent research that ~20% of in-class tasks are on grade level TNTP’s The Opportunity Myth - and an article from EdWeek PLC+ Protocol - Assignment analysis (from The Education Trust) (19:34) Equity in Motion work from The Education Trust Trust and the importance of Relational Conditions (21:18) Activator helps keep the conversation moving Protocols provide consistency PLC+ / PD (22:57) Roughly a 1 to 3 ratio - Full staff Professional learning to PLC+ Time Credibility & Efficacy (24:33) Teacher Credibility: Trust, Competence, Dynamism, Immediacy Self-Efficacy and Collective Efficacy (27:17) Albert Bandura’s research on self-efficacy - From Leading Impact Teams, by Bloomberg & Pitchford (& based on Bandura’s research, as well as Goddard, Hoy, & Hoy): Efficacy = Mastery Moments, Vicarious Experience, Feedback, and Trust “Where are we going?” and “Where are we now?” (31:08) 5 Questions in PLC+: Where are we going? Where are we now? How do we move learning forward? What did we learn today? Who benefited and who did not benefit? Bringing data to the PLC+ (33:22) Student feedback Equity / Cognitive Bias / The Decisions we choose to make: (35:52) Quote from PLC+: “Underlying every decision about what we choose to gather data on is an unspoken decision about what we won’t look at.” Data should be aligned to team’s common challenge; then did we impact learning or not? Invite students to PLC+ times for feedback Protocols for learning walks Microteaching protocols What did we learn today? Every single day we should be formatively assessing Scheduling logistics (44:56) Two PLC+s - Grade level & Content level Vertical & Horizontal conversations are necessary Grading at their school (48:19) Competency-Based / Mastery of Standards Formative homework & classwork All Learning is Social Emotional (50:41) Social Emotional Academic Learning Removing institutional barriers vs. Intervention (54:27) Support each learner individually - help them find a way to mastery Special offer for Vrain Waves Listeners!! (58:50) Promo Code: VRAINWAVES Go to corwin.com/PLCColorado to register; Oct 3 & 4 in Denver at the Curtis Hotel

Episode 040: Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year!!!A quick intro episode after our summer break. Listen for some inspiration, activities, and free resources to help get your year started off right!! Please consider sharing with a friend, and point some feedback our way at tinyurl.com/vrainwavesfeedback! Thank you!Connect with Vrain WavesWebsite: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbLinks & Show NotesTemporal Landmarks (01:08)Episode 009 with Daniel PinkAtomic Habits, by James ClearHabit stacking (02:13)Three Minute Know Me (04:51) - Design School X, dK12 Network, Design Tech HighIDEOTeachers GuildEpisode 006 with Dan Ryder (06:58)Ed Tech Team Blog Post: 15 Ideas for Back to School Creativity with IntentionTableau for teachers (07:57)Breakout tasks (09:04)Unsplash - royalty free images (11:55)Goals (12:53)Beth Comstock, Imagine it Forward“Tell me something I don’t want to hear.”“The pace of change will never be slower than it is right now.”Tech Insider Video (2:52): 7 Amazing Technologies we’ll see by 2030Consumption v. Creation (15:15)Ben’s platypus / Tutorial he used