Explore every episode of the podcast The EduGals Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The EduGals Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Examining Traditional Grading and its Impact on Teaching - E138
26 Mar 2024
00:28:43
In this episode, we delve back into our discussion about the book 'Grading for Equity' by Joe Feldman. The third chapter which we are exploring is titled 'How Traditional Grading Stifles Risk Taking and Supports the Commodity of Grades' and opens up the conversation about belief systems and the prevailing view on student achievement. We discuss the stark differences between the Industrial Revolution beliefs and 21st-century beliefs regarding education, and raise questions about how grading methods should shift in light of these changes. We particularly focus on the harm that a heavy focus on extrinsic motivation can cause and the negative implications of traditional grading practices on the trust and relationship between teachers and students. Furthermore, we scrutinize how grades have become a commodity leading to competition rather than collaboration and debate whether traditional grading serves the purpose of preparing students for post-secondary education or not. Towards the end, we suggest potential solutions that look beyond punitive grading policies and value both the learning process and the students' individual expressions of learning.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/138**
00:00 Introduction to Grading for Equity
00:37 Exploring Belief Systems in Education
01:42 The Shift in Education Systems and Beliefs
04:56 The Impact of Traditional Grading on Risk Taking and Trust
07:09 The Negative Consequences of Traditional Grading
13:48 The Commodity of Grades and Extrinsic Motivation
Creating Inclusive Learning Environments: Action and Expression in UDL - E137
19 Mar 2024
00:25:19
In this episode, we delve deeper into the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, examining the pillar of 'action and expression'. We review the importance of different methods and accommodations that allow students to demonstrate their learning in the most effective manner. We'll also highlight potential barriers, such as physical impairments and language difficulties, while emphasizing the value of alternative strategies and physical interaction with materials.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/137**
00:00 Introduction to Universal Design for Learning
00:33 Understanding the Pillar of Action and Expression
01:35 Personal Experiences with Organizational Abilities
03:51 Exploring the Physical Action Guideline
04:27 Addressing Barriers in Physical Action
09:59 Optimizing Access to Tools and Assistive Technologies
11:44 Expression and Communication: A New Pillar
13:20 Exploring Multiple Media for Communication
13:26 Using Multiple Tools for Construction and Composition
13:37 Building Fluencies with Graduated Levels of Support
The Journey of Destreaming: Reflections and Insights - E136
31 Oct 2023
00:28:29
In this episode, we are discussing the challenges and successes that we have experienced with destreaming in our classrooms. Specifically, we'll chat about the new grade 9 English curriculum, continuing efforts with other destreaming program areas, and how to best support teachers that are implementing destreaming.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/136**
Challenges and experiences we have had with implementing destreaming in our schools, specifically in grade 9 English, science, and math
The importance of providing support and resources for teachers during the implementation process
Challenges include lack of time and resources given to educators
Need for additional support in grade 10 courses to ensure a smooth transition from destreaming to academic streams
Additional pressures with teaching a new grade 11 curriculum (NBE course)
Opening Routines For a Mastery-Based Classroom - E135
24 Oct 2023
00:30:41
This week, we are talking all about how we start out using various opening routines in our mastery-based classrooms. Specifically, we will share how we set up our courses and some daily activities you can use with your students to get them ready for learning.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/135**
Opening Routines For The Semester/School Year:
Unit Zero - 2 to 3 lessons long to learn about the logistics of a mastery-based classroom and learning
Diagnostics - first 2 to 3 weeks, works well for ELL learners (oral, reading, writing skill levels)
Focus on getting to know you activities and building classroom community as the premise to learn about the mastery-based learning model
Use mastery-based learning terminology: lesson classifications, guided notes, etc
Google Slides and YouTube for getting to know you activities, lessons etc
Use of conferencing with students
Lots of opening, whole class activities throughout the first few weeks of school
Thinking classrooms, game-based learning (GimKit for example) are great ideas to engage students in whole class activities and build classroom community
Daily Opening Routines For The Classroom:
Regular conferencing
Group-based work based on STEP levels (ELL learners)
Whole class lessons with all levels modelled (helps to set high expectations for all learners and builds motivation)
Thinking Classrooms model (but not in a traditional sense) - use randomized groups of 3 (Flippity Random Name Picker), at the whiteboards, solving 1-2 problems related to on pace lessons, use mastery as checks for understanding
Mix approaches up - other collaborative activities, demos, thinking classrooms, other whole group activities to set the tone, etc
Do Now or Check-In (goal setting and/or SEL check-in) - can be done daily, weekly, more sporadic (end of unit/module)
Weekly agenda slide deck
Progress Tracker for informal check-in and goal-setting
Unpacking the Evolution of Schools and Grading - E134
17 Oct 2023
00:24:03
This week, we are continuing our book study with chapter 2 of Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms by Joe Feldman. Specifically, we will dive into the history of schools and grading and examine what's changed and what's not changed (which is a lot!).
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/134**
Changes in society that affected our model of school
Manufacturing - need for factory workers, prepare students to be good employees, critical thinking is highly valued now
Migration and Immigration - assimilation, movement from rural to urban, FNMI, history repeats itself
Intelligence Testing and Categorization - IQ tests used for streaming purposes, IQ tests not equitable, created barriers to pathways for students, de-streaming is beginning to address these inequities, college vs university pathway (college is much more career-focused which is great)
Progressive Educators - John Dewey was ahead of his time, he saw the inequities that existed and saw school as a way to improve position in society, other behaviourists (BF Skinner, Pavlov) - operant conditioning applied to our education system
How did this impact schools?
Quiet vs noisy classrooms - humans are social, quiet is no longer as valued, mastery-based learning supports active and collaborative classrooms where all students are on task
Learning skills - not a lot of change, skills like following directions, punctuality are still highly valued
History of Grading
Very descriptive and individualized and shifted to letter grades for efficiency reasons
Now we are returning to more descriptive and individualized feedback
Bell Curves - if grades fit within a bell curve, it means that the approach taken had no impact on student learning; instead, we want to see skews towards higher achievement to show a positive impact
From The Archives: Getting Started With Station-Based Learning - E102
10 Oct 2023
00:32:16
This week, we are chatting all about station-based learning. This instructional model is frequently used at the elementary level, so our focus for this conversation is how to implement station-based learning in the secondary classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/102**
There are many different ways to set up stations - by activity, by curriculum strand
Can be done over a day, several days, or even a week
This week, we are chatting about how Rachel's grading approach is shifting this year. Specifically, we will chat about standards-based grading, how Rachel is applying standards-based grading in her classroom, and where she hopes to be with her grading approaches in this school year.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/133**
What is standards-based grading (SBG)? It's a system of grading that is closely tied to mastery of the standards in the curriculum
From Classroom to Home: Tech Strategies for Families - E132
26 Sep 2023
00:26:41
This week, we are chatting about technology use with students and how parents can best support that at home. We will share a little bit of our own struggles as parents and also some ideas that we have as educators to help support families.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/132**
Podcasting 101: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Process - E131
19 Sep 2023
00:26:33
This week, we are sharing our podcasting process. We'll get into our past and current podcasting practices, as well as the apps and tools that we use and love! Whether you are interested in podcasting for yourself or with your students, this episode is packed full of great tips and tricks to get you started.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/131**
This week, we are starting our book study with chapter 1 of Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms by Joe Feldman. Specifically, we will dive into what makes grading so difficult to talk about and even harder to change.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/130**
This week, we are chatting about providing options for comprehension in the classroom. Using the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) framework and representation pillar, we're going to share some different strategies on how we can help students make information accessible, but also how to transform that into knowledge they can use.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/129**
Checkpoint #1: Activate or supply background knowledge
Value prior knowledge
Get to know your learners and their background knowledge
Consider using visual imagery, concept anchoring and mastery, KWL chart and other organizers, concept maps (whiteboards), pre-teaching with demos/models, analogies and metaphors, cross-curricular connections
From The Archives: Asset Vs. Deficit Mindset - E080
29 Aug 2023
00:36:01
In this episode, we are exploring asset vs deficit mindsets in education. We'll go over our observations as well as some of our ideas to shift away from a deficit mindset in our classrooms.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/80**
Asset mindset - what are the strengths that our students bring to the classroom and how you can embrace that with high expectations
Deficit mindset - what are students lacking and focusing on their weaknesses
CRRP - High expectations, Cultural competence, Critical consciousness
Grades contribute to a deficit mindset and don't give the full picture of the strengths of a student
Ideas and Strategies:
Get to know students and don't look at past grades
Becoming aware and speaking up against deficit language
Need PD on asset-based mindsets and language (peer conversations and dialogue, active learning, voluntary, accessing when ready, multiple opportunities, reflection)
Community and relationship building - conversations and conferencing with students, get curious about behaviours, collaborate with other staff
Avoid the silo and utilize the whole school team
Question your assessment practices, focus on personalized and descriptive feedback (tests = deficit, portfolios = asset for example), varied types, focus on skills
This week, we are setting our goals for the upcoming school year. We'll chat about both our professional and our personal goals, from mastery-based learning to leadership goals and maintaining a good work-life balance this year.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/128**
Professional Goals:
Mastery-based learning - building more whole class activities
From The Archives: Getting Buy In For UnGrading - E097
15 Aug 2023
00:34:17
This week, we are talking all about how to build buy-in for ungrading in your school community. We'll discuss ungrading buy-in strategies for various different stakeholders such as teachers, admin, parents, and most importantly, students. Let's start talking about ungrading!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/97** Teachers/Admin:
Start with conversations about grading and grading practices
Why aren't traditional grading practices working?
Leverage opportunities informally in your workroom, more formally in department meetings
Keep in mind - slow and deliberate changes towards ungrading (it's a spectrum)
Many ways to ungrade (mastery, standards-based, feedback, etc)
Focus on the feedback and learning over grades
Look at printouts of marks for students, rubrics we're using (single point vs 4-level), success criteria, moderated marking
From The Archives: Setting Up Your Learning Management System (LMS) - E056
08 Aug 2023
00:37:48
In this episode, we are exploring ways to set up your Learning Management System (LMS) effectively and efficiently to optimize course organization and learning for your students. We'll go over tips, strategies, and ideas for setting up your LMS, whether it is Brightspace, Canvas, Schoology, Google Classroom, or something else.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/56**
Use your LMS, even if you are fully face-to-face
Layout and Homepage:
This is your doorway into your virtual classroom
Easy navigation - minimize the links to the essentials
Link all of your other tools within the content area
From The Archives: Designing Classroom Resources In Canva - E032
01 Aug 2023
00:40:51
In this episode, we are talking all about an amazing, and easy-to-use tool called Canva. We will be diving into the how-tos, ideas for using Canva with your students, features within Canva, and the differences between the types of accounts (free, pro, and education).
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
From The Archives: Creating Effective Instructional Videos For The Classroom - E067
25 Jul 2023
00:36:59
This week, we are discussing the why and how of creating effective instructional videos for your classroom. We'll share some considerations for creating videos, as well as tools you might want to use and tips and tricks to help you along the way.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/67**
Personal not professional!
Why?
Learning in a mastery-based classroom
Create a clone of yourself
Frees up your time in the classroom to help your students
Access to videos anytime, anywhere
Helps with absences
Considerations
Determine your learning goal BEFORE hitting record
Make it personal, include your face and your personality
Keep recording time short, 6-9 minutes is ideal and less for elementary
Try out animations to control the flow of information
Include the big picture and progression
Recording Process
Create your slides, docs, and plan it all out
Collaborate with others and create slide decks as a course team
Create an outline for your recording (use speaker notes in Slides)
Go for done, not perfect - mistakes are okay!
EdTech Tools
Presentation Tools: Google Slides, Explain Everything, Prezi, Powerpoint, Keynote, Genial.ly
Recording Tools: Meet, Teams, Zoom, Screencastify, Screencast-o-matic, Loom, Flipgrid Shorts (use your screen as your virtual background), Explain Everything, OBS Studio, Quick Time Player
Learn the keyboard shortcuts!
iPad & Apple pencil - use an external microphone or headset with microphone
Above all else, use tools that meet your specific needs!
From The Archives: Google Slides Vs Google Jamboard: Which One Is Better? - E042
18 Jul 2023
00:41:08
In this episode, we are getting into the debate of which tool we think is better - Google Slides or Google Jamboard. We'll do comparisons of different features and give you our overall impressions and preferences for these two tools. So stay tuned and make sure you listen right to the end!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
From The Archives: Using Portfolios in the Classroom - E074
11 Jul 2023
00:32:03
This week, we are talking about the use of digital portfolios in the classroom. We'll explore why you would want to use portfolios, how to assess or evaluate portfolios, and our best tips and suggestions to make portfolios a success in your classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/74**
Why Use Portfolios?
Fits well with ungrading or mastery-based grading
Demonstrates the learning journey by student-selected work
Great as a final performance task
Works best as a semester or year-long project
Focus on reflection, student voice & choice, ownership
From The Archives: Grading In A Mastery-Based Classroom - E066
04 Jul 2023
00:42:17
This week, we are talking all about grading in a mastery-based learning classroom. We'll share our learning as well as guiding principles to keep in mind as you consider grading practices in your mastery-based structured classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/66**
There is no one right answer... flexibility and knowing your students is key!
From The Archives: Summer Reading List For Teachers - E054
27 Jun 2023
00:32:31
In this episode, we are sharing our summer reading list for teachers. We'll go over what we are currently reading, recommendations for reading, as well as what we want to read ourselves this summer.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/54**
Currently Reading:
Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy - Gholdy Muhammad
Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) - Edited by Susan D. Blum
Harnessing Cognitive Principles To Elevate Your Teaching - E127
20 Jun 2023
00:32:05
This week, we are helping you harness the power of cognitive principles to elevate your teaching practice. In this final instalment of our book study, we'll explore how we can leverage all of our learning from Daniel Willingham's book "Why Don't Students Like School" to help us become the best teachers that we can be.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/127**
Making Sense of Language & Symbols in the Classroom - E126
13 Jun 2023
00:21:41
This week, we are chatting about how to help students to make the most sense of language and symbols in the classroom. Using the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) framework and representation pillar, we are exploring ways to provide support and reduce barriers to language and symbols.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/126**
This week, we are chatting about how technology has (or hasn't really) impacted student learning. We're talking about how technology affects the learning and cognitive processes of our students, as well as the pros and cons of new technology and adopting these in the classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/125**
Guiding Principle: “Technology changes everything… but not the way you think”
Will Chat GPT change everything in the classroom?
Digital native vs digital immigrant
"Comfort with technology comes from your context, not your generation"
Myth of multitasking (or task switching)
Impact of music & headphones on independent work
Working memory capacity goes downhill after 20s
PD for technology is needed with new tools
Instructional tech coaches play a big role
Train the trainer models
Tools that improve learning work to improve cognitive processes
Best tools are the simple tools (Screencastify for example)
Start with the problems, then select the tech tool to support it
Reading comprehension on screens vs paper
Digital textbooks
Memorization vs Googling it
Note-taking - digital vs paper
Time spent on devices
Parenting with devices (tech addiction)
Classroom implications - equity (avoid the digital divide), questions to consider when adopting tech, assistive technology, offer practice in sustained attention
From The Archives: Our Favourite Formative Assessment Tools - E101
30 May 2023
00:32:56
This week, we are sharing our favourite formative assessment tools. Formative assessment is essentially how we are assessing students for what they know while they are learning it in an ongoing format. There are so many great EdTech tools available to provide feedback to your students while they are learning, so we are sharing our favourites for inspiration!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/101**
Formative assessment = assessment for learning = assessment as learning
Our favourite tools:
Screencastify - use prompts, problem solving explanations, pictures, visuals, retrieval practice
From The Archives: Shifting Grading Practices With Jessica Liew - E084
23 May 2023
01:01:38
In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from the Vancouver School Board, Jessica Liew, to chat about shifting our grading practices in the classroom. We'll get into all things assessment, focusing on standards-based grading, growth mindsets, and proficiency scales. Get ready to get nerdy about assessment!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/84**
This week, we are chatting about why teachers are feeling so tired as well as identifying some strategies to cope and survive the rest of this school year. The exhaustion this school year is real so we are sharing different approaches we are taking to make it to summer in one piece!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/124**
The exhaustion is real this year!
More sunlight is helping
It's been rough with student behaviour in both of our buildings
Lots of evening events
Strategy #1: It's ok to say no! Don't stretch yourself too thin
Strategy #2: Take mental health days as needed to take care of your own health
Don't feel guilty about saying no
Take naps as needed
Strategy #3: Give yourself permission to not be the best teacher (don't take on extras, keep going with what you are doing and try to rely on your team)
Work-life balance is off - commuting more takes away from planning time
Resignations are up and, in some boards, bigger than retirements
Politics and contract negotiations
Strategy #4: Avoid the news and social media (blissful ignorance)
Strategy #5: Spend time connecting with friends and family to refill your bucket
Strategy #6: Create boundaries (check emails only in school hours)
Strategy #7: COFFEE!
Strategy #8: Take care of your health (eating well, exercising, listen to your body)
Strategy #9: Hobbies (knitting, piano, violin)
Strategy #10: Vent with critical friends (avoid bottling things up!)
This week, we are getting an update on Katie's project with Living Hyphen. She will be sharing updates on her dual language book project-based learning. The book has printed and officially launched!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/123**
Lots of due dates, quick turnaround time (less than 1 month!)
Book launch - reached out to classes, board members, local media
Presentation - process of creating the book, sharing some entries
Tools used - Canva (needs auto-generating page numbers!), used anonymized accounts to protect student privacy
Big wins: courage to share their journey (some were not happy)
Roadblocks: low proficiency ELLs and/or new arrivals (how to get them involved to help build language)
Going Forward: Give yourself more time, let the students take ownership (give up control), make the role expectations explicit, connect with feeder schools
Find those opportunities for elementary and secondary schools to overlap to build relationships
If you are in the Oakville, ON area and are interested in getting a copy of the book, reach out to us!
This week, we are chatting all about the 100-point scale, why it is biased towards failure, and what we can do instead to make our grading a bit more biased-resistant.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/122**
This week, we are tackling the topic of our different types of learners and how we can support our learners who are a little bit more slow in the classroom. We'll go over the difference between cognitive ability and cognitive styles, as well as intelligence and how all of our students can build their intelligence in our classes.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/121**
Guiding principle: Children are more alike than different in terms of how they think and learn
Cognitive Ability: Capacity for or success in certain types of thought Cognitive Styles: Biases or tendencies to think in a particular way
Abilities differ but no style is better than the other
When learning has meaning, learning styles don't matter
Theory of multiple intelligences - Howard Gardner (8 intelligences)
Watch your vocabulary when describing these intelligences (not abilities or talents!)
Classroom implications: know your students, growth mindset, learning styles for content and not student, language used around multiple intelligences
Chapter 8 key ideas:
Guiding principle: Children do differ in intelligence, but intelligence can be changed through sustained hard work
Nature vs Nurture
Intelligence is malleable; it can be improved
Build knowledge, convince students that intelligence can be improved
Carol Dweck - fixed vs growth mindset
Great connections to mastery-based learning and UnGrading
Feedback for improvement
Slow learners - can be changed! They are not dumb!
Classroom implications: talk about intelligence as growth mindset, hard work pays off, failure is a natural part of the learning process (mastery learning), study skills, catching up is a long-term goal
Multiple Modalities to Boost Student Perception - E120
18 Apr 2023
00:26:02
This week, we are chatting about how to boost student perception using multiple modalities. Using the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) framework and representation pillar, we are exploring ways to provide options for perception in the classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/120**
This week, we are chatting all about specifications (or specs) grading. This is an alternative grading strategy that focuses on mastery of learning by defining specific requirements for what students need to meet.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/107**
Specifications (specs) grading works well with mastery-based learning
Create specifications for what students need to demonstrate mastery
Divide up the course into small modules and each module is passed by scoring 80% (mastery) or better
Final grades are determined by how many of these modules are mastered
One possible way to do this is to create essential outcomes (absolutely must pass) and general outcomes (grade modifiers)
This week, we are chatting about Living Hyphen, an organization that explores the experiences of hyphenated Canadians. Katie is sharing how her work with this organization is being used in her ESL classroom, by creating identity texts using a project-based learning (PBL) approach.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/119**
Workshop leads students through a series of prompts (5 in total) - for example, the story of your name
In the ESL classroom, creating a book of identity texts that will be sold to support the school's Angel fund
Marketing: multicultural event, book launch, podcast
Students take on different project roles
Great example of true project-based learning!
Teaming up with an organization is a great way to design project-based learning in your curricular area
Book - thematic with 5 different prompts, dual language highlighted
Student-led, giving up control
Possible tools: Book Creator, Google Slides, Canva, others?
Partner with other teachers in the school (for example, Comm Tech)
Book Launch - in library, invite admin and local newspapers, presentation, refreshments, etc.
Students can choose roles that support their strengths
Evaluation? Process is evaluated over product; editing for comprehension only not perfection (keep the essence of inter-language to show their living hyphen)
Invite students into the conversation around evaluation with project-based learning with reflection - avoid any negative impacts to student motivation
This week, we are chatting about leadership in schools. We discuss both formal and informal leadership opportunities that you can become involved in with your school community to begin your journey as a leader.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/118**
Formal leadership opportunities:
Department head - oversee program area, budgets, staffing, etc
Instructional coaches
Program leads (board level)
Service side program areas:
ESL teachers
Student Success
Special Education
Guidance
Need to dabble in at least one of these areas (service side) to develop your leadership skills
Informal leadership opportunities:
School committees related to your interests and passions (blended learning team, IT team) - leads to teaching others!
Staff learning team - planning PD
Present PD to your peers - you have expertise even if you're still on the journey!
Mentor for new teachers (formal or informal) - answer questions, problem solving, etc.
Student teachers - learning goes both ways!
Teacher in charge - step into the admin role temporarily
Attend PD opportunities - build your knowledge, then share it with others
Take courses for your learning
Podcast!
Lead a project (within a course or cross-curricular) or be a course team lead
This week, we are diving further into the book "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel Willingham. Specifically, we are exploring ideas of understanding abstract ideas, practice that works, and thinking like the experts.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/117**
Understanding is built on combining past knowledge in new ways
Shallow (limited to specific contexts) vs Deep knowledge (connections and application to new contexts)
Transfer - surface (scenario) vs deep (concept) structure
Expectations for deep knowledge needs to be realistic
Multiple examples
Chapter 5 key ideas:
"It is virtually impossible to become proficient at a metal task without extended practice"
Working memory has limited space - it's the fundamental bottleneck of human cognition!
Chunking is a great strategy
Not all things need to be practiced - what needs to be automatized?
Cramming vs spaced practice
Overlearning offers protection against forgetting
Practice helps transfer!
Spaced practice with Retrieval Grids
Chapter 6 key ideas:
“Cognition early in training is fundamentally different from cognition late in training"
Students are not experts!
Experts have a large amount of knowledge (facts, procedural), more sensitive to subtle cues (classroom management), clustered thinking (functions or deep structures)
Students are ready to comprehend but not to create knowledge
Don't expect novices to learn by doing what experts do
Just because student’s can’t create like experts doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t create (science fair projects) - great for motivation!
From The Archives: Learner Variability and UDL - E105
14 Mar 2023
00:24:48
This week, we are chatting about learner variability in the context of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Learner variability is not just simply learning styles; we'll define what learner variability is as well as the various strategies that we can use in the classroom to support all of our learners.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/105**
Learner variability is not the same thing as learning styles!
Learner variability is holistic and flexible to meet the needs of our students as their needs ebb and flow
From The Archives: Podcasting in the Classroom - E050
07 Mar 2023
00:43:22
In this 50TH episode of the podcast, we'll be discussing podcasting in the classroom. We'll get into the why behind podcasting as well as the prep & tools you need to get started.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/50**
This week, we are chatting all about leading change in education. Whether you are in a formal leadership position or an informal role, change is uncomfortable and messy. We've got some great tips and strategies on what you can do to lead change in your school community.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/116**
This week, we are tackling the skill of self-regulation. As the third and final part of the engagement section of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, self-regulation is an area that doesn't get a lot of focus on in the classroom. We unpack this section of the UDL framework as well as chat about different ways that you can integrate explicit teaching of self-regulation skills in your classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/115**
AI in the Classroom: Exploring Chat GPT in Education - E114
14 Feb 2023
00:26:37
This week, we are chatting all about Chat GPT, an AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot. We'll give you our initial thoughts and reactions to Chat GPT, as well as what this might mean for education and our classrooms.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/114**
Strategies for Enhancing Memory & Critical Thinking - E113
07 Feb 2023
00:27:27
This week, we are diving further into the book "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel Willingham. Specifically, we are exploring ideas of critical thinking, memory, and the importance of background knowledge in remembering key ideas and concepts.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/113**
This week, we are chatting all about change with mastery learning in our classrooms! Specifically, we'll reflect on where we are at in our implementation journey as well as what changes we are going to make moving forward into the new semester.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/112**
Semester turnaround! Fresh starts are awesome
Lofty goals! Stress less about videos, more on differentiation
This week, we are exploring the sustaining effort and persistence aspect of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. We'll go over the four key checkpoints within effort and persistence as well as explain how you can start to implement some ideas in your classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/111**
This week, we are starting a new book talk series! We are chatting about our learning and reflections on chapter 1 from Daniel Willingham's book, Why Don't Students Like School? There are lots of great brain-based and scientifically-backed ideas for your classroom in this book!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/110**
Guiding principle: "people are naturally curious, but we are not naturally good thinkers; unless the cognitive conditions are right, we will avoid thinking"
We mostly do things on auto-pilot and relies on our memory; very little is true thinking
What is thinking? It is taking information from the environment and long-term memory (facts and procedures) and bringing them together into working memory to combine the ideas in new ways
Thinking tasks need to be challenging enough to engage but not so challenging that it causes frustration
This week, we are back and reflecting on the 2022 year. We'll chat about what we've struggled with and what we've learned as well as what our goals are for the new year.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
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Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/109**
We're back to our weekly schedule!
2022 has been a challenging year - personally and professionally
Lots of change and transitions - admin changes, role changes
Change can be mentally and physically exhausting
Saying no and asking for help, when needed
Work-life balance is important
Checking email and notifications - switch off after work hours!
Sparking Excitement and Curiosity for Learning - E108
29 Nov 2022
00:25:11
This week, we are diving deeper into the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) framework by exploring multiple means of engagement in the classroom. Specifically, we are focusing our discussion on how to spark excitement and curiosity in the classroom.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/108**
From The Archives: Supporting English Language Learners In Your Classroom - E055
22 Nov 2022
00:45:57
In this episode, we are exploring the ways that you can leverage technology to support the English language learners in your classroom. We'll cover tech tools such as Google Read&Write and Mote, as well as some general tips and strategies for designing an inclusive and safe learning environment for your students.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/55**
Common Acronyms:
ELL - English Language Learner
ESL - English as a Second Language
EAL - English as an Additional Language
STEP - Steps to English Proficiency
OLB - Observable Language Behaviours
OLLB - Observable Language and Literacy Behaviours
Overall Tips and Strategies:
Use first languages (these are a strength and asset for learning)
Integrate culture where possible and use lived experiences when designing resources
Understand the difference between conversational and academic language
Just because speaking is strong, it doesn’t mean reading/writing are the same - survival
Don't make assumptions! Not all multilingual learners can read/write in their first language or have that specific knowledge in their first language
Learn how to pronounce student names properly (use tech tools to support your learning)
Use images and student-friendly definitions to reduce cognitive load
This week, we are chatting all about specifications (or specs) grading. This is an alternative grading strategy that focuses on mastery of learning by defining specific requirements for what students need to meet.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/107**
Specifications (specs) grading works well with mastery-based learning
Create specifications for what students need to demonstrate mastery
Divide up the course into small modules and each module is passed by scoring 80% (mastery) or better
Final grades are determined by how many of these modules are mastered
One possible way to do this is to create essential outcomes (absolutely must pass) and general outcomes (grade modifiers)
De-streaming Revisited: Progress, Strategies, and Reflections - E106
01 Nov 2022
00:28:13
This week, we are reflecting on our experiences with de-streaming in our classrooms so far in this school year. We will share our progress, our wins and challenges, and, most importantly, resources to help guide you along with this journey!
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/106**
Ontario is de-streaming or academic strand in grade 9 this year
This week, we are chatting about learner variability in the context of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Learner variability is not just simply learning styles; we'll define what learner variability is as well as the various strategies that we can use in the classroom to support all of our learners.
If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!
We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!
Featured Content **For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/105**
Learner variability is not the same thing as learning styles!
Learner variability is holistic and flexible to meet the needs of our students as their needs ebb and flow