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Description: This week on #Educrush we hear from Calgary’s Current and the first ever Black Poet Laureate of the city, Wakefield Brewster as he shares with us the importance of story and poetry  and education. Wakefield on Twitter @LyricalPitpull Wakefield on Instagram @Wakefield_Brewster Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod   Links Mentioned: https://wakefieldbrewster.com/

What is community? How do we build it, and break it? Who are we as a wider education community? Natalie connects with former teacher and current community engagement strategist, Melody McAllister, to unpack the complexities of both youth and adult communities in the age of social media.  Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empowermentecosystem Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Follow Melody: Twitter | Instagramv | LinkedIn Email: hello@educrushpod.com Show Notes: ·       Melody’s education journey thus far. (6:25) ·       What is community? (9:45)) ·       How to tell the story of a classroom community; building a classroom community with parents. (13:30) ·       The power of co-creation to build community. (20:00) ·       Leveraging music and check-in questions to make everyone welcome immediately. (20:20) ·       Who are we as an education community? (30:25) ·       We need to stop attacking each other on social media and giving ammunition to the critics. (39:15) ·       How can we honor one another as whole people and get back to a place of unity? (48:35) ·       A hopeful note about the purpose of education. (55:15)

Description: This week Alex talks to Multimedia Specialist and Search and Rescue volunteer Nick Hughes. He share how his experiences with high school influenced his passions today.  What does it look like for teachers to nurture the interests and passions of students and where might that start lead them in their lives? Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod

Fresh off the first-ever Empowerment Ecosystem Summit in Vancouver, BC, Natalie sits down with co-hosts Katie White and Tom Schimmer to reflect on highlights, insights, and next steps for the innovative event. Show Notes: ·       What’s sticking with each of us immediately after the event. (10:25) ·       Rethinking the concept of the “middle” in education and how tension shows up in creative work. (19:45) ·       Tweaks to the event design to better meet the vision. (23:30) ·       Moments that will stick with us. (27:00)   Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Follow Katie: Twitter | Instagram Follow Tom: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com  

This week on #Educrush, our guest Alora Popow shares the importance of both the Physical and Education portion of Physical Education. As a PE teacher herself, Alora shares her Philosophy of education, how classroom outcomes intertwine with outcomes in the gym space and how we can better utilize physical education to aid our instruction of class outcomes. Don’t forget to sign up the Empowerment Ecosystem Summit! https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home   Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod

Wellness is so much more than a pizza party or a coffee cart; it’s deep, personal excavation and ruthless time management. Jonathan Erickson is currently the principal of Parras Middle School in Redondo Beach, California, and he joins Natalie to share what he learned about the discipline of wellness when he studied it during his PhD, and how he’s bringing it to life in his school. Show Notes: ·       Jonathan’s journey through innovative teaching contexts and a PhD in mindfulness and workplace outcomes. (5:50) ·       Wellness; the story being told and how we can rewrite the narrative. (11:30) ·       Rethinking teacher education and after-school care to build collective capacity in social-emotional learning. (16:00) ·       Th importance of designing for academic engagement as a facet of social-emotional learning for all. (25:35) ·       Determining a defensible position to inspire rethinking. (33:20) ·       How a principal can create the conditions for wellness on their campus. (37:25) ·       Managing your time so you can show up for people. (44:00) ·       The purpose of education (53:50)   Register for the Empowerment Ecosystem Summit: https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home  Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Follow Jonathan: Linkedin Email: hello@educrushpod.com

This week we further explore what we started in Ep 72, where Natalie and Alex talked about what it means to “craft a public narrative” in education. Welcome to part of Alex’s public Narrative. “Cross Curricular Conversations to energize your time.” Don’t forget to sign up the Empowerment Ecosystem Summit! https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod Links Mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3b3q7KO62YBCDgRdvBwtgT?si=11eb0df263704caa https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/crafting-a-public-narrative/id1529486348?i=1000600616054

This season, we have explored many stories of education here in the present, but what is the future of education? Join Natalie to play within two future simulations that will stretch your capacity to discover creative opportunities, today. Empowerment Ecosystem Summit website: https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com Show Notes: ·       When does the future start? (4:45) ·       Jane McGonigal, SuperStruct, and the power of a future simulation to build our capacity for creativity today. (7:00) ·       Future simulation #1: CurriculumGPT (15:00) ·       Future simulation #2: IncorporatED (24:30) ·       10 ways anything can be different in the future. (32:00)  

This week on #Educrush we dive into how our expectations of students change the stories that they get to tell about themselves. Kelsey Brown talks a bit about a restorative justice program run out of the Calgary Youth Justice society. Don’t forget to sign up the Empowerment Ecosystem Summit! https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod Show Notes: 10:45 Introduction 15:30 Community mentorship 17:08 How students have negative interactions with their school communities. 20:00 Students participating in risk behaviors. 23:14 Schools allowing students to be a part of their communities. 27:48 The importance of community 30:14 The purpose of education Links Mentioned: https://calgaryyouthjustice.ca/  https://calgaryyouthjustice.ca/programs-services/cyjc/ https://calgaryyouthjustice.ca/get-involved/volunteer/

Breana Jacques and Shannon Finnegan are two “engagement guides” at the Collaborative Lab School in Minneapolis with a fascinating mission: to empower students to reinvent school. What principles do students think school should follow? What do they think should be assessed? How do they want to feel? They join Natalie to share the story of how they’ve shared power with students as co-designers of school and are rewriting the narrative of education. Show Notes: ·       Introduction to Breana and Shannon, two “engagement guides” at the Collaborative Lab School. (7:30) ·       How reimagining the role of a teacher is energizing and rehumanizing. (12:00) ·       What students want when they are empowered to co-design school.  (19:30) ·       The co-design journey that led to the Collaborative Lab School. (29:00) ·       Co-designing an assessment system grounded in competencies. (36:45) ·       The barriers that folks are facing in traditional contexts that keep them from sharing power and co-designing with students. (49:00) ·       The purpose of education. (60:00) Empowerment Ecosystem Summit website: https://sites.google.com/view/empowermentecosystemsummit/home Breana & Shannon's podcast, The Loop: https://thelooppodcast.weebly.com/ Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com  

Jill on Twitter: @engler_jill  Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod

Throughout history, we have told the story of girls as precious eggs and boys as kept princes. However, as we begin to explore gender identity as a spectrum rather than a binary, it’s time to update this narrative and that begins with interrogating the scripts we perform when talking to students. Author, speaker and gender awareness coach, Jason Ablin, joins Natalie to unpack this gender equation in schools and uncover how it is impacting literacy and numeracy achievement. Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow Jason: Twitter | Website Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com Jason’s new book “The Gender Equation: How to Create Equity and Fairness for All Students” is out now! Show Notes: ·       Introducing Jason Ablin. (5:00) ·       Jason’s first move as a new principal to remove the gender barriers to learning. (8:00) ·       The origin story for Jason’s passion in gender-related issues. (14:00) ·       How students and teacher respond to each other in ways that uphold gender bias. (19:30) ·       Girls as “precious eggs” and boys as “kept princes.” (28:45) ·       An academic rationale for taking gender issues seriously in school. (32:15) ·       A first step for a leader looking to tackle gender bias in their school. (44:30) ·       The purpose of education. (49:45)

Dave Conrad is the Community Engagement Program Director at a Non-Profit organization called the Mustard Seed. They are an organization that specializes in providing aid to people around Canada who are facing homelessness. On this episode, Dave and Alex explore what life could be like for students who could be experiencing homelessness and the importance of dignity and person first language. Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod Show Notes: Introduction [09:17] What leads students into experiencing homelessness [01:39] Things teachers can look for [10:56] School communities can provide support [16:08] The discomfort of showing others dignity [20:24] Students benefit from volunteering [24:38]    Talking to students about homelessness [26:57] The purpose of education [32:42] Significant quotes: “I think the key to it is, we need to see people for more than their experience they’re going through right now. We need to see people for more than how they are presenting right now” 17:23 “I think first and foremost we need to be treating people with dignity, building relationships out of that place, and then there are practical supports that can come into that, but it all needs to come out of a place of relationship.”  18:10   Links Mentioned: Homelesshub.ca 

A public narrative is a framework to help us craft a story that inspires others to take action. In this “coaching call” episode, Natalie walks Alex through the creation of his own public narrative for a cause he is passionate about. Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow Alex: Twitter Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com   Show Notes:  Unpacking the “public narrative” framework as designed by Marshall Ganz. (3:30) Clarifying the story of now and a specific call to action. (13:20) Finding empathy with high school teachers in the story of us. (32:45) Bringing it home with the story of self to make it personal. (40:30) Episode takeaways and a call to action. (1:06) Apply to the Empowerment Ecosystem --> https://calendly.com/natabasso/60-minute-meeting

On this week’s episode, Alex explores his own thoughts and history around discrimination.   Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod   Links Mentioned: https://twitter.com/lyricalpitbull

Stories are a powerful tool for liberation when we see ourselves in a character that demonstrates ingenuity and creativity on their quest for freedom. In particular, the stories of rebel Black communities can inspire our youth today when they are told alongside stories that describe historical violence and oppression. Dr. Crystal Menzies is a qualitative researcher and entrepreneur on a mission to uncover the hidden history of Black folks. She joins Natalie to tell the story of Maroon communities and how she is likewise on a quest to discover liberated spaces outside of the limitations of schools and organizations. Show Notes: Crystal’s journey in the education system as a student and a teacher. (10:15) The mission that Crystal embarked on to tell a different story about the history of Black folks. (15:00) The lack of integrity in organizations who are equity-seeking that led Crystal to seek liberation outside of the system. (23:30) What are Maroon communities? (28:00) Poor white folks often allied with Maroon communities. (34:00) Challenging the “poor unfortunate souls” narratives to unearth joy. (39:35) Unlearning the unattainable standards of grind culture, like a false sense of urgency, as an act of personal liberation. (45:30) Reimagining education through the lens of relationships with self, others, and the land. (50:50) The purpose of education is to co-construct a healthy relationship with our youth. (56:45) Apply for the Empowerment Ecosystem: https://forms.gle/TD6ediiZzz3d49ti8 The website for Crystal’s company, EmancipatED: www.emancipatededucation.com   Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow Crystal: LinkedIn | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com  

On this week’s episode we discuss speech pathology and the profound impact that it can have on students’ education and their future. Alex Henderson shares her insights, expertise, and optimism! Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod   Show Notes: Define speech pathology [04:05] Speech pathology in schools [09:19] Speech problems that interfere with learning [12:17] Supporting skill development [16:42] Spotting language disorders [29:51] Tools for development [32:53] The purpose of education [36:29] Significant quotes: “Any kid can learn to be a communicator, it might not look like everybody else, but everyone can learn to communicate.” 31:38   Links Mentioned: Project core http://www.project-core.com/communication-systems/

On this episode of #Educrush, Alex talks to a Planner named Srimal Ranasinghe who believes whole heartedly that one of the keys to students thriving is looking at the spaces that we all spend time in. Listen while they discuss why it’s important and what it may look like to design spaces with health and engagement in mind. Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram: @educrushpod   Show Notes: Intro [00:40] Today’s Guest [05:17] What does a planner do [05:43] The importance of urban planning for students [10:15] Useful, Safe, Comfortable and Interesting spaces 16:20 Well laid out neighbourhoods [21:31] Schools taking action [33:53] Planning for equity  [41:36] The purpose of education [50:17] Significant quotes: “There’s four factors that spaces need to be… useful, safe, comfortable and interesting.”  [16:43] “When you step out on the streets, how much of the street is taken up by asphalt automobile space vs spaces that are designated and welcoming to pedestrians and other forms of mobility?”[29:05] “Can you actually imagine a different way of being in your community, and the community actually looking a different way?”  [36:22] “Can we start looking at some of those foundational issues and making tweaks so that we can set up all schools for success in the longer term?” [40:54] “Talking about equity, It’s a question of “Can we design our spaces in a way that it welcomes the most vulnerable people””  [46:00]   Links Mentioned: < http://www.sustainablecalgary.org/> 

What if qualitative evidence were amplified to the same status as quantitative data in our education system? How might our schools transform if we tapped into the rich insights that come from story, anecdotes, experience, and emotion? Shane Safir, author of “The Listening Leader” and recent co-author of “Street Data” with Jamila Dugan, joins Natalie to discuss why we need to amplify qualitative evidence to engage in equity transformation cycles, and how these cycles will radically transform our approach to pedagogy and assessment. Show Notes: How Shane’s story as a mom, daughter, and teacher in a youth prison informs her mission to cultivate equitable education. (6:20) Why schools privilege quantitative data over the deep insights that come from stories and emotion. (10:30) Street data is qualitative data that forces us to shift from being statisticians and technicians to ethnographers. (13:30) Equity transformation cycles aim to be decolonizing as they are endless, iterative, and adaptive. (16:30) Is the achievement gap a mythology? (21:50) Jamila Dugan offers important equity traps and tropes including “doing” equity, tokenizing equity, and boomerang equity. (25:45) Centering street data through a pedagogy of voice. (28:15) We can’t reimagine pedagogy without reimagining assessment. (30:30) Remove grades from feedback to build a culture of revision and redemption. (33:15) Rubrics increase equity as they lift the veil on implicit criteria that teachers have in mind and share power when we co-create them with students. (36:50) The purpose of education according to James Baldwin. (44:15)   Shane’s newest book with co-author Jamila Dugan, “Street Data: A Next Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy and School Transformation.” Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Follow Shane: Twitter | Website Email: hello@educrushpod.com

In this holiday special, Natalie explores the topic of grading through the lens of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Get ready for a visit from the ghosts of grading past, present and a future yet to come! Show Notes: The ghost of grading past. (2:29) The ghost of grading present. (11:05) The ghost of grading yet to come. (21:03) Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email: hello@educrushpod.com