In which Dan and special guest co-host Kim Dzwonkowski talk with Angela Hanscom about the importance of getting kids outside, away from overly structured activities and hovering adults. Angela is the best-selling author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children and the founder of Timbernook . Dan, Kim, and Angela talk about how our overly scheduled, overly supervised world is wrecking havoc on children's mental, emotional, and physi...
Dec 17, 2021•43 min
In which Dan talks with Ebonee Rice (@EboneeSpeaks), Senior VP of Educator Network at the News Literacy Project. They talk about the unprecedented amount of information at our fingertips, the danger of passive media consumption, the importance of understanding how news gets made, and the incredible work of the News Literacy Project. Mentioned in the show: Why do people claim things that can be easily disproven with a Google search? Truth Decay , The RAND Corporation's insightful take on media li...
Nov 14, 2021•42 min
In which Dan talks with educator, author, and speaker Pernille Ripp (@pernilleripp) about the importance of developing young readers. For over a decade Pernille has run the Global Read Aloud, a six-week program that unites classrooms around a single text. Dan and Pernille discuss what it means to be a reader, helping our reluctant readers find books that speak to them, and why teachers need to listen to students about their reading needs. As always, I welcome comments and questions on Twitter @B...
Oct 17, 2021•47 min
In which Dan is joined by Colorado educator Julia Fliss to discuss the importance of cultivating globally-minded students in our increasingly interconnected world. Dan and Julia start by examining the power of learning additional languages as a portal into deeper cultural understanding. Then they discuss the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, local activism, and Julia's work with Girl Rising. As always I welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: The UN's Sustai...
Sep 18, 2021•53 min
In which Dan hosts the always-candid Monise Seward (@MoniseLSeward), a special education teacher and interventionist. Living in Georgia, Monise had a front row seat to one of the most tumultuous years in American history and she comes on the pod to talk about teaching and learning during the pandemic, election denialism, historical ignorance, and what she's optimistic about. As always, I welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Music: Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] M...
Sep 03, 2021•58 min
In which Dan talks with educator, author, and big thinker Casey Jakubowski. They discuss rural education, the state of the teaching profession, the current debate over history class, and progressivism. As always I welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: Thinking About Teaching: A Rural Social Studies Teacher's Path to Strive for Excellence by Casey Jakubowski Report: Why Rural Matters, 2018-19: The Time is Now from The Rural School and Community Trust Dividing...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 3 min
In which Dan talks with Chris McNutt, an Ohio educator, the executive director of the Human Restoration Project, and a leading voice for a progressive, human-centered education. They talk about the manufactured myth of "learning loss", media literacy, and the incredible work of HRP. As always, I welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: From the Human Restoration Project Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave: How the Testing Industry Manufactured the "Learning Loss" Na...
Aug 04, 2021•54 min
In which Dan wraps up the school year and this season of What's the Big Idea? by sitting down with six thoughtful and reflective students to discuss the year and the future. They share lessons on the past fifteen months, go deep on the pluses and minuses of social media, talk about whether or not they feel heard as young people, and describe what makes a good life. As always we welcome comments and questions on Twitter and Instagram @BigIdeaEd Music: "Que Estraño Es" by Molo
Jun 02, 2021•48 min
In which Dan calls on Jessica Kirkland (@jkirk___), a high school English teacher in Virginia, to reflect on this unprecedented year. After describing what this year was like for her students, Jessica talks remote learning, learning "loss", diversity and inclusion, and how we should approach the next school year with student humanity in mind. As always, we welcome feedback on Twitter and Instagram @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: Too Much Focus on ‘Learning Loss’ Will Be a Historic Mistake from...
May 26, 2021•56 min
In which Dan talks about the urgent need to protect LGBTQ students and empower teachers to become active allies. He's joined by Jean-Marie Navetta, Director of Learning and Inclusion at PFLAG. After discussing the troubling stream of anti-LGBTQ legislation from across the country, Dan and Jean-Marie examine ways in which schools can become more safe and inclusive for LGBTQ students. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show and additional resources:...
May 05, 2021•49 min
In which Dan discusses what makes meaningful assessment with Tyler Rablin (@Mr_Rablin), an English teacher and instructional coach in Washington state. They talk student voice in the assessment process, why quality feedback matters and why sometimes students just won't take the feedback, and how ideas like growth mindset and grit can be used to get teachers off the hook for our bad practices. As always hit us up with questions and comments on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: Tyler Rabli...
Apr 10, 2021•54 min
In which Dan kicks off a mini-series on assessment by talking with Jay McTighe (@jaymctighe), co-creator of Understanding by Design and someone who's done lots of thinking about what constitutes authentic and meaningful assessment. They talk about performance tasks, project-based learning, feedback, rubrics, and why teaching should be more like coaching. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned on the show: Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTi...
Apr 06, 2021•50 min
In which Dan talks financial literacy with Yanely Espinal (@missbehelpful) from Next Gen Personal Finance. Yanely makes the case that not only is financial literacy essential in schools, it also needs to be responsive to the economic realities that students and families are facing right now. Dan and Yanely talk about the difference between mandated and embedded curriculum, the power of gamification, and when Teach For America is truly effective. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Tw...
Mar 07, 2021•42 min
In which Dan discusses the why, the what, and the how of media and digital literacy with Kerri Redding (@nandikerri), photographer and media educator at Washington International School. They dissect the four principles of media literacy, wonder why schools are so far behind on this, and discuss life on the early internet. As always we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: Media Literacy Standards to Counter Truth Decay by RAND Corporation The SIFT Method for...
Feb 13, 2021•58 min
In which Dan talks conceptual learning, and reframing so much of what we do in education with Kayla Duncan (@MrsKaylaDuncan) and Trevor Aleo (@MrAleoSays). They're part of a team that authored an upcoming book that's not afraid to take on big, important issues in education. We talk transfer, going slow to go fast, teacher credibility, and what it's like to write an education book. As always we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the show: Learning That Transfers: De...
Jan 28, 2021•44 min
In which Dan talks about education in the context of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He's joined by Joel Westheimer (@joelwestheimer), professor of education at the University of Ottawa and someone's who done lots of thinking and writing about civics education. They talk about the Canadian view of the attack, the meaning of civics education, and how a lack of media literacy might be education's biggest blindspot. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd Mentioned in the...
Jan 17, 2021•40 min
In which Dan weighs what 2020 taught us about many of the tenets of education. He's joined by Amy Fast (@fastcrayon), principal of McMinnville High School in Oregon, to take part in "Over, Under, or Properly Rated?", a game of evaluation and reflection. They talk synchronous vs asynchronous, teacher content knowledge, parental involvement, college prep, and more. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd. Music: "Que Extrano Es" by Molo courtesy of Tribe of Noise...
Jan 09, 2021•43 min
In which Dan talks with Jinnie Spiegler, director of Curriculum and Training at the Anti-Defamation League. If 2020 has shown us anything, it's the importance of being able to talk about race in the classroom. But too often teachers don't. We're limited by feelings of discomfort or defensiveness, the pressures of curriculum pacing, or maybe we just don't see it as our job. This is a mistake and a missed opportunity. Luckily, we're supported by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. Dan a...
Oct 29, 2020•30 min
In which Dan speaks with Kim Marshall, a retired teacher and principal, on his career and reflections on education and leadership. Kim is now a consultant and publisher of the excellent Marshall Memo , a weekly roundup of ideas and research in K-12 education. Dan and Kim talk about busing in Boston in the 1970s, how you know when you're ready to move into administration, and what he's learned from spending every Sunday for years reading education articles. As always, we welcome comments and ques...
Oct 22, 2020•45 min
In which Dan examines the importance of talking with students about important issues facing America, including the upcoming election, race, inequality, and hard historical truths. Dan is first joined by Karen Murphy from Facing History and Ourselves to talk about the work of that organization in helping teachers navigate hard history and sensitive current events (4:45). Then he's joined by Rhode Island history teacher Jon Gold to talk morality, perspectives, and why being "neutral" in the classr...
Oct 09, 2020•1 hr 13 min
In which Dan chats with Nate Bowling, history and government teacher and big thinker. Nate spent over a decade in public schools in Washington state, where, in 2016, he was named the Teacher of Year, and was one of four finalists for national teacher of the year. He now works at an international school in Abu Dhabi. They talk politics, policy, the value of liberal arts, America’s place in the world, and how living outside the U.S. deepens your perspective. As always we welcome comments and quest...
Aug 16, 2020•1 hr 16 min
In which Dan talks with Monise Seward, a grade 6 special education teacher in Georgia. In this time of great turmoil and uncertainty, they talk Covid, BLM, textbooks, and how special education is a portal into many of the larger issues facing education. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Jul 23, 2020•45 min
In which Dan examines two very different approaches to teaching Literature in middle and high schools today. He's joined by Jasmine Lane and Jarred Amato to examine the "literary canon", the role of choice in the classroom, and books that have left an impression on these two educators. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Jul 08, 2020•51 min
In which Dan discusses the importance of understanding historical context, especially during times of great change and crisis. He's joined by Matt, the host of the excellent Reflecting History podcast to talk about what it means to truly 'understand' history, the importance of creating and reading primary sources, and the role of social media in our understanding. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Jun 10, 2020•45 min
In which Dan reaches out to educators from different contexts and with different perspectives, and asks them for their answer to the question, 'What has the Covid crisis taught you about education?' Some really powerful stuff here. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
May 28, 2020•22 min
In which Dan talks with Laura England, an IB teacher who's done a ton of thinking about projects and what they mean for student learning. They talk about what we mean by 'project', process vs product, and why establishing a classroom culture of good questions is so important. As always we welcome comments on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
May 18, 2020•38 min
In which Dan talks about the various ways that school might happen in the fall with Chris Chiang, a teacher in northern California's Bay Area. Chris has kept his eye on schools in Europe and Asia and he has an interesting perspective, as well as practical tips for school administrators, teachers, and communities they start thinking about August and September. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
May 02, 2020•32 min
In which Dan talks with Graham Fletcher, a math specialist who presents to schools and teachers around the globe about the need to slow down and emphasize deep, conceptual learning. They talk about what it means to understand math, our overstuffed curriculums, and why slowing down will help us go fast. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Apr 25, 2020•34 min
In which Dan discusses school belief systems, student agency, and the need for all of us to advance the conversation with Missy Emler, owner of Modern Learners. A self-described 'rebel' of progressive education, Missy offers a unique and insightful perspective on the urgency of real changes to education in the face of the coronavirus crisis. As always, we welcome comments on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Apr 17, 2020•48 min
In which Dan examines the question of schools who can't simply move to online learning in this time of coronavirus and closures. He talks with Kecia McDonald, a middle school educator in Hawaii, about equity, community, and what's really important to students in this time of crisis. As always, we welcome comments and questions on Twitter @BigIdeaEd
Apr 06, 2020•45 min
